20 Best Books About Psychedelics (2023 Update)

An italian ethnobotanist explores the remarkable propensity of wild animals to seek out and use psychoactive substances. – throws out behaviorist theories that claim animals have no consciousness. – offers a completely new understanding of the role psychedelics play in the development of consciousness in all species. – reveals drug use to be a natural instinct. from caffeine-dependent goats to nectar addicted ants, the animal kingdom offers amazing examples of wild animals and insects seeking out and consuming the psychoactive substances in their environments. author giorgio samorini explores this little-known phenomenon and suggests that, far from being confined to humans, the desire to experience altered states of consciousness is a natural drive shared by all living beings and that animals engage in these behaviors deliberately. rejecting the western cultural assumption that using drugs is a negative action or the result of an illness, samorini opens our eyes to the possibility that beings who consume psychedelics–whether humans or animals–contribute to the evolution of their species by creating entirely new patterns of behavior that eventually will be adopted by other members of that species. the author's fascinating accounts of mushroom-loving reindeer, intoxicated birds, and drunken elephants ensure that readers will never view the animal world in quite the same way again.

Reveals evidence of visionary plants in christianity and the life of jesus found in medieval art and biblical scripture–hidden in plain sight for centuries – follows the authors’ anthropological adventure discovering sacred mushroom images in european and middle eastern churches, including roslyn chapel and chartres – provides color photos showing how r. gordon wasson’s psychedelic theory of religion clearly extends to christianity and reveals why wasson suppressed this information due to his secret relationship with the vatican – examines the bible and the gnostic gospels to show that visionary plants were the catalyst for jesus’s awakening to his divinity and immortalitythroughout medieval christianity, religious works of art emerged to illustrate the teachings of the bible for the largely illiterate population. what, then, is the significance of the psychoactive mushrooms hiding in plain sight in the artwork and icons of many european and middle-eastern churches? does christianity have a psychedelic history? providing stunning visual evidence from their anthropological journey throughout europe and the middle east, including visits to roslyn chapel and chartres cathedral, authors julie and jerry brown document the role of visionary plants in christianity. they retrace the pioneering research of r. gordon wasson, the famous “sacred mushroom seeker,” on psychedelics in ancient greece and india, and among the present-day reindeer herders of siberia and the mazatecs of mexico. challenging wasson’s legacy, the authors reveal his secret relationship with the vatican that led to wasson’s refusal to pursue his hallucinogen theory into the hallowed halls of christianity.examining the bible and the gnostic gospels, the authors provide scriptural support to show that sacred mushrooms were the inspiration for jesus’ revelation of the kingdom of heaven and that he was initiated into these mystical practices in egypt during the missing years.

Psychedelics for spiritual, therapeutic, and problem-solving use – presents practices for safe and successful psychedelic voyages, including the benefits of having a guide and how to be a guide – reviews the value of psychedelics for healing and self-discovery as well as how lsd has facilitated scientific and technical problem-solving – reveals how microdosing (ultra-low doses) improve cognitive functioning, emotional balance, and physical stamina – this year 600,000 people in the u.s. alone will try lsd for the the first time, joining the 23 million who have already experimented with this substance called “america’s wisest and most respected authority on psychedelics and their use,” james fadiman has been involved with psychedelic research since the 1960s. in this guide to the immediate and long-term effects of psychedelic use for spiritual (high dose), therapeutic (moderate dose), and problem-solving (low dose and microdose) purposes, fadiman outlines best practices for safe, sacred entheogenic voyages learned through his more than 40 years of experience–from the benefits of having a sensitive guide during a session (and how to be one) to the importance of the setting and pre-session intention. fadiman reviews the newest as well as the neglected research into the psychotherapeutic value of visionary drug use for increased personal awareness and a host of serious medical conditions, including his recent study of the reasons for and results of psychedelic use among hundreds of students and professionals. he reveals new uses for lsd and other psychedelics, including microdosing, extremely low doses for improved cognitive functioning and emotional balance. exploring the life-changing experiences of ram dass, timothy leary, aldous huxley, and huston smith as well as francis crick and steve jobs, fadiman shows how psychedelics, used wisely, can lead not only to healing but also to scientific breakthroughs and spiritual epiphanies.

