Customer Reviews

Tihkal: A Continuation

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

 

 

This book is thinner (in every sense) than it's more famous older sibling "PIHKAL", but is well worth getting if you're curious about what became of Shulgin after angering the government by publishing PIHKAL. For those with an academic interest in psychedelic drugs, it's almost a mandatory purchase, containing dozens of novel new tryptamine-based psychoactives (including several LSD derivatives), many of which are now available through the so-called "research chemical" trade. For better or worse, Shulgin's two books are landmark works in the developing relationship between the public, the government, and a dizzying array of new psychoactive drugs.

This is the second book by the Shulgins which mix their autobiographies with the subjective effects of new and well-studied psychadelic drugs. It lies on the cusp between top-level synthetic chemistry and guru-level self development, and is amust for anyone interested in self development or recreational drug usage. Highly recommended, but it would make more sense if one reads PIHKAL first.

This book is the much anticipated follow up to PIHKAL, and although it does contain some interesting information, the narratives are often disjointed and whimsical. It is as though the authors said almost everything that needed to be said in PIHKAL and included this additional commentary to satisfy themselves rather than the reading audience.

The chemistry section, however, is superlative, and is more than well worth the cost of the book in and of itself if you are interestd in the subject matter.

Like Shulgin's earlier work Pihikal, Tihkal is a book of two parts. The first part is a mildly interesting semi autobiographical account of the continuing love affair of Shulgin & his partner, with new age overtones. The second part is a useful compendium of tryptamine devivatives, their structural chemistry, synthesis and their effects on very willing human volunteers.

This book is an absolute must for drug chemists, and I suspect it will enjoy a wide sale to both chemists employed by enforcement agencies and those with a more direct personal interest in the effects of the compounds described.

The title? It's an acronym for Tryptamines I have Known and Loved.......

This is a fine contribution although 'The Continuation' might lead one to believe that both Pihkal and Tihkal are of the same sphere. I suppose they are, if one isn't well-read regarding the metabolism and synthesis of these two very different families of compounds. As a synthetic organic chemist, I appreciated not only the autobiographical sketch but also the synthesis/observation section. Some of his methods are a bit dated. However, they are indeed valid if you don't mind sacrificing yield and purity.

well written,by by a good mind.All-in-all, it makes me wonder why mankind took a step backwards since the 60's...and....raither the following generations to come will have such brain farts, as those have done who in the last few decades, in the name of LAW and ORDER(that has caused such disorder.
Experimenting is how civilizeatoins progess.You can't expect progress when good minds are supressed and restricted.That would of been like telling Ben Franklin"Kites with keys on them are now against the law to take out into a lightning storm,and,could hurt you.So, if you risk hurting yourself, and take kite with keys out in the lightning storm: By law we will hurt you real bad,and those who love you, so you wont risk hurting yourself any more.(yes it is a backwards step) GOD HELP US!
But deffinately enjoyable books to read.

The scientific information presented in this book is invaluable. This is one of the most informative, enlightening, and controversial books of our time. Shulgin was one of the greatest scientists of the 20th century, and my admiration of his work is why I give this book such a high rating. I have to be honest, Ann Shulgin (who writes a lot of the semi-fictional stories in the book) is a terrible writer, and never stops talking about her own emotions and relates nearly every experience she has in life to herself. Its a huge disappointment when youre looking for some solid, non-fictional history on the struggles and advances within this new age of cognitive/neurological science, and you end up with half of it being a whiny, lifetime TV style drama about a love story not unlike any other love story. The book would be far more powerful without the fictional romance.

Anyone into this sort of scientific research can not be without this book. Its absolutely fascinating. Its stark political controversy allows it to also appeal to the more left, liberal, or perhaps politically subversive crowd. My respect for Sasha Shulgin and his contributions to science earn this book its rating.

This is a very difficult read and unfortunately the technical data coupled with the authors' distaste for any usage of any other than their own specific picks turned me off. I thought, from the cover, that it may be written in a more narrative style that would interest a person like me. It seemed more like it was written to prove they were doing valid experimentation. I would like to know that, but I would like to know that in the context of a story. I really enjoy historical fiction. Martin Rots has written some very interesting and compelling fictionalized accounts of the rock scene, the counterculture and the deaths of Lennon, Hendrix, Morrison and Joplin. Did the counterculture die or was it murdered?
Monterey Pop: Summer of Love (The Woodstock Trilogy)
[Chicago: Days of rage (The Woodstock Trilogy)
The Woodstock Conspiracy (The Woodstock Trilogy)

This book is beautifully written, making simple sense out of the complex work done by the author's husband, a highly respected chemist and researcher. You'll enjoy it for the story as well as the details. Read the first book, too, if you can. Either way you'll enjoy this one.

I'm re-reading it now --it's that good.

A penetrating, intellectually substantive work that earns its right at center stage on your bookshelf. Filled with enlightening perspectives and solid scientific thought, hours are spent absorbing its wisdom.

Highly recommended.