The Literature of Psychedelics
Bob Wallace, Mind Books

New Books

The Secret Chief
Myron Stolaroff

STORY of a pioneering therapist (now deceased) who used psychedelics in his practice. Combines a fascinating look at early excitement in the 50s about the potential of psychedelics for personal development with many practical suggestions about preparation and techniques for individual and group experiences, as well as comparisons of various psychedelic compounds for these purposes. Stan Grof, Albert Hofmann, Ann Shulgin, and Sasha Shulgin also contribute. Includes an excellent resource list. All profits from the book support psychedelic therapy research. (1997, MAPS, 144 pages, 0-9660019-0-7 hardback $22.95, 0-9660019-1-5 paperback $10.95)

TIHKAL: The Continuation
Alexander & Ann Shulgin

FIRST, the personal story continues, with adventures from Brazil to Lourdes to a sci-fi dream. Very useful section on personal transformation includes an excellent guide to many "places in the mind" and how to use them, practical psychedelic psychotherapy, and notes on sexuality and terror dreams. Long chapters on DMT- containing plants and ayahuasca follow, then an excursion into drug politics. Part two covers LSD, DMT, psilocybin, and many new tryptamine variations with their synthesis and effects, such as 4-hydroxy-DIPT and 5-methoxy-DIPT, and a couple of nor-LSDs. Ends with comprehensive appendices on drug laws, cactus alkaloids, carbolines, and tryptamines. Truly great! (1997, Transform Press 0-9630096-9-9, 832 page paperback, $23.95)

Pharmacophilia: or, The Natural Paradises
Jonathan Ott

OTT'S LITERARY MAGNUM OPUS on the value and benefits of drug experiences. Prose philosophy Blake or Baudelaire would be proud of. Section titles include Phytomphalos, Natural Paradises, Celestial Pharmaceutics, Idiosyncrasy and Pharmacophilia, Psychopharmacological Engineering, Psychonautics and Pharmacohedonology. Also covers drug education, smart drugs and drug smarts. Includes the author's fascinating endnotes (as long as the text) plus an extensive index. (1997, Jonathan Ott Books, 192 pages, 1-888755-00-8 hardback $35.95, 1-888755-01-6 paperback $17.95)

Sacred Cacti and Some Selected Succulents: Botany, Chemistry, Cultivation, and Utilization
K. Trout

DEFINITIVE BOOK on mescaline and its plant sources. Covers cultivation of peyote and San Pedro, extensive listing of many mescaline cacti and their alkaloids, the chemistry and pharmacology of mescaline with synthesis, extraction, purification, detection, and analysis. Also notes on some other succulents. Much unique material. Many references. Overall format and organization needs some work; a new edition will address this, but very useful as it stands. (1997, Narayan Publications [no ISBN], 288 page large paperback, $24.95)

The Long Trip: A Prehistory of Psychedelia
Paul Devereux

THOROUGH OVERVIEW of ancient use of psychedelic plants for ritual and spiritual purposes. Starts by describing soma/amanita, Eleusis, witching herbs, datura, ayahuasca, peyote, and many other cultural uses of hallucinogens, then compares ancient and modern shamanic art and artifacts, and concludes with musings on what it all means. (1997, Penguin/Arkana 0-14-019540-8, 320 page paperback, $15.95)

Design for Dying
Timothy Leary & R.U. Sirius

LEARY'S FINAL BOOK, about how to control and benefit from the process of dying. Preparation, death as performance art, ketamine and other drugs that help us understand death, the cryonics/nanotech option. Also how Tim finally died, and his performance as remembered by his friends. (1997, Harper Collins 0-06- 018700-X, 246 page hardback, $23.95)

The White Rabbit: And Other Delights
Alan Bisbort

COLLECTION OF POSTERS and other artwork from East Totem West, 1967-1969. This group helped start the psychedelic art movement; the book contains many fine examples of colorful, intricate images. (Not to be confused with the Chronicle book White Rabbit: A Psychedelic Reader.) (1996, Pomegranate Artbooks [Ingram] 0-7649-0011-0, 87 page large paperback, $26.95)

Plants of Love: The History of Aphrodisiacs and a Guide to Their Identification
Christian Ratsch