A classic account of the psychedelic experience the joyous cosmology is alan watts's exploration of the insight that the consciousness-changing drugs lsd, mescaline, and psilocybin can facilitate "when accompanied with sustained philosophical reflection by a person who is in search, not of kicks, but of understanding." more than an artifact, it is both a riveting memoir of watts's personal experiments and a profound meditation on our perennial questions about the nature of existence and the existence of the sacred. includes watts's article "psychedelics and religious experience"

This book is the story of how three brilliant scholars and one ambitious freshman crossed paths in the early sixties at a harvard-sponsored psychedelic-drug research project, transforming their lives and american culture and launching the mind/body/spirit movement that inspired the explosion of yoga classes, organic produce, and alternative medicine. the four men came together in a time of upheaval and experimentation, and their exploration of an expanded consciousness set the stage for the social, spiritual, sexual, and psychological revolution of the 1960s. timothy leary would be the rebellious trickster, the premier proponent of the therapeutic and spiritual benefits of lsd, advising a generation to "turn on, tune in, and drop out." richard alpert would be the seeker, traveling to india and returning to america as ram dass, reborn as a spiritual leader with his "be here now" mantra, inspiring a restless army of spiritual pilgrims. huston smith would be the teacher, practicing every world religion, introducing the dalai lama to the west, and educating generations of americans to adopt a more tolerant, inclusive attitude toward other cultures' beliefs. and young andrew weil would be the healer, becoming the undisputed leader of alternative medicine, devoting his life to the holistic reformation of the american health care system. it was meant to be a time of joy, of peace, and of love, but behind the scenes lurked backstabbing, jealousy, and outright betrayal.

An investigation into experiences of other realms of existence and contact with otherworldly beings – examines how contact with alien life-forms can be obtained through the “inner space” dimensions of our minds – presents evidence that other worlds experienced through consciousness-altering technologies are often as real as those perceived with our five senses – correlates science fiction’s imaginal realms with psychedelic research for thousands of years, voyagers of inner space–spiritual seekers, shamans, and psychoactive drug users–have returned from their inner imaginal travels reporting encounters with alien intelligences. based on their more than 60 combined years of research into the function of the brain, the authors reveal how psychoactive substances such as dmt allow the brain to bypass our five basic senses to unlock a multidimensional realm of existence where otherworldly communication occurs. they contend that our centuries-old search for alien life-forms has been misdirected and that the alien worlds reflected in visionary science fiction actually mirror the inner space world of our minds. the authors show that these “alien” worlds encountered through altered states of human awareness, either through the use of psychedelics or other methods, possess a sense of reality as great as, or greater than, those of the ordinary awareness perceived by our five senses.

Getting higher is a manual for exploring the use of psychedelic substances in the contexts of spirituality, self-transformation and magic. it is the psychonaut's essential guide.

This book is a comprehensive overview of scientific data on microdosing and minidosing psychedelic substances. the author evaluates microdosing in relation to what is known about psychedelics, their pharmacology, effects, mechanism of action, tolerance, possible side effects and more. it includes many studies which have never before been translated into english, and are presented here for the first time

In the 1970s, two of the most influential thinkers of the psychedelic era gathered what was then known about psilocybin botany and culture and presented it in psilocybin: magic mushroom grower's guide. writing under pseudonyms, the mckenna brothers provided simple, reliable, and productive methods for magic mushroom propagation, including black-and-white photographs that showed the techniques of the time.the development of more modern cultivation techniques does not eclipse the cultural contributions of this book. philosophical asides, whimsical illustrations evoking the mystical nature of mushrooms, and speculations about the relationship of these organisms to humankind provide a lasting legacy. truly the classic manual on home cultivation, the wisdom of psilocybin: magic mushroom grower's guide continues to inspire new students of psycho-mycology–and refreshes psychedelic memories for others.

