Silk Road forums

Discussion => Off topic => Topic started by: candorean on May 22, 2012, 04:11 pm

Title: Any decent books on psychedelics?
Post by: candorean on May 22, 2012, 04:11 pm
I picked up "Acid Dreams: The Complete Social History of LSD" but it really feels like the authors have no idea what they're talking about. Most of the theories and info seemed exaggerated and sensationalistic and I couldn't take it seriously. I also heard Shulgin's Pihkal and Tihkal are just fictional stories as well. Each book I read before made me think how unique everybody's trips were... but reading the SR forums has changed my mind a little. The trip reports here are much more like what I experience and I'm guessing its because nobody here tries to exaggerate. Are there any good, accurate autobiographies that I can pick up on psychedelics?
Title: Re: Any decent books on psychedelics?
Post by: Ballzinator on May 22, 2012, 04:20 pm
You should probably read PiHKAL and TiHKAL first. Also, what interests you most in psychedelics? The pharmacology, the chemistry or the experiences themselves?
Title: Re: Any decent books on psychedelics?
Post by: Kappacino on May 22, 2012, 04:23 pm
DMT - The Spirit Molecule

High Times Encyclopedia of Drugs

Both are classic reads, albeit somewhat masturbatory
Title: Re: Any decent books on psychedelics?
Post by: Tryptamine on May 22, 2012, 05:15 pm
TiHKAL and PiHKAL are half memoir/vignettes/anecdotes, and half discussion about the chemistry/effects of drugs. They're very interesting but more specialized, and you need to know the language of organic chemistry to understand the second half.

Food of the Gods is very good, as is this book, which I've been posting here a lot:
leftinthedark.org.uk/sites/default/files/Left in the Dark free edition.pdf
Not entirely about psychedelics, but more interesting than any other book I've read on the subject.
Title: Re: Any decent books on psychedelics?
Post by: CarlJung_Forum on May 22, 2012, 05:31 pm
I agree that Shulgin's Pikhal, etc. are good reference books for the chemistry and the history, but trod only lightly on the experience(s) - giving a more 'objective' point of view. In forty years of taking psychedelics, the one book that I can relate the most to is Leary, Alpert (Ram Dass) and Metzner's "The Psychedelic Experience" based on the Tibetian Book of the Dead. I dont get into the Eastern religious aspect that (at the time - written in the 60's) was all the rage, but the various stages (or Bardos) are dead spot on, and you'll need a good strong dose to take you up to where you can recognize the 'points of departure' that differentiate a "thinking/feeling experience" from a true out-of-this-universe psychedelic experience. When you're "out there" even the most experienced psychonauts can get confused, and parts of this book can really help put that in perspective and help u avoid the "bummer."
Title: Re: Any decent books on psychedelics?
Post by: joywind on May 22, 2012, 06:28 pm
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRING
Title: Re: Any decent books on psychedelics?
Post by: moonflower on May 23, 2012, 01:47 am
the psychedelic experience by timothy leary, ram dass and ralph metzner. ESSENTIAL READING!
Title: Re: Any decent books on psychedelics?
Post by: AfternoonDelight on May 23, 2012, 02:13 am
Best psych book ever:  Storming Heaven:   https://encrypted.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=storming%20heaven&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CGQQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stormingheaven.com%2F&ei=H0e8T7n2C6-S0QXxucwU&usg=AFQjCNGqhZiZavQDqm70lqqFqjf546qa2A&cad=rja

TiHKaL and PiHKaL are not BS, they are actually pretty decent and mostly spot on.  They are also constantly being revised.
Title: Re: Any decent books on psychedelics?
Post by: echo_ on May 23, 2012, 03:06 am
Psychedelic Information Theory, (book that analytically approaches the psychedelic experience)
Food of the Gods / The Invisible Landscape or any book by Terrence McKenna. All will blow your mind.

Food of the Gods available on SR:
http://silkroadvb5piz3r.onion/silkroad/item/da6960f783

The Akashic Experience
http://silkroadvb5piz3r.onion/silkroad/item/e53eb70832

Gods, gods, and goddesses:
silkroadvb5piz3r.onion/silkroad/item/1c6bedecb9
Title: Re: Any decent books on psychedelics?
Post by: sl1pknot on May 23, 2012, 03:10 am
You should probably read PiHKAL and TiHKAL first. Also, what interests you most in psychedelics? The pharmacology, the chemistry or the experiences themselves?
Don't bother unless you understand chemistry.
Title: Re: Any decent books on psychedelics?
Post by: blahftw on May 23, 2012, 03:12 am
You should probably read PiHKAL and TiHKAL first. Also, what interests you most in psychedelics? The pharmacology, the chemistry or the experiences themselves?

i came here to suggest the same 2 books.  every silk roader should study them
Title: Re: Any decent books on psychedelics?
Post by: AfternoonDelight on May 24, 2012, 10:10 pm
Yeah, you don't have to be a chemist to enjoy the trip reports, dosage vs effects and some of the basic chemistry elements regarding what you start with and end up with.  Those two Shulgin books have helped many an SR buyer shun the BS vendors that show up from time to time.

AD