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Discussion => Off topic => Topic started by: morningRain on February 27, 2012, 09:27 am

Title: What are your favorite psychedelic books?
Post by: morningRain on February 27, 2012, 09:27 am
The Illuminatis Trilogy by Robert Anton Wilson and the Sprawl Trilogy by William Gibson are probably my favorite. Here are some torrents:

http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/4081423/Wilson__Robert_Anton_-_Illuminatus_Trilogy.pdf
http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/5129248/Neuromancer_%28PDF%29
http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/5193716/William_Gibson_-_Count_Zero
http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/5193719/William_Gibson_-_Mona_Lisa_Overdrive

Watch out for those sprawl oungans (Count Zero, pg. 66).
Title: Re: What are your favorite psychedelic books?
Post by: genial on February 27, 2012, 07:01 pm
The Psychedelic Experience Timothy Leary
Be Here Now Ram Dass
The Empereor Wears No Clothes Jack Herer
The Doors Of Perception- Huxely
Phenethylamines I Have Known And Loved- Shulgin
DMT The Spirit Molecule- Strassman
Life Before Life
Life After Life
Title: Re: What are your favorite psychedelic books?
Post by: morningRain on February 28, 2012, 05:48 am
Moving towards non-fiction writing, Robert Anton Wilson's "Prometheus Rising" [1] might be interesting if you resonate with Leary. Wilson's version of Leary's 8 circuit model of consciousness is summarized at deoxy [2]. Continuing with the ogdoad theme, some might find it interesting to have a look at Spiral Dynamics [3]. That might lead to Ken Wilber's Integral System Theory [4].

[1] http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/4368405/Prometheus_Rising
[2] http://deoxy.org/8circuit.htm
[3] http://www.spiraldynamics.org/resources_articles.htm
[4] http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/3516097/Ken_Wilber_-_Integral_Operating_System_1.0_-_Video_DVD.avi
Title: Re: What are your favorite psychedelic books?
Post by: tcobambientAgain on February 28, 2012, 11:05 pm
Nice thread. 

I'd say The Doors Of Perception by Huxely is my fave. 

Let's not forget about Food Of The Gods by McKenna as well as a few other books by Terence. 

I've read a few books by Carlos Castaneda but I get the feeling that he's not fully truthful about his experiences and is probably a bit full of shit about situations that he says happened to him. 
Title: Re: What are your favorite psychedelic books?
Post by: morningRain on March 16, 2012, 01:37 am
Joseph Campbell's work in comparative religion and the analysis of myth are significant. The Mythos [1] video series is a convenient introduction and The Power of Myth [2] interview with Bill Moyers is also informative.

[1] http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/5906512/Joseph_Campbell_-_Mythos_I_and_II
[2] http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/3748062/The_Power_of_Myth
Title: Re: What are your favorite psychedelic books?
Post by: microRNA on March 17, 2012, 08:31 am
this is an interesting thread, thanks for some of the suggestions

i definitely focus on the more non-fiction categories, personally i would definitely recommend shulgins works obviously!

also for a great study on dmt and insight into scientific psychedelic research on humans, as someone recommend Strassman's DMT: the spirit molecule is interesting and a great resource for trip reports of intense IV DMT doses. kinda cool to read about all the red tape BS that had to be navigated to even be able to get permission from the DEA and FDA to synth, possess and administer the scheduled substance. then the book discusses the potential implications for the natural existence and release in humans from the pineal gland and potential spiritual aspects and the involvement in near death experiences which is fascinating

another I read I enjoyed was McKenna's True Hallucinatons which was a frankly borderline schizophrenic account of one of McKennas first travels into the jungle and his first experiences with the magical mushroom that became such a major part of his philosophy. very entertaining and strange with shamanism, ufos, complete psychedelic induced psychotic mental breakdowns... and then the initial development of his rebirth theory focusing around 2012. interesting at the least.

- miR
Title: Re: What are your favorite psychedelic books?
Post by: Dr.HellNo on March 19, 2012, 05:59 am
"The Selfish Gene" by Richard Dawkins.
"Programming and Metaprogramming in the Human Biocomputer" by John Lilly.
Title: Re: What are your favorite psychedelic books?
Post by: CharasBros on March 19, 2012, 05:05 pm
currently reading

Handbook for the Therapeutic Use of LSD-25 Individual and Group Procedures
1959
D.B. BLEWETT, Ph.D.
Title: Re: What are your favorite psychedelic books?
Post by: oldschoolclubkid on March 19, 2012, 05:14 pm
I stole the wiki quote on this book it was so great i couldn't resist!

