After a troubled youth, Knowlton became a doctor and wrote America's first birth control book, Fruits of Philosophy, in 1831. He was convicted and imprisoned for that as well—this time with hard labor. Charles was an outsider for most of his life, fighting religious and social conformity. This is a true story about why outsiders are important, and what they can achieve.
Growing up surrounded by superstition and hypocrisy, Charles developed an unswerving dedication to finding and telling the truth. If the truth he’d found was opposed by authorities in the church and government, Charles went ahead and told it anyway. This is a true story about the power of integrity.
It’s also an adventure story, full of conflict, drama, humor, and a little horror. Charles Knowlton led an unusual life; it gave him a radical outlook and led him to develop a unique personal philosophy. But it was what Charles did with this outlook—the fruits of his philosophy—that really mattered. This is a true story about how experiences become ideas, and how ideas become actions.
About the Author
Dan Allosso took a break from writing his dissertation for a Ph.D. in History, because he thought the story of Charles Knowlton was important. His previous book, an award-winning Young Adult novel called Outside the Box, convinced Dan that in order to raise a new generation of creative critical thinkers, we need to tell them stories about rebels. Dan lives with his family on a small farm, and plans to continue writing both nonfiction and fiction about freethinkers and nonconformists.
What are people saying?
"A well written, easy to read history of one man's freethinking life journey. His quest to be a doctor using evidence-based medicine leads him to talking/writing about social philosophy and contraception...Knowlton thought it was a woman's right and responsibility to have control over the number of children she had and to be able to time those children's births. The change in family size for his area of practice is truly astounding!"
-- Kim Rippere, President and Co-Founder, Secular Woman
-- Kim Rippere, President and Co-Founder, Secular Woman
"The prose is so smooth and conversational that the text sails on by. And what you're writing ABOUT is so valuable and timely that to make it as accessible as you do is a real service to our culture. If 'culture WAR' is an accurate description of what's going on, then this is powerful weapon for the good guys."
-- Terry Davis, author of Vision Quest, If Rock and Roll Were a Machine, and Mysterious Ways
-- Terry Davis, author of Vision Quest, If Rock and Roll Were a Machine, and Mysterious Ways
"This is really great. I love reading about my home town -- no one ever writes about Greenfield, Massachusetts. And I love the rich guy excommunicating the church. How hip is that?"
--Penn Jillette, Author of God, No!
--Penn Jillette, Author of God, No!
"Charles Knowlton, doctor, freethinker, and early advocate of contraception, is best remembered for his manual on birth control, ‘The Fruits of Philosophy’, which appeared in 1832 and which led to his prosecution and imprisonment. This superb biography of Knowlton by Dan Allosso, the first ever to be published, is based on the most thorough research and written with admirable clarity and understanding. This is a biography to be enjoyed by every lover of freethought."
--Bryan Niblett, Author of Dare to Stand Alone: The Story of Charles Bradlaugh
--Bryan Niblett, Author of Dare to Stand Alone: The Story of Charles Bradlaugh
"An interesting, engaging, and at times fascinating account of a little-known American hero. Dan Allosso has soundly crafted an excellent biography."
--Phil Zuckerman, PhD, Author of Faith No More: Why People Reject Religion
--Phil Zuckerman, PhD, Author of Faith No More: Why People Reject Religion
"History isn’t always made by Great Persons engineering Great Compromises. Sometimes society moves forward because a common man or woman takes up a radical cause and pursues it without regard to consequences. Charles Knowlton was such a man, undeservedly ignored by mainstream historians. Dan Allosso’s capable new biography of Knowlton illuminates the promise – and the pitfalls – of radical social change pursued from society’s rank and file."
--Tom Flynn, Editor, FREE INQUIRY Magazine
--Tom Flynn, Editor, FREE INQUIRY Magazine
