SLF Book Reviews

Introducing Psypress - the Psychedelic Press UK

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.

Shroom - A Cultural History of the Magic Mushroom by Andy Letcher

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.

Beyond The War on Drugs by Steven Wisotsky

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.

Ending the War on Drugsby by Dirk Chase Eldredge

Several important, cogent points form the foundation of Eldredge's argument for ending America's "War" on drugs:

1. Drug addiction is quite rare;
2. Drug dependence is likewise rare, far less widespread than alcohol dependency, for instance;
3. Both are largely avoidable through educational efforts and treatable medically and/or therapeutically;
4. The attempt to control drugs in society by prohibition has been worse than a total failure. It has created enormous economic incentives to both distributors and users for the promotion of drug;
5. Excellent precedents for resolving the drug problem exist in the country's experience in ending alcohol Prohibition.

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

Ending the War on Drugsby by Dirk Chase Eldredge

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..

Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World by Paul Stamets

(Review by Burnt Rice, an Amazon customer)

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:

• -5 pages on the history of them
• -6 pages on their distribution around the world
• -8 pages on general places they like to grow (e.g. under a bush or something)
• -12 pages on tips for good trips
• -20 pages on identification & collection techniques
• -123 pages on just about every species of psychoactive mushrooms known to man (pics, description, habitat, etc.) both highly active and relatives that have low chemical content
• -10 pages on deadly look-alikes
• -includes a glossary, recommended reading, bibliography, and index

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.