In 1943 a swiss chemist accidentally ingested the experimental compound lsd. the psychedelic revolution that followed is now mostly associated with pop culture, but the use of mind-altering drugs – and the belief in their transformative powers – was pioneered by scientists, psychiatrists, philosophers and writers. first published in 1965, this collection of essays by figures as diverse as timothy leary, julian huxley and ralph metzner recaptures that moment.

Cited by the l.a. weekly as "the culture's foremost spokesman for the psychedelic experience," terrence mckenna is an underground legend as a brilliant raconteur, adventurer, and expert on the experiential use of mind-altering plants.in these essays, interviews, and narrative adventures, mckenna takes us on a mesmerizing journey deep into the amazon as well as into the hidden recesses of the human psyche and the outer limits of our culture, giving us startling visions of the past and future.

Few events have had a more profound impact on the social and cultural upheavals of the sixties than the psychedelic revolution spawned by the spread of lsd. this book for the first time tells the full and astounding story–part of it hidden till now in secret government files–of the role the mind-altering drug played in our recent turbulent history and the continuing influence it has on our time. and what a story it is, beginning with lsd''s discovery in 1943 as the most potent drug known to science until it spilled into public view some twenty years later to set the stage for one of the great ideological wars of the decade. in the intervening years the cia had launched a massive covert research program in the hope that lsd would serve as an espionage weapon, psychiatric pioneers came to believe that acid would shed light on the perplexing problems of mental illness, and a new generation of writers and artists had given birth to the lsd sub-culture. acid dreams is a complete social history of the psychedelic counter-culture that burst into full view in the sixties. with new information obtained through the freedom of information act, the authors reveal how the cia became obsessed with lsd during the cold war, fearing the soviets had designs on it as well. what follows is one of the more bizarre episodes in the covert history of u.s. intelligence as the search for a "truth drug" began to resemble a james bond scenario in which agents spied on drug-addicted prostitutes through two-way mirrors and countless unwitting citizens received acid with sometimes tragic results. the story took a new turn when captain al hubbard, the first of a series of "johnny appleseeds" of acid, began to turn on thousands of scientists, businessmen, church figures, policemen, and others from different walks of life. timothy leary, ken kesey and his band of merry pranksters, allen ginsberg and the beat generation, the diggers and the age of golden anarchy in haight-ashbury, william mellon hitchcock, abbie hoffman and the yippies, the beatles–these are just some of a motley cast of characters who stride through the pages of this compelling chronicle. what impact did the widespread use of lsd have on the anti-war movement of the late sixties? acid dreams traces the way the drug intensified each stage of counter-cultural transition to break the "mind-forged manacles" of a new generation in rebellion. in acid dreams, martin lee and bruce shalin have written the history of a time still only dimly understood. the events they recount and the facts they uncover supply an important missing piece of the puzzle of a crucial decade in our recent past. praise "engaging throughout. . . . at once entertaining and disturbing."–andrew weil, m.d., the nation "marvelously detailed . . . loaded with startling revelations."–los angeles daily news "excellent. . . . a generalist''s history that should replace all others."–san francisco chronicle "a landmark contribution to the sociopolitical history of the u.s. . . . some of the liveliest, most absorbing, best-documented historical analyses to appear in recent years. . . . a seminal contribution to understanding america''s most turbulent modern decade."–choice "this funny and irreverent book brings it all back."–the washington post "recounts some of the most bizarre incidents in the history of u.s. intelligence."–the boston globe "a monumental social history of psychedelia."–the village voice "a blistering exposé of cia drug experimentation on americans. it''s all there."–john stockwell "highly readable. . . . well researched. . . . filled with entertaining and bizarre episodes."–the detroit free press "an important study of cultural history. . . . the scholarship is exquisite and the methods sensible."–allen ginsberg "an engrossing account of a period . . . when a tiny psychoactive molecule affected almost every aspect of western life."–william s. burroughs "a missing link, a work of combat history, a devastating combination of facts and poetry that is bound to arouse controversy."–paul krassner "an important historical synthesis of the spread and effects of a drug that served as a central metaphor for an era."–john sayles

