Sex, Drugs & Magick: A Journey Beyond Limits [Paperback]

Robert Anton Wilson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2004

This book can be considered a "scholarly" appraisal of both the historical and modern use (and misuse) of drugs in conjunction with sex and "occult" practices. But don't let the word "scholarly" put you off. Done in Wilson's inimitable style, this is a book filled with humor, cynicism, wonder and essential information for those who would pursue what can be an immensely rewarding path, potholed with an array of social and physical dangers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A potentially explosive book if it catches on. It is remarkably free from the Alice-in-Freakland logic so popular among drug scene apologists; concurrently it has enormous built-in appeal for those we lump--for want of a more explicit term--into the "counterculture." Wilson's major concern--the causal relationship between the "real" sex drugs (marijuana, hashish, cocaine, the psychedelics) and sexual pleasure and performance--is pursued via case histories, consideration of the medical and social scientific evidence, and personal formulations (e.g., a tabular comparison of "ordinary" sex and sex on varieties of dope). All of this is accomplished in an easy spirit of author-reader camaraderie. But Wilson's turn-on goes well beyond examination of the sensate drug-sex experience: he analyzes historically and cross-culturally the use of stimulants in Christian and Oriental societies, finding parallels, for instance, between Masters and Johnson's recent findings and Hindu practices. More important, he sees the drug-sex equation (or "revolution") as precipitating a "holy war" within the hitherto repressed "Christian" (or puritan) soul--"the crisis in Christian culture is mainly sexual [and] we should not be surprised that sexual elements are very prominent in the unconscious channels opened by the Drug Revolution." Wilson recognizes the hazardous side of the drug milieu and includes a risk-warning glossary which emphasizes moderation and small doses ("I write as a war correspondent, awash in a deluge of propaganda from both sides."), but his sympathies are openly pro-liberation--Timothy Leary, he says, made the "second most important scientific-political decision of our century" (the first was Einstein's resolve to help the U.S. obtain the A-bomb) when he decided that LSD "was too important to be monopolized by any government, or any scientific committee, or any other elite; that it should be available to all." To reiterate: if this essay gets the attention it should, psycho-sexual consciousness could be expanded by, what?, a decade, an orgiastic eruption, one person's victory over frigidity? Who knows? The only sure thing is, "the future will be much wilder and hairier than the immediate past." --Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Novelist, teacher and former Playboy editor, Robert Anton Wilson is the author of the Cosmic Trigger trilogy; the Illuminatus! trilogy (with Robert Shea); the Schrodinger's Cat trilogy; the Historical Illuminatus series; TSOG: The Thing That Ate The Constitution; Prometheus Rising; Quantum Psychology; Coincidance; Email to the Universe; and many other works.

Product Details

• Paperback: 186 pages
• Publisher: New Falcon Publications (January 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561840017
• ISBN-13: 978-1561840014
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #126,170 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Demystification, February 18, 2000

By 

rareoopdvds (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Sex, Drugs & Magick: A Journey Beyond Limits (Paperback)

R. A. Wilson's early book on secret orders of the old and drugs of today. Mystics and psychedelics, cops and addicts. Promiscuity and frigidity. All of these are taken into account, which is definately a scholarly look into the world of drugs and whether or not they are dangerous as well as the uses for them and their user intentions. Each chapter looks in depth into a different drug, there are 5 main drugs: LSD, Cocaine, Alcohol, Marijuana, and Heroin. After each chapter there is a story that gives a personal account of someone RAW met whom had troubles with dugs, either of addiction or some other problem that drugs helped or caused damage. Overall its an objective look into drugs, although Wilson gives some hints that he is pro-drugs (by the fact that he himslef clearly states his use of drugs). However, like Leary and Crowley, the use of drugs should be used moderately, intelligently and with a guide. The reason this book did not get 5 stars is because A) there are so many mispellings in this book that New Falcon should look it over again, or whoever edits this book should be replaced. B) R. A. Wilson, although it is quite clear in how intelligent he is, and his comprehension level is amazing, yet he takes a complex subject like the works of Aleister Crowley and explains the message behind the veil (perhaps it can be argued of what Crowley is really saying, but this is what I gatehred in the reading). Robert A. Wilson shows Crowleys work in a new light, certainly, but it was too explanatory and made Crowleys work too obvious to enjoy the mystery behind the works of the great Magician. Nonetheless, however, I feel its a good companion to the rest of Wilson's work, and by right it fits in niceley. Wilson has done a great job researching his material showing both the cons and pros of drugs which would make one not only more aware of the drug they choose (if they choose, as well as drugs in themselves), but also being aware of the circumstances surrounding them as well as consequences. Reccomended with this book is Timothy Leary's book "The Delicious Grace of Moving One's Hand."

