The Psychedelic Reader

by Timothy Leary

This anthology examines the mind-expanding potential of both natural and synthesized psychedelics. The writers include Timothy Leary, Alan Watts, and Sir Julian Huxley.

Genres: Psychology, Anthologies, Nonfiction, Neuroscience, History, Philosophy

Paperback

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

Timothy Francis Leary was an American writer, psychologist, futurist, modern pioneer and advocate of psychedelic drug research and use, and one of the first people whose remains have been sent into space. An icon of 1960s counterculture, Leary is most famous as a proponent of the therapeutic and spiritual benefits of LSD. He coined and popularized the catch phrase "Turn on, tune in, drop out."

Reviews

[Kenny Kidd · Rating 4 out of 5]

So excited for the future of psychedelic therapy as it gains acceptance and expands beyond its theoretical experimentation (in most western nations) and becomes something that can be common practice (as has been shown to be WILDLY successful in certain areas regarding depression, PTSD, personality disorders, grief, fear of death, etc. in clinical trials and in the actual treatments performed in New Zealand—and also Canada, I think?) 😌

An awesome collection of essays from the period of the 1960s where psychedelics (particularly Psilocybin and LSD) were being discovered and used, but before it became illegal, so academics and thinkers of the time were able to record their experiences in all manner of ways; there are academic essays on treatment of PTSD and other mental disorders, there’s lengthy academic papers on the biological of these elements, there’s philosophy of the time (some EXCELLENT work by Alan Watts in here), there’s personal testimony, and there’s literal poetry. All dimensions of the experience and study of psychedelic usage are discussed here in their respective mediums, and it’s riveting, ultra-promising thought and psychotherapeutic practice 🫡

Feel free to message me personally about my experiences with psychedelics, if ye be interested 😅 Kind of a LOT to share in public but if it’s information you want to have, you’re more than welcome to it on request 🫡

[Miriam Cihodariu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating collection of essays and scientific articles on the use of psychedelic substances. My favorite was the quasi-anthropological one describing how European peoples can be differentiated by their attitude to mushrooms (mushrooms in general, not necessarily psychoactive ones). Apparently some of us love mushrooms, regarding them as mysterious and vital, while others only associate them with decay and disgust.

I loved the details regarding how Russian people call even the poisonous and 'useless' mushrooms 'paganski' (little pagans) and use them for decorating the table and so on, or about how the Spanish conquistadores had a culture clash with South American natives about mushrooms (spoiler alert: the Spaniards were appalled by the natives' ceremonial use of the so-called 'flesh of the gods' mushrooms).

Some of the other essays in the collection were not so great or at least seemed scientifically dubious to me. But all in all, it's a great exploration of the science of psychoactive substances and their potential for both treatment and... just change.

[Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved this. naturally some of it is outdated but some of those parts are kinda funny too. i learned so much and i confirmed so much of my own thoughts about psychedelics by reading these studies and stories. highly recommend for anyone interested in spirituality, religion, or mental health!!!

[Vince McLeod · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave four stars to this fascinating compilation of some of the most interesting writings about psychedelics from the early 60s. The Psychedelic Reader consists of the best articles from The Psychedelic Review, a short-lived journal about entheogens.

Edited by Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzner and Gunther Weil, the book features articles from Leary himself, R Gordon Wasson, Sir Julian Huxley, Alan Watts and other advanced thinkers. My favourite was a biography of Hermann Hesse and the interior journey of his life written by Leary.

The book is notable for covering the entire spectrum of the psychedelic experience. Some articles write about hard ethnobotanical science, but others are devoted to the subjective effects of entheogen use. Some are simple summaries of psychedelic research, others go deep into psychological theory (particularly 'Psychosis: "Experimental" and Real' by Joe K. Adams).

These articles are of great interest to anyone with an interest in psychedelics or in the state of psychedelic research before the War on Drugs (LSD was banned in America shortly after these articles were written). In a sad way, they represent what could have been had the world not surrendered to fear.

The book's greatest value, to my mind, comes from the potential of the research within to alleviate some of the suffering of the human condition. Given the acute desperation in much of the West at the moment, such research has arguably never been more important.