, xxviii, 978 pages, xxviii, 804 pages, other ISBN: 0963009699
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
84 of 86 people found the following review helpful
By "dregaron"
Format:Paperback
This book is divided into two halves. The first half is the story of Shulgin's life, from childhood to modern times. It is a moving and beautiful tale of one man's attempt to make sense of the world and his place in it. Intertwined in this personal experience is a budding love affair with a woman who could only be rated as amazing.
The second half consists of Shulgin's recipes and notes on the synthesis of every compound in the Phenethylamine category that he has ever made.
Overall, this book will change the way you feel about psychedelics, and the reasons that people use them. The story is at times inspiring, at times heartbreaking, and always genuine. Highly recommended as an introduction to the spirituality behind psychedelics and some of the issues involved with them.
68 of 71 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This book is fascinating. It is not an "I like trippin' and listenin' to the Dead" book. It is a very thorough, interesting account of the work of two very intelligent and thoughtful people in the area of psychedelic drugs and their influence on/application to human life. Here's a quote that gives some idea of the orientation of the book: of marijuana (not a phenethylamine, and thus, not really addressed fully in the book), Shulgin writes, "I have chosen not to use marijuana, as I feel the light-headed intoxication and benign alteration of consciousness does not adequately compensate for an uncomfortable feeling that I am wasting time." Of psychedelics, he writes, "the potential of the psychedelic drugs to provide access to the interior universe, is, I believe, their most valuable property." This isn't a book about seeing jerry-bears and setting up clandestine labs. It's an introduction to a new way of exploring one's relationship to the rest of the universe. It is wonderful and an invaluable resource to all who are willing to try to deal with this piece of the puzzle.
60 of 67 people found the following review helpful
By Sy
Format:Paperback
I purchased PIHKAL from Amazon and read it in it's entirety.
The most poignant aspect of this book reveals that as we are organic machines, our consciousness is just another chemically induced perception and therefore only one valid reality predisposed by evolution for survival.
Shulgin's Genius is honed with such objectivity, innocence, dedication and clarity that he is able to both successfuly and interestingly document the human-mind altering effects produced by the synthesised compounds entirely dedicated to the second-half of this book.
Furthermore, I have read all of the Amazon reviews regarding PIHKAL and feel that some just do not get the extreme depth of this work. Reading this incredibly open account of Human reality means that there will always be dull bits and parts that make one cringe because that's how real life is for one and all.
The potential reader needs to approach this work with an open mindset and absorb the content without pretence, preconception or professional envy affecting clarity because this book is about the other side of the coin.
Finally, to dedicate ones life to recording Human perception so openly in hardcopy is a tremendous quantum leap ahead of the absurd revisionist realities that people in our "Soap World" prefer to pretend that they live via TV and use to deal with personal issues through the application of anger, violence and greed which are wrongly accepted as legitimate relief mechanisms.
In summary, PIHKAL is an extremely important piece in the Jigsaw of the "age of reason" and awareness. Don't be threatened, it definitely deserves at least "5 Stars". Read it, do it and get to the next level...... the evolution of mind.
The most poignant aspect of this book reveals that as we are organic machines, our consciousness is just another chemically induced perception and therefore only one valid reality predisposed by evolution for survival.
Shulgin's Genius is honed with such objectivity, innocence, dedication and clarity that he is able to both successfuly and interestingly document the human-mind altering effects produced by the synthesised compounds entirely dedicated to the second-half of this book.
Furthermore, I have read all of the Amazon reviews regarding PIHKAL and feel that some just do not get the extreme depth of this work. Reading this incredibly open account of Human reality means that there will always be dull bits and parts that make one cringe because that's how real life is for one and all.
The potential reader needs to approach this work with an open mindset and absorb the content without pretence, preconception or professional envy affecting clarity because this book is about the other side of the coin.
Finally, to dedicate ones life to recording Human perception so openly in hardcopy is a tremendous quantum leap ahead of the absurd revisionist realities that people in our "Soap World" prefer to pretend that they live via TV and use to deal with personal issues through the application of anger, violence and greed which are wrongly accepted as legitimate relief mechanisms.
In summary, PIHKAL is an extremely important piece in the Jigsaw of the "age of reason" and awareness. Don't be threatened, it definitely deserves at least "5 Stars". Read it, do it and get to the next level...... the evolution of mind.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Deserves attention and thoughtful reflection.
This is book that deserves attention. The Shulgin's display a great love of exploration, friendship, wisdom and knowledge. Read more
Published 11 days ago by Catherine Brotzman
5.0 out of 5 stars
What i expected & wanted
It is exactly what i expected, a paper-"brick" containting words arranged in such a way that it becomes an intriguing mental journey.
Published 2 months ago by Michael Ĺberg
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
An amazing book for everyone that is interested in drugs, counterculture and the beggining of research about psychodelic drugs. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Stefanie Gaspar
5.0 out of 5 stars
SCHWEET
AMAZING BOOK, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE DINNER WITH THIS SCIENTIST. Truly amazing, I do not know what else to say
Published 4 months ago by Keaton
5.0 out of 5 stars
for those who want to know more
Pihkal is a cornerstone of the counter culture library. Read it for the rich story of Sasha & Ann, read it for science, read it for history, read it for personal introspection.... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Becca Marsilii
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very good
I recomend this title for all of study about psycho substances, Amazon deliver much faster too. I Recomend, and after I'll buy the sequel, called "TIHKAL".
Published 5 months ago by Barabanov
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great resource book for learning about this class of chemicals
I was doing research in 1972 on these compounds when the University was told to shutdown the research in this area of brain neurotransmitters and their analogs. Read more
Published 6 months ago by J. Elliott
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pihkal
Very pleased with purchase. Arrived as expected and in mint condition wrapped in shrink wrap. Excellent read for anyone interested in this type of scientific research.
Published 8 months ago by cvan63
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome
Wish there were more books like this. The cook book section requires a lot of deciphering though. I've got a chemistry degree which helps, but I still spent a lot of time... Read more
Published 19 months ago by SodaX
2.0 out of 5 stars
Great for a fan of Shulgin, but otherwise a disappointment
Alexander Shuglin's PIHKAL is a great purchase for any fan/admirer of this brilliant organic chemist and pharmacologist, but I feel readers are giving this work more credit that it... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Sagegreen
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