The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Substances [Paperback]

Richard Rudgley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 18, 2000

For all those who might like to believe that drug use has been relegated to the suburban rec rooms and ghetto crack houses of the late twentieth century, The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Substances offers shocking, yet thoroughly enlightening evidence to the contrary. In fact, from Neolithic man to Queen Victoria, humans have abused all sorts of drugs in the name of religion, tradition, and recreation, including such "controlled substances" as chocolate, lettuce, and toads.

From glue-sniffing to LSD to kava, The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Substances provides the first reliable, comprehensive exploration of this fascinating and controversial topic. With over one hundred entries, acclaimed author Richard Rudgley covers not only the chemical and botanical background of each substance, but its physiological and psychological effect on the user. Of particular value is Rudgley's emphasis on the historical and cultural role of these mind-altering substances. Impeccably researched and hugely entertaining, The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Substances will appeal to anyone interested in one of the most misunderstood and yet also most widespread of human activities - the chemical quest for an altered state of consciousness.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

What's in that "smart drink," exactly? The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Substances gives up the goods on well over 100 drugs, plants, and animals capable of altering mood and thought. From ergot to Ecstasy, author Richard Rudgley provides in-depth ethnographic and historical information on past and current use, as well as the changing social attitudes toward this motley assortment of fun-loving chemicals. While short on pharmacological and scientific information--this is no PDR--The Encyclopedia is wildly entertaining and informative about the actual use and meaning of psychoactives.

Did you know there are species of hallucinogenic fish? That ants have been used in vision quests? That barbiturates were named for St. Barbara? The book pulls together little-known facts from a variety of literature and produces cohesive, well-documented entries equally well suited to the student and the browser. Rudgley focuses more on naturally occurring substances than lab creations, but the big synthetics like LSD, PCP, and cocaine all get fair coverage as well. The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Substances is a welcome and much-needed resource for the intrepid psychonaut. --Rob Lightner --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

Though dutiful on ordinary drugs, he is gripped when it comes to the exotic or obscure.... As Mr Rudgley sweeps from soma of the ancient Indo-Iranians to Ecstasy in the British rave scene, he is careful always to put his psychoactive substances into a wider cultural or even ritual context, an aspect that has been largely lost in Western drug use. -- The Economist --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition edition (August 18, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312263171
• ISBN-13: 978-0312263171
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,184,041 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Overview Of Most Drugs, April 1, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Encyclopaedia of Psychoactive Substances (Hardcover)

This is a good overview of most drugs used in society today as well as plants and methods that have been used in times past. From the common to the obscure, most psychoactive substances and their histories are included. It makes a welcome addition to any library.

Being a book in encyclopedia form, it only devotes a few pages to each substance. If you are looking for a detailed book about a specific drug don't get this, get a book strictly devoted to the drug you are interested in.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Encyclopedia, March 10, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Substances (Paperback)

Takes a look at not only common drugs, plants, and animals, yes animals, used for psychoactive experiences, but more importantly, it gives a very impressive view of obscure substances that most other 'drug encyclopedias', that cost about the same price or more, don't even mention.

This is the book to get if you want to learn more about the substances that you don't see in the news everyday, but in many cases have been used for hundreds, if not thousands of years.

It looks at the more common drugs used in society today (LSD, Ecstasy, Marijuana, etc.) but its real value is that of a gap filler in most peoples drug knowledge.