If there's any good books out there that we can reccomend that have relevance to Shrooms, the War on Drugs or any other relevant area of note that fits in with our philosophy or interests, then we'll put it here. So if you're looking for a good read, look no further.
The SLF has been delighted to make alliances with Psypress - a leading reviewer of books related to all things pschedelia. We invited Psypress to provide us with what they think are the most intersting and important book reviews that our SLFers should be reading. Here's their top rated books and short reviews.
Book title: Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge
Read full Psychedelic Press UK Review here:
Preview: Every so often a book comes along that has the power to divide people, not because it has gone out of its way to be contentious, but because the prose itself has such a powerful effect on those who read it. Carlos Castaneda’s first book ‘The teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui way of knowledge’, originally published in 1968 by the University of California Press, is one such example.
Magic Mushroom in Religion and Alchemy
Preview: Originally published in 2002 ‘Magic Mushrooms in Religion and Alchemy’ is a scholarly and detailed examination into the role that magic mushrooms have played in the two major esoteric traditions of religion and alchemy. Mainly dealing with the Fly Agaric, Heinrich takes a look at all the major contributors to the area including the works and ideas of R. Gordon Wasson.
Soma: Divine Mushroom of Immortality
Preview: Originally published in 1968 ‘Soma: Divine Mushrooms of Immortality’ is now widely regarded as one of the classic investigations into the historical use of psychedelics. Wasson takes us on a tour of evidence as he tries to proove that the ancient Vedic ‘Soma’ was none other than the red n’ white mushroom of the fairy tales – Fly Agaric.
The Holy Mushroom
Read full Psychedelic Press UK Review here:
Preview: Originally published in 2008 ‘The Holy Mushroom – Evidence of Mushrooms in Judeo-Christianity’ by Jan R. Irvin, with Jack Herer, is a fine addition to a very much under-researched area; the entheogenic relationship with religion. It critically re-evaluates the schism between the theory’s two greatest proponents – R. Gordon Wasson and John M. Allegro – and introduces new pictorial and textual evidence to add weight to the contemporary arguments.
In Search of the Magic Mushroom
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Preview: ‘In search of the magic mushroom’ by Jeremy Sandford, first published in 1972, is somewhat of an oddity in the grand scheme of psychedelic literature. Partly a reactionary book to the works of John M. Allegro and Carlos Castaneda and partly a cultural look at the workings of southern Mexico in the late 1960s and early 1970s, it crosses the boundary of psychedelic literature and travel writing.
The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross
Psychedelic Press UK Review: (Due shortly)
Preview: Originally published in 1970 to widespread and popular disapproval ‘The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross’ by John M. Allegro attempts to establish, through the medium of philology, the origins of Christianity in fertility and magic mushroom cults. Whilst as a work of philology it is difficult to follow, the story Allegro weaves around his evidence is both enlightening and controversial.
Mushroom Wisdom
Psychedelic Press UK Review: (Due shortly)
Preview: Originally published in 2006 ‘Mushroom Wisdom’ by Martin W. Ball is an entheogenic treatise on psilocybe mushrooms, consciousness and their application as entheogens. Ball explores the many levels of the psilocybin experience from heaven to hell and relates how they are all form part of the same intrinsic experience.
The Invisible Landscape
Psychedelic Press UK Review: Click here
Preview: When this book was first published in 1975 it remained for a long time an obscure and little known pseudo-scientific oddity looking at 2012, Novelty theory and shamanism. In psychedelic circles however it gained an increasingly mythical status and as rumour of this rare book spread, alongside an increasingly vocal Terence McKenna, the pressures for a re-publication finally broke in 1993, when HarperCollins took the job on.
True Hallucinations
Psychedelic Press UK Review: Click here
Preview: Published in 1993 ‘True Hallucinations’ by Terence McKenna tells the tale of his adventures in the Amazon roughly 20 years previously, where the ideas contained in ‘The Invisible Landscape’ first formed. On the hunt for Ayahuasca Terence, his brother and a small group of adventurers find instead a wealth of psilocybes and embark on an experiment that helped shape the psychedelic culture we know today.
The Seven Sisters of Sleep
Psychedelic Press UK Review: Click here
Preview: Originally published in 1860 ‘The Seven Sisters of Sleep’ is a classic of Western drug literature. In over a hundred years, with no reprints until the end of the 20th century, the transformation in the importance of Mordecai Cooke’s book is exceptional. Titled in its first edition with a ‘popular history of the seven prevailing narcotics of the world’ it now carries the tagline ‘the celebrated drug classic’. And with good cause.
