AMERICAN TRICKSTER, a Brilliant Expose of Faux Anthropologist Carlos Castaneda by Ru Marshall

My guest today is the multi-talented Ru Marshall. They discuss their new book "American Trickster: The Hidden Lives of Carlos Castaneda." Ru, an award-winning non-binary writer and visual artist, explores how Carlos Castaneda, a faux anthropologist who created the fictional character Don Juan, pulled off one of the greatest literary hoaxes in modern history.

Our conversation delves into Castaneda's background, including his family's controversial past in Peru, his academic connections at UCLA, and how he built a cult following around his teachings. Ru also discusses the parallels between Castaneda's methods and modern cult leadership, particularly comparing them to current political figures. The book, published by OR Books, is available for order and Ru will be conducting readings in New York and California in the coming weeks.