Binspiring teachings centered on navigating our world’s collective challenges with indigenous wisdom and the power of psychedelics/bbrbr – with contributions from christopher bache, zoe helene, dennis mckenna, martina hoffmann, the dank duchess, jamie wheal, grandmother maria alice, and other

"recent clinical trials show that psychedelics such as lsd and psilocybin can be given safely in controlled conditions, and can cause lasting psychological benefits with one or two administrations. supervised psychedelic sessions can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and addiction, and improve well-being in healthy volunteers, for months or even years. but these benefits seem to be mediated by "mystical" experiences of cosmic consciousness, which prompts a philosophical concern: do psychedelics cause psychological benefits by inducing false or implausible beliefs about the metaphysical nature of reality? this book is the first scholarly monograph in english devoted to the philosophical analysis of psychedelic drugs. its central focus is the apparent conflict between the growing use of psychedelics in psychiatry and the philosophical worldview of naturalism. within the book, letheby integrates empirical evidence and philosophical considerations in the service of a simple conclusion: this "comforting delusion objection" to psychedelic therapy fails. while exotic metaphysical ideas do sometimes come up, they are not, on closer inspection, the central driver of change in psychedelic therapy. psychedelics lead to lasting benefits by altering the sense of self, and changing how people relate to their own minds and lives-not by changing their beliefs about the ultimate nature of reality. the upshot is that a traditional conception of psychedelics as agents of insight and spirituality can be reconciled with naturalism (the philosophical position that the natural world is all there is). controlled psychedelic use can lead to genuine forms of knowledge gain and spiritual growth-even if no cosmic consciousness or transcendent divine reality exists. philosophy of psychedelics is an indispensable guide to the literature for researchers already engaged in the field of psychedelic psychiatry, and for researchers-especially philosophers-who want to become acquainted with this increasingly topical field." — publisher's description

You are in possession of an exquisite machine motionlessly buoyant in the softly circulating fluids of your skull. a world-building machine. and psychedelic molecules are the tools for tuning and operating this machine… from lsd to magic mushrooms to dmt to salvia divinorum, psychedelics are used across the globe to stimulate the brain and change the nature of the subjective world. in sufficient doses, these molecules have the potential, not only to alter the structure of the normal waking world, but to replace it entirely – to hurl the tripper into fantastical realms of immense complexity and strangeness, bursting with extraordinary ecologies of apparently intelligent and communicative beings. gallimore (author of alien information theory: psychedelic drug technologies and the cosmic game) explains in unprecedented depth and detail how psychedelic drugs interface with the human brain, alter the structure and dynamics of the experienced world, and rapidly and efficiently switch the brain's reality channel, opening up a vast number of alternate worlds for discovery and exploration. ultimately, using both molecular and post-molecular technologies, humans will be able to enter countless different worlds at will, to establish communication with the beings resident therein, and to engineer reality itself.

When lsd was first discovered in the 1940s, it seemed to researchers, scientists and doctors as if the world might be on the cusp of psychological revolution. it promised to shed light on the deep mysteries of consciousness, as well as offer relief to addicts and the mentally ill. but in the 1960s, with the vicious backlash against the counter-culture, all further research was banned. in recent years, however, work has quietly begun again on the amazing potential of lsd, psilocybin and dmt. could these drugs in fact improve the lives of many people? diving deep into this extraordinary world and putting himself forward as a guinea-pig, michael pollan has written a remarkable history of psychedelics and a compelling portrait of the new generation of scientists fascinated by the implications of these drugs. how to change your mindis a report from what could very well be the future of human consciousness.

