Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Substances [Paperback]

Richard Rudgley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 22, 1999

Despite great public interest in the use and abuse of psychoactive substances this is the first comprehensive and reliable book on this fascinating and controversial topic. The encyclopedia covers the entire range of naturally occurring psychoactive species, and also a great number of man-made synthetic drugs and compounds. It explores the use of intoxicating plants by Neanderthal man through to the role of hallucinogens and narcotics in contemporary youth culture. It provides basic details on the botany and chemistry of intoxicants, and examines their influence at all levels of our culture and society. The book also tackles controversial issues such as legalisation and details the legal classification of illicit substances alongside additional relevant information on detection, prevention, punishment and other criminological subjects.

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

'Fascinating' LOADED '... tobacco, ground beetles, glue, coffee, Prozac and so on ... Rudgley concentrates with startling results, on the history of the use of such substances' GUARDIAN 'a enjoyable anthology of drugs, from opium and LSD to giraffe livers.' MARIE CLAIRE 'Fascinating' NEW SCIENTIST 'Engrossing and scholarly ... full of arcane and fascinating material' Hanif Kureishi, MAIL ON SUNDAY

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Product Details

• Paperback: 313 pages
• Publisher: Abacus (July 22, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0349111278
• ISBN-13: 978-0349111278
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,773,688 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.