One of the most fascinating and controversial books arguably ever written on shrooms and their cultural history, covering historical evidence of our ancient shroom lineage, and examing the role of shrooms in our modern day cultural psyche - a must read. read more
Beyond the War on Drugs offers powerful arguments to support the growing public opinion - now shared by politicians, judges, and leading intellectuals - that this war, as it is currently conceived, cannot be won, and ought not to be fought. Compelling stuff indeed. read more
An insightful, and fact pact assessment of the War on Drugs, examing every aspect of it's incidious and destructive impact on our lives, legal system and foreign policy. An astonishing read.read more
A useful resource of data related to Psilocybin mushrooms, from analysis of their chemical composition, to stories of healing practices utilizing Psychoactive mushrooms by Indian Curandero's. This book covers a wide gamut of in depth, facts and ancedotal knowledge, on the magic mushroom, it's history, and it's future.read more
This book has always had a massive following and respect by true shroomers ever since it was first published. It remains a fantastic, and authorative resource on these fascinating fungi, giving you are the information for you to be able to safely identify, virtually any kind of magic mushroom for yourself. Should be in every shroomer's armouryread more
By G. Henry-Stogdon "Giles" (West Norwood) - (review borrowed off Amazon.com) An incisive, clear minded history of magic mushroom use right up to the present day. I devoured this book though it wasn't what I was expecting from the garish cover and new-age hippie sounding title. Letcher clearly loves his subject and has distilled a huge amount of research into this brilliant tome. If you thought there was no more to learn about magic mushrooms, then this book will throw up some real surprises. No bemushroomed philosophising here, just sound, rational application to the subject. A valuable addition to any mycological book collection. Oh yes, I forgot to say that Letcher writes really well too. An eloquent flowing style which is very funny in places... Made me laugh out loud.
SLF Comment: Ok, we couldn't bring ourselves to write a personal review on this book - it seems to have the whole shroom community split right down the middle - in fact more people seem against it then for it, often giving it vitriolic responses. Personally we think this book should be applauded - whatever one thinks of Letcher, he has put a lot of effort putting together a comprehensive analysis of shroom history from the research he has found - it would have taken a long time and dedication, which is something we can't help but admire. We also think he raises some important and interesting points which have to be considered. Anyway, anything that stirs up discussion and interest in shrooms is a good thing by us. Make your own mind up, and give the book a read.
This provocative and controversial book rejects the popular pabulum of more laws, more money, more enforcement personnel, and more jails as the road to victory in the 'war on drugs'. Steven Wisotsky masterfully documents the failure of the drug war and the erroneous premise central to its destructive and doomed strategy: the idea that drug taking controls human behaviour; that drugs 'cause' physical dependency. We must move beyond the war on drugs by repudiating their obsessive preoccupation with controlling or prohibiting drugs. Instead, we must replace this mindset with a new view that acknowledges individual freedom and the power of directing our choices toward responsible human behaviour.
SLF Comment: This book blew my mind - heavy on stats, and heavy on facts, it paints an accurate and dramatic view on the depth of failing and harm the War on Drugs is doing to our societies, and the pervasive evil the black market prohibition causes to us all as a direct result, fueling, murder, corruption, and immense profits for Drugs barons. A simply fascinating and disturbing read.
Several important, cogent points form the foundation of Eldredge's argument for ending America's "War" on drugs:
Eldredge, an avowed conservative, adds a thoughtful, well-researched and highly readable work to the growing body of argument for a radical change in our approach to the drug problem. He butresses his case for legal, controlled distribution with sound argument, cogent examples and solid statistics. He illustrates the futility and wasteful expense of our present approach with a combination of factual evidence and telling anecdotal example.
This book should be required reading for every citizen interested in one of the most difficult issues of our time. As a start, it would be most helpful to ask every member of Congress to read it, if for no other reason than to understand the waste and futility of our current policies.
It is doubtful that Eldredge's book alone will precipitate the necessary change of public opinion to permit us to try a different course, but he has added a worthwhile and constructive voice to the growing chorus.
SLF Comment: A quality read, clearly showing why America is losing its War on Drugs, leading only to overcrowded courts, and prisons, rising crime, official corruption, eroded civil rights and race relations and new public health crises. We highly recommend you read this book
This book has its uses as reference guide for anybody researching, studying or with a general interest in shrooms. A lot of the material is presented in impersonal report style, which doesn't make it an easy/entertaining read. This book is mainly interested in throwing together as many pieces of factual information as it can, from a detailed expose on the Good Friday Experiment to a report on a Mazatec Indian Curandero's healing practice using psychedelic mushrooms - some of it is bound to be of interest to you
SLF Comment: Yeah, a real liquorice allsorts this one. Bits of everything about shrooms, from just about everywhere. Definitely useful for research, but can get very heavy going at times - especially when discussing the biochemistry of Psilobin etc..
This is by far the most descriptive and complete guide to psychoactive mushrooms and their deadly look-alikes I have ever read. LOTS of cool, detailed color pictures to help with both identification and leisure entertainment. The book is comprised of the following:
This is the best all-around book on this subject! Buy it now!
SLF Comment: This book has been a trusty companion on many of our walks in the countryside. It has probably introduced thousands of shroomers to the magical world of fungi since it's first publication. It's a book, that you'll always find yourself digging out to learn more about a particular type of mushroom, or just to read Paul's excellent advice, or interesting stories. Has some lovely pictures in of virtually every shroom you could think of, plus loads you never even knew existed.