“pollan keeps you turning the pages . . . cleareyed and assured.” —new york timesa #1 new york times bestseller, new york times book review 10 best books of 2018, and new york times notable book a brilliant and brave investigation into the medical and scientific revolution taking place around psychedelic drugs–and the spellbinding story of his own life-changing psychedelic experiences when michael pollan set out to research how lsd and psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) are being used to provide relief to people suffering from difficult-to-treat conditions such as depression, addiction and anxiety, he did not intend to write what is undoubtedly his most personal book. but upon discovering how these remarkable substances are improving the lives not only of the mentally ill but also of healthy people coming to grips with the challenges of everyday life, he decided to explore the landscape of the mind in the first person as well as the third. thus began a singular adventure into various altered states of consciousness, along with a dive deep into both the latest brain science and the thriving underground community of psychedelic therapists. pollan sifts the historical record to separate the truth about these mysterious drugs from the myths that have surrounded them since the 1960s, when a handful of psychedelic evangelists inadvertently catalyzed a powerful backlash against what was then a promising field of research.a unique and elegant blend of science, memoir, travel writing, history, and medicine, how to change your mind is a triumph of participatory journalism. by turns dazzling and edifying, it is the gripping account of a journey to an exciting and unexpected new frontier in our understanding of the mind, the self, and our place in the world.

Psychedelic shamanism presents the spiritual and shamanic properties of psychotropic plants and discusses how they can be used to understand the structure of human consciousness. author jim dekorne offers authoritative information about the cultivation, processing, and correct dosages for various psychotropic plant substances including the belladonna alkaloids, d-lysergic acid amide, botanical analogues of lsd, mescaline, ayahuasca, dmt, and psilocybin. opening with vivid descriptions of the author's personal experiences with psychedelic drugs, the book describes the parallels that exist among shamanic states of consciousness, the use of psychedelic catalysts, and the hidden structure of the human psyche. dekorne suggests that psychedelic drugs allow us to examine the shamanic dimensions of reality. this worldview, he says, is ubiquitous across space, time, and culture, with individuals separated by race, distance, and culture routinely describing the same core reality that provides powerful evidence of the dimensional nature of consciousness itself. the book guides the reader through the imaginal realm underlying our awareness, a world in which spiritual entities exist to reconnect us with ourselves, humanity, and our planet. accurate drawings of plants, including peyote, salvia divinorum, and san pedro, enhance the book's usefulness.

Psychedelic shamanism presents the spiritual and shamanic properties of psychotropic plants and discusses how they can be used to understand the structure of human consciousness. author jim dekorne offers authoritative information about the cultivation, processing, and correct dosages for various psychotropic plant substances including the belladonna alkaloids, d-lysergic acid amide, botanical analogues of lsd, mescaline, ayahuasca, dmt, and psilocybin. opening with vivid descriptions of the author's personal experiences with psychedelic drugs, the book describes the parallels that exist among shamanic states of consciousness, the use of psychedelic catalysts, and the hidden structure of the human psyche. dekorne suggests that psychedelic drugs allow us to examine the shamanic dimensions of reality. this worldview, he says, is ubiquitous across space, time, and culture, with individuals separated by race, distance, and culture routinely describing the same core reality that provides powerful evidence of the dimensional nature of consciousness itself. the book guides the reader through the imaginal realm underlying our awareness, a world in which spiritual entities exist to reconnect us with ourselves, humanity, and our planet. accurate drawings of plants, including peyote, salvia divinorum, and san pedro, enhance the book's usefulness.

"a genuine spiritual quest. . . . extraordinary." — new york timesamong the most profound and influential explorations of mind-expanding psychedelic drugs ever written, here are two complete classic books—the doors of perception and heaven and hell—in which aldous huxley, author of brave new world, reveals the mind's remote frontiers and the unmapped areas of human consciousness. this edition also features an additional essay, "drugs that shape men's minds," now included for the first time.