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Robert A. Wilson for President, November 29, 2005

By 

Stefan Isaksson "www.stefanisaksson.se" (Malmoe, Sweden) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sex, Drugs & Magick: A Journey Beyond Limits (Paperback)

The title: Sex, Drugs & Magick, sure is eye-catching. Not only that, but the book is written by none other than Robert Anton Wilson, known for writing interesting things about controversial topics. And on top of that, the publisher is New Falcon Publications, known for its desire to publish books that really has something to say.

The original title of the book (and its first edition name) was Sex, Drugs, and the Occult, and these are the topics dealt with. Now "occult", however, has been changed into "magick", since Wilson is of the opinion that the word "occult" never really fit the rest of the book.

But, the title is still somewhat misleading, if you ask me. Wilson himself says he focuses on the combination sex and drugs; different drugs, taken during different circumstances, and how these can affect - for better or worse - any sexual stimulation.

And sure, in the beginning this is indeed what the book is all about. But, when looked at from a larger perspective one get the feeling that it's really a story about different drugs and how they affect the way the user relates to world around him or her. Most of the time the sex is there, in one way or another, but the book is not only about sex and drugs.

But I don't think that matters very much. Wilson has, as always, created something great, and I sure had a good time reading it. And it's arranged in quite an interesting way: every other chapter is called an interlude, where Wilson offers very interesting portraits of people he's met during his long and fascinating life, the different drugs these people used, and how the drugs came to affect their lives. In between these interludes you'll find purely non-fictional essays, and the combination of the non-fiction with something subjective descriptive works perfectly.

It's important to point out, however, that it's not a book arguing for the legalization of all drugs known to man. It's written for responsible adults, and Wilson, while never hesitating in admitting how he's tested most drugs out there, is still keen to make sure to the reader that drugs are drugs; dangerous substances that easily can be abused, overdosed, and result in both physical and psychical suffering and death. He's not saying you should try them, but he's also not saying you shouldn't: the use of a drug does not equal abuse of a drug. He's simply trying to be neutral, and chooses to focus on descriptions, instead debating whether or not they should made legal.

All in all the book is just as good as I thought it would be. Just as the title says, if you read it you'll learn a lot about sex, drugs, and magick, and I have no choice but to recommend it to you.

And, it can be quite interesting having it around when your fiends are coming over. The title will definitely get a lot of attention.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sex and Drugs: A Journey Beyond Limits, June 12, 2003

By 

Stephen (Fort Lauderdale, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sex and Drugs: A Journey Beyond Limits (Paperback)

This book takes a rather interesting point of view that will not sit well with those who do not think... To do the quality and type of work pointed out here is well beyond the capabilities of the average. Instead of believing what the media shamans tell you or the scientistic-priests ( you know, the so-called credible scientists that tell the world with a straight face that they know, a priori, that anything beyond their personal experience cannot possibly be true... ), an intelligent reviewer might find themselves practicing sex, pranyama and the ingestion of THC while keeping strict and accurate journals that may be peer reviewed.

As an aside, WHO THE ... CAN TELL ANOTHER WHAT ENLIGHTENMENT IS? Wilson points at "Higher Consciousness", if you will forgive the play on words there, but does not preach WHAT it will be for anyone. Hmmm... Seems strange that people seeking enlightenment still sound as if they KNOW what it IS. Some reviewers crack me up.