The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test is a work of literary journalism by Tom Wolfe, published in 1968. Using techniques from the genre of hysterical realism and pioneering new journalism, the "nonfiction novel" tells the story of Ken Kesey and his band of Merry Pranksters. The book follows the Pranksters across the country driving in a psychedelic painted school bus dubbed "Further" (called "Furthur" in the book due to an initial misspelling on the bus' placard), reaching what they considered to be personal and collective revelations through the use of LSD and other psychedelic drugs. The book also describes the Acid Tests, early performances by The Grateful Dead, and Kesey's exile to Mexico.
In 1968, Eliot Fremont-Smith of The New York Times called The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test "not simply the best book on hippies… [but also] the essential book."[1]
Title: Re: What are your favorite psychedelic books?
Post by: SpaceWalk on March 19, 2012, 10:42 pm
I'm currently reading LSD: My Problem Child by Albert Hofmann.

Next on my list:

The Joyous Cosmology by Alan Watts
PIHKAL by Sasha Shulgin
Breaking Open the Head by Daniel Pinchbeck
Title: Re: What are your favorite psychedelic books?
Post by: goblin on March 22, 2012, 08:50 pm
- Doors of Perception Huxley)
- The Varieties of Psychedelic Experience (Masters and Houston)
- True Hallucinations (McKenna)
- High Priest (Leary)
- One River (Wade and Davis)
Title: Re: What are your favorite psychedelic books?
Post by: Mrambulancedriver on March 22, 2012, 09:28 pm
Moving towards non-fiction writing, Robert Anton Wilson's "Prometheus Rising" [1] might be interesting if you resonate with Leary. Wilson's version of Leary's 8 circuit model of consciousness is summarized at deoxy [2]. Continuing with the ogdoad theme, some might find it interesting to have a look at Spiral Dynamics [3]. That might lead to Ken Wilber's Integral System Theory [4].

[1] http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/4368405/Prometheus_Rising
[2] http://deoxy.org/8circuit.htm
[3] http://www.spiraldynamics.org/resources_articles.htm
[4] http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/3516097/Ken_Wilber_-_Integral_Operating_System_1.0_-_Video_DVD.avi



I read Prometheus Rising in highschool, i had to read it a few times because when i first discovered it i had not taken a psychology class so i didnt understand some concepts and terms without going over it a bunch. I read it again after i took a psychology class as well

That book helped me understand humans and why we do some of the shit we do. I'm pretty sure that book, along with my Ecology teacher in high school sparked my interest in Anthropology.

I'm gonna have to read some of the books you've guys posted, I've only read Prometheus Rising, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and some of The Psychedelic Experience.

I'm taking an English Course this semester though so I've got to wait till the Summer to tackle my personal reading list, unfortunately.
Title: Re: What are your favorite psychedelic books?
Post by: morningRain on March 22, 2012, 10:22 pm
The following video lecture series might provide some foundation useful for interpreting the books presented in this thread.

1. "Growing Up in the Universe" is a series of lectures given by Richard Dawkins as part of the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, where he discusses the evolution of life in the universe.
2. "Mythos" is a multi-part documentary that consists of a series of lectures given by Joseph Campbell. Campbell conceived of the original lectures, filmed over the last six years of his life, as a summation of what he had learned about the human mythic impulse, in terms of psychology, ethnology and comparative mythology—what he called "the one great story of mankind."
3. "Great Minds of the Western Intellectual Tradition" is a comprehensive survey of the history of Western philosophy from its origins in classical Greece to the present. The course is an 84-lecture, 12-professor tour of Western philosophical tradition and covers more than 60 of history's greatest minds.
4. "Discovering Psychology", A video instructional series on introductory psychology for college and high school classrooms and adult learners; 26 half-hour video programs.

