Customer Reviews

Psychedelics Encyclopedia

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is the definitive source for information about
psychedelic drugs. Chapter by chapter, Stafford takes
the reader through the world of psychedics, categorized by
chemical similarity. He includes traditional uses by indigenous
groups, as well as the Western history of use, short as it is.
This book is a rare source of straight informaion-- no
Drug War propeganda here. A must for any seeker

I've altered my review because I realized that I was disappointed by this book because my expectations were too high and that's not the book's fault. Overall, I'm glad I read the book and am glad that I still have a copy of it on my shelves. I'd give it 3.5/5 if I could.

This book has a number of blatant errors in it that caused me to question everything asserted as fact in this book. Examples of errors would be the error about the asymmetric carbon in MDMA and in the number of molecules in 2/100ths of a microgram of LSD. These are only a few of the errors, just for illustration.

I also find that the book logically contradicts itself often. For example, when making a point about LSD and alcoholism, the author makes it clear that the LSD experience is not like the DTs (and thus 'curing' alcoholism according to this hypothesis didn't work). Later, however, the author asserts high success rates for alcoholism treatment with LSD.

What disappoints me most about this book is that it is too obviously biased towards psychedelics drugs. When I bought the book I was really looking for something objective, but this book has almost nothing bad to say about psychedelic drugs at all. It ventures in to the absurd discourses of "enlightenment" and creativity enhancement under scientific pretenses.

This book was a disappointment to me because in some spots it is just as misleading (though less inaccurate) than much anti-drug propaganda. If you're looking for an objective, balanced book about psychedelic drugs, this may not be the book for you. I say it "may not" be the book for you because despite some errors and what I see as a "pro-psychedelic bias," it does still contain a lot of accurate, potentially useful and often fascinating information.

The sections of the book detailing the histories of each drug are excellent. These parts were very interesting. The book does a good job of detailing the attitudes of various societies at various times towards certain drugs.

Again, even though my rating hasn't increased, I'd like to point out a few of the book's strengths:

It's logically laid out, with the chapters on each class of substances being well organized. It is an excellent book for anyone who is simply interested in psychedelic drugs or for someone wanting to start a personal library on psychedelics. I still pick it up and use it as a reference because it's not only well organized, but also because it contains the kind of information that people often want to know about psychedelic drugs (e.g. where does the drug come from? how does it work? how is it related, chemically, to other drugs in the same category? what are its effects?). Most of the book is full of information that would be useful to people who are interested in psychedelics.

An excellent book, one of the defining classics of the genre. It does have a few minor factual errors here and there, but overall a great book on the subject matter. Put simply, it is overflowing with information. It's also a very entertaining read, which makes it more than a simple reference. Worth the investment, even for those who are already well versed in the topic.

A very well constructed foray into the psychedelic world from the more objective point of view. Includes updated information, chemical properties, effects on the human body, history, legal information, and MUCH MUCH MORE!

Very interesting book filled with everything you ever wanted to know about substances that create an altered state of awareness. Straightforward and easy to read. I recommend it.

Stafford's Psychedelics Encyclopedia is a work tailored mainly to the subject of LSD and psylocibe-containing mushrooms, and though it boasts many other chapters (with even a short blurb on the workings of belladonna) this is where its strengths are.

Readers should be forewarned that this book was written assuming the truth of certain finds that have since been called into question (the link between psylocibe-containing mushrooms and ancient world religions that Gordon Wasson was supposed to have established finds itself under strict scrutiny in Andy Letcher's Shroom: A Cultural History of the Magic Mushroom, for example)

That having been said, the work is well-researched and well-written, a strong recommendation for anyone interested in knowing more about the psychedelic substances that rocked the West during the 60's.

There is so much info in here its hard to know where to start, but it is all in here so you wont be disappointed.

This book is perfect in every way, there is no drug war propaganda, it is pure facts, experience, and knowlege. If Psychedellics interest you then you absolutly must have this book otherwise you really have no idea what you are missing.

This book is a simply amazing in4mational text, and the forward was written by a close personal friend.

If a person has questions regarding psychedelics, this is most likely the place 2 find the answers!!

As shaman and psychedelic researcher I can honestly say that this is not only not a psychedelics encyclopedia in the most remote sense, but rather an extremely uninformative, incomplete & poorly organized & written yet pretentious 400 page pamphlet. I could not have asked to be more dissapointed by a book with that title, and suggest that no one waste their time money or energy on this book.