Wilhelm Reich is a controversial figure amongst many circles, both “mainstream” and “alternative” alike. His is the story of a man who placed himself in the service of truth first and foremost, rather than social expediency or prestige, at every step of his career. And, like many pioneers in the field of science—especially those that go against the grain—his story, experiments, and findings are almost never cited for discussion. Instead, rumors and disinformation are shared with the public, presumably by those who want to keep his work secret, in an attempt to downplay the importance of what he discovered.
So who was Wilhelm Reich, and what did he do?
While it is impossible for me to encapsulate Reich’s work and story within a paragraph or two, we can say this much: he was, in the early days of his career, a protégé of…