Psychedelics Encyclopedia

Media:	Paperback
Author:	Peter Stafford, Jeremy Bigwood
Publisher:	Ronin Publishing (CA)
Release date:	01 August, 1992
List price:	~~$38.95~~
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Psychedelics Encyclopedia

Average rating: Stars

Disappointing.

This book has a number of blatant errors in it that caused me to question everything asserted as fact in this book. Examples of errors would be the error about the asymmetric carbon in MDMA and in the number of molecules in 2/100ths of a microgram of LSD. These are only a few of the errors, just for illustration.

I also find that the book logically contradicts itself often. For example, when making a point about LSD and alcoholism, the author makes it clear that the LSD experience is not like the DTs (and thus 'curing' alcoholism according to this hypothesis didn't work). Later, however, the author asserts high sucess rates for alcoholism treatment with LSD.

What disappoints me most about this book is that it is too obviously biased towards psychedelics drugs. When I bought the book I was really looking for something objective, but this book has almost nothing bad to say about psychedelic drugs at all. It ventures in to the absurd discourses of "enlightenment" and creativity enhancement under scientific pretenses.

I am all for legalizing psychedelic drugs. I have taken hundreds of psychedelic trips in my life. I am a pharmaceutical chemist. This book is a disappointment to me because it is just as misleading (though less inaccurate) than much anti-drug propaganda. If you're looking for an objective, balanced book about psychedelic drugs, this is not the book for you.

That being said, the redeeming quality of the book are the sections detailing the histories of each drug. These parts were very interesting. The book does a good job of detailing the attitudes of various societies at various times towards certain drugs.

Psychedelics Encyclopedia - Peter Stafford, Jeremy Bigwood

An entertaining classic

An excellent book, one of the defining classics of the genre. It does have a few minor factual errors here and there, but overall a great book on the subject matter. Put simply, it is overflowing with information. It's also a very entertaining read, which makes it more than a simple reference. Worth the investment, even for those who are already well versed in the topic.

Peter Stafford, Jeremy Bigwood - Psychedelics Encyclopedia

Flawless

This book is perfect in every way, there is no drug war propaganda, it is pure facts, experience, and knowlege. If Psychedellics interest you then you absolutly must have this book otherwise you really have no idea what you are missing.

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