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Mescaline
- A Global History of the First Psychedelic
- Narrated by: Paul Brion
- Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins
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Mescaline
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Summary
A definitive history of mescaline that explores its mind-altering effects across cultures, from ancient America to Western modernity
Mescaline became a popular sensation in the mid-20th century through Aldous Huxley's The Doors of Perception, after which the word "psychedelic" was coined to describe it. Its story, however, extends deep into prehistory: The earliest Andean cultures depicted mescaline-containing cacti in their temples.
Mescaline was isolated in 1897 from the peyote cactus, first encountered by Europeans during the Spanish conquest of Mexico. During the 20th century, it was used by psychologists investigating the secrets of consciousness, spiritual seekers from Aleister Crowley to the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, artists exploring the creative process, and psychiatrists looking to cure schizophrenia. Meanwhile, peyote played a vital role in preserving and shaping Native American identity. Drawing on botany, pharmacology, ethnography, and the mind sciences and examining the mescaline experiences of figures from William James to Walter Benjamin to Hunter S. Thompson, this is an enthralling narrative of mescaline's many lives.
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What listeners say about Mescaline
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- S. Taylor
- 30-09-20
An astonishing book
If ever a book was thoroughly researched and written, this is that book. It's interesting as much for the context that it puts the subject in, as the subject itself, and the storytelling is sufficiently compelling that I'm actively curious as to what will happen next, in the story of Mescaline- clearly it's not over.
There's a lot of reported speech in the book, and the narrator doesn't go out of his way to make you aware of when that is happening, which is quite annoying, but you get used to it. And his pronunciation of anything French is terrible.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Pedro
- 03-01-20
what a beautiful narrative
I loved every minute of this book. of you Gabe any interest in psychedelic history this book is so fascinating. i wish it never ended.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Paul
- 01-05-23
An authoritative study
An intriguing title, so would this book be any different to the many others I have read on this subject on the subject of psychedelics?
From the outset, the author intelligently gathers a wide range of highly relevant source material and expertly blends it together with a mix of probing cultural inquiry, contemporary influence, philosophy, law and a good measure of applicable science from a neutral standpoint.
Many books tackling this subject matter do little more than cheerlead the indulgence whilst cherry picking the evidence (and dangers) to support an agenda. However, Mike Jay has achieved something very different here, and has calmly distilled hard information, evaluated different viewpoints and drawn some interesting conclusions without ever trying to sell you on anything you should believe.
I particularly enjoyed the many references to historical figures who have played their part and conducted their own research during an era with hysteria was still in its infancy.
A thumbs-up from me. I learned something new. Several things actually. Recommended.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- defacto films
- 29-10-21
This might be a good book
I usually love Mike Jay and his brilliant writing, always well researched and fascinating. However I could not get past chapter 4 of this book purely as the reader is so absolutely awful. Flat delivery in a horrible accent. Shame.
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