INFORMATION on over 100 plants in this class, with intriguing stories and full-color art from a wide variety of cultures. Introduction to these natural sex helpers, overview of 113 such plants, and longer chapters on cannabis, opium, wines, ginseng, spices, mandrake, henbane, yohimbe, damiana, coca, and honey. Plus recipes, chemistry, synthetic drugs; glossary and index. (1997, Ten Speed Press [Ingram] 0-89815-928- 8, 208 page paperback, $19.95)

New Editions

Psychedelic Drugs Reconsidered
Lester Grinspoon & James Bakalar

CLASSIC on social history and uses of psychedelics. Describes the major psychedelics, pre-historical and post- industrial uses, the nature of the experience, adverse effects and their treatment, and therapeutic and research uses. New introduction and preface describes latest research. Bibliography and index. (1979 [1997 edition], Lindesmith Center [Bookworld] 0-9641568-5-7, 385 page paperback, $12.95)

Sacred Mushrooms and The Law
Richard Glen Boire

DESCRIBES federal and all state laws on psilocybin mushrooms and compounds. Covers California law against spores; legal difference between mushrooms and their active compounds; and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act as defense for religious use. Cites many relevant cases. Written by noted lawyer and author of the fine Entheogen Law Reporter. (1997, Spectral Mindustries 1-890425-00-1, 69 page small booklet, $9.95)

A Primer of Drug Action: Concise, Nontechnical Guide to Actions, Uses, and Side Effects of Psychoactive Drugs
Robert Julien

COMPREHENSIVE but readable description of how various psychoactive drugs work, both recreational and psychotherapeutic, as well as associated neurotransmitters and receptors. Nice chapter on psychedelics, and section on MAO inhibition. (1997 [8th edition], W. H. Freeman, 528 pages, 0-7167-3112-6 hardback $32.95, 0-7167-3113-4 paperback $21.95)

Biochemical Basis of Neuropharmacology
Jack R. Cooper, Floyd E. Bloom, & Robert H. Roth

WELL-KNOWN graduate level textbook. Much more detailed than books above; not written for laymen. Chapters on each major neurotransmitter, including metabolism and various receptors; the one on serotonin describes the known workings of LSD. Best book for the serious student. Chapter references and index. (1996 [7th edition]; Oxford University Press 0-19-510399-8, 465 page paperback, $29.95)

Peyote and Other Psychoactive Cacti
Adam Gottlieb

PRACTICAL GUIDE to peyote, San Pedro, and other mescaline cacti: their legality, effects, methods of use, botany, cultivation (from seed, cuttings, and grafting), and extraction techniques. Many photographs. (1997 [2nd edition]; Ronin Publishing 0-914171-95-X, 94 page paperback, $9.95)

New Periodicals

TRP: The Resonance Project
James Kent (editor)

NEW QUARTERLY magazine focused on popular psychedelic use and other topics related to the mind and its many connections. Issue 1 includes Pioneers of the Virtual Underground, Vine of the Souls, Santo Daime, Salvia Divinorum Cultivation Tips, Galactic Harmonic Primer, Neuro-inversion, In Memory of D.M. Turner, and other articles as well as news, book and music reviews. Issue 2 includes Copswatch, Microspeakeasy, Ripping the Net, Howard Rheingold interview, Virtual Neural Networks, Future Hype, a theory of ketamine use for metaprogramming, the Borametz Scam, Entheogenetics, a guide to North American psychoactive fungi, Ayahuasca Cookbook, Dennis McKenna interview, and more, plus news, book and music reviews. (Resonant Media, 64-68 page large booklet, $4.95 each)

Psychedelic Island Views
Bruce Eisner (editor)

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1 includes fascinating Terence McKenna and Owsley "Bear" Stanley interviews, the Shulgins, beat poets, Elizabeth Gips, Douglas Rushkoff, Digital Be-In, Human Be-In. (Island Group, 52 page large booklet, $4.95)

The Peyote Awareness Journal

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1 is an expanded newsletter of the Peyote Foundation, devoted to this ancient plant and its sacramental and healing uses, and also covers cultivation techniques and legal issues. Good people and good information. (The Peyote Foundation, 42 page large booklet, $9.95)

Eleusis: Bulletin of the Italian Society for the Study of the States of Consciousness
Giorgio Samorini (editor)

ISSUE 7 includes articles in English on an annotated bibliography of Bwiti religion (with some great photos); Tribulus terrestris; Hallucinogenic Boletes in China; and book reviews. (SISSC, 44 page large booklet, $8.95)

Where to Get These Books

All books may be ordered from Mind Books, the author's company; of course many are available from other good sources.

To contact Mind Books

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