[1] http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/3899076/Richard_Dawkins__Growing_Up_in_the_Universe_Part_1__2__3__4___amp__5
[2] http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/5906512/Joseph_Campbell_-_Mythos_I_and_II
[3] http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/4709165/TTC_Video_-_Great_Minds_of_the_Western_Intellectual_Tradition
[4] http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/3619756/Discovering_Psychology_%28wmv%29_-_American_Psychological_Associatio
Title: Re: What are your favorite psychedelic books?
Post by: oldschoolclubkid on March 23, 2012, 02:20 am
for all of that mentioned The Doors Of Perception by Huxely check out Heaven and Hell also by Huxely its short and a great read.

Also very surprised no one has mentioned On the Road by Jack Kerouac
Title: Re: What are your favorite psychedelic books?
Post by: deadNotSleeping on March 23, 2012, 03:07 am
Also very surprised no one has mentioned On the Road by Jack Kerouac

The major works of Beat writing are Allen Ginsberg's Howl (1956), William S. Burroughs's Naked Lunch (1959) and Jack Kerouac's On the Road (1957).  "The Source" is a 1999 documentary about the Beat Generation. It's informative.

http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/4428270/The_Source_-_A_Documentary_%5B1999%5D
Title: Re: What are your favorite psychedelic books?
Post by: oldschoolclubkid on March 23, 2012, 01:07 pm
Also very surprised no one has mentioned On the Road by Jack Kerouac

The major works of Beat writing are Allen Ginsberg's Howl (1956), William S. Burroughs's Naked Lunch (1959) and Jack Kerouac's On the Road (1957).  "The Source" is a 1999 documentary about the Beat Generation. It's informative.

http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/4428270/The_Source_-_A_Documentary_%5B1999%5D

Allen Ginsberg was a very odd katt, seemed like a great guy and did some great stuff, would have loved to hang out and trip with him, but he was a very odd katt.  William S. Burroughs is the shit but dont try and read his work tripping, just a fair warning lol. Jack Kerouac is by far my favorite beatnik author anyone that can get away with turning in their novel to the publisher on a roll of paper towels and get away with it gets an A+ in my book.
Title: Re: What are your favorite psychedelic books?
Post by: Mrambulancedriver on March 23, 2012, 06:51 pm
I forgot to mention PIKaL and TIKaL by Shulgin

Reading those is what made me want to try 2c-b : )
Title: Re: What are your favorite psychedelic books?
Post by: bwompah on March 24, 2012, 01:37 am
I don't know that it qualifies as "psychedelic," but I recently really enjoyed "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" by Philip K. Dick. I had to put it down and just let the mindfuck sink in a few times (granted I was pretty stoned, but I'm convinced it was fairly trippy regardless).

I'd seen Blade Runner and wasn't into it for whatever reason. I definitely think the book outweighs the movie in this case.

In a similar vein, I'd recommend almost any Kurt Vonnegut (or at least his short story, "Harrison Bergeron") and maybe some Thomas Pynchon or Chuck Palahniuk. Huxley, Thompson, Burroughs, and Wolfe are all solid suggestions--probably more what you're looking for, anyway.

Hmm...how about some Buddhist texts? I'd say "The Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra" or anything by Nagarjuna are good primary sources. "The Way of Zen" by Alan Watts is a famous American/beat era take on Buddhism, which might also be of interest.
Title: Re: What are your favorite psychedelic books?
Post by: dduckpad on March 29, 2012, 02:44 am
The documentaries are interesting, favorite acting movies though are
Fear n Loathing and Jesus' Son.
Title: Re: What are your favorite psychedelic books?
Post by: wt on March 29, 2012, 10:20 am
The Illuminatis Trilogy by Robert Anton Wilson and the Sprawl Trilogy by William Gibson are probably my favorite. Here are some torrents:

http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/4081423/Wilson__Robert_Anton_-_Illuminatus_Trilogy.pdf
http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/5129248/Neuromancer_%28PDF%29
http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/5193716/William_Gibson_-_Count_Zero
http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/5193719/William_Gibson_-_Mona_Lisa_Overdrive

Watch out for those sprawl oungans (Count Zero, pg. 66).

Second the Sprawl Trilogy - Neuromancer, at least, is a must read.   I'd add Gravity's Rainbow by T. Pynchon to that list (which is a difficult, but satisfying read) as well as Perdido Street Station by China Mieville.