Book Reviews About Drugs And The Mind
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Book Reviews About Drugs And The Mind
Altered States:
Creativity Under the Influence
Explores in the heightened states of mind that give rise to art. The book considers how the components of creativity (awareness, energy, loss of self-consciousness) are affected by stimuli to the brain such as meditative rituals, alcohol, and drugs.
The impact of altered states on Samuel Coleridge, William Faulkner, Jackson Pollock and other creative giants is explored. As is the role drugs play in group creativity, jazz, blues music, experimental theater, film. Also discussed are pop icons such as Little Richard, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, and Jerry Garcia.
Altered States A User's Guide to the Brain:
Perception, Attention, and the
Four Theaters of the Brain
No drug content, this is a book about how science understands the way the brain operates. Over 400 pages, it includes chapters on brain development, perception, consciousness, movement, memory, emotions, language and more.
A User's Guide to the Brain Cleansing the Doors of Perception:
The Religious Significance of
Entheogenic Plants and Chemicals
A collection of essays by religious scholar and author, Huston Smith. The book looks at the entheogenic plants and chemicals various cultures and individuals have used to expand spiritual awareness.
Although the author is known for his religious books like the world's religions, he was a participant in the Good Friday experiment of 1962, when a group (headed by Timothy Leary) ingested psychedelic drugs and attended Good Friday religious services.
Cleansing the Doors of Perception Consumer's Guide to Psychiatric Drugs
Comprehensive overview of the current medical treatments for anxiety, mood, and psychotic disorders. Discusses diagnostic issues, biology of mental illness, drug-drug interactions, and addiction potentials.
For consumers, this lay reference on psychiatric drugs outlines treatment options and tells patients what to expect. Up to date and technical, but written in plain English. Treats psychiatric patients like knowledgable human beings who need to know the facts.
Consumer's Guide to Psychiatric Drugs DMT: The Spirit Molecule
A Doctor's Revolutionary Research
into the Biology of Near-Death
and Mystical Experiences
Humans have DMT in our bodies naturally. Using the drug induces mystical states that were previously reserved for shaman, monks, and other spiritual explorers. The book was written by a doctor and medical researcher.
It looks at DMT and its various uses including possible psychiatric applications. Not scientific, it will allow the casual reader to understand what DMT is. Interesting information about researching an illegal substance for possible medical uses might be of interest to someone thinking of research as a career.
DMT: The Spirit Molecule... Doors of Perception - Heaven and Hell
In the first half of the book, doors of perception, originally a separate volume, Aldous Huxley offers an argument for the use hallucinogens (specifically, mescaline) as a means for opening up the thinking mind to new ideas and perceptions, or even as a method for jump starting human creativity in common people.
Not only does he offer compelling historical precedents and sound medical research, but he also reveals positive details about his own personal experimentation with the drug. As is always the case with Huxley's essays, his various hypotheses are very articulately expressed and not easily dismissed.
The second part of the book, heaven and hell, also originally published separately, Huxley introduces the idea that spiritual insight and personal revelation can also be achieved through the use of hallucinogens.
While just as articulately written and researched as the first volume, the idea that religious insight can be gained through drugs may offend some readers. Thought provoking reading for both professionals and amateurs interested in the positive potential of mind altering drugs.
Doors of Perception - Heaven and Hell Illegal Drugs:
A Complete Guide to Their
History, Chemistry, Use and Abuse
Very good book about the history, sociology, legal and medical aspects of illegal (and some legal) drugs. Looks at all the popular illegal drugs like marijuana, cocaine, heroin, etc. Also investigates legal drugs like caffeine, alcohol and tobacco. And covers more obscure drugs like betel nuts and kava kava.
At about 500 (easy to understand) pages, the book contains a lot of text that might overwhelm the casual reader looking for basic info. This is more for someone with a serious interest in the subject or someone doing research.
Illegal Drugs LSD Psychotherapy:
Exploring the Frontiers of the Hidden Mind
Gives a detailed picture of the various forms of therapy including, psycholitic therapy, psychedelic therapy, hypnodelic therapy, etc. The book explains various aspects of the therapy sessions, the effects of various environments, stimuli, and more.
It discusses the sessions, cures, resolutions of conflicts, breakdown of neurotic defense systems, etc. The book concludes with an appendix on the effects of LSD on chromosomes.
LSD Psychotherapy LSD, Spirituality, and the Creative Process
An exploration of how LSD influences imagination and the creative process based on the results of one of the longest clinical studies of LSD that took place between 1954 and 1962, before LSD was illegal.
In 1954 a Los Angeles psychiatrist began experimenting with a then new chemical discovery known as LSD-25. Over an eight-year period Dr. Oscar Janiger gave LSD-25 to more than 950 men and women, ranging in age from 18 to 81 and coming from all walks of life.
Includes personal reports, artwork, and poetry from the original sessions as testimony of the impact of LSD on the creative process.
LSD, Spirituality, and the Creative Process The Essential Guide to Psychiatric Drugs
Informative, accessible, and easy to use, it has become a classic indispensable resource for the layperson and professional alike.
With detailed descriptions of most of the psychiatric medications available today, including their uses, side-effects, cost, dosage, and more, consumers can take an active role in their mental health and know what to expect from specific drugs.
The Essential Guide to Psychiatric Drugs The Natural Mind:
An Investigation of Drugs and the Higher Consciousness
Interesting book, by Dr. Andrew Weil, about the inner workings of the mind and the effect drugs have. Easy to understand, it follows the authors own use of substances, and medical research to gain insight into higher consciousness.
Includes information about alcohol, marijuana, hashish, cocaine, DMT, heroin, LSD, mescaline, psilocybin, speed, and other substances.
The Natural Mind The PTSD Workbook:
Simple, Effective Techniques
for Overcoming Traumatic Stress Symptoms
PTSD is post traumatic stress disorder, a serious medical condition that can occur after a person is exposed to a terrifying event or ordeal. This book can help a person learn techniques for dealing with PTSD without using drugs.
The PTSD Workbook The Secret Chief:
Conversations With a Pioneer
of the Underground Psychedelic Therapy Movement
Early in his career, after being trained as a Jungian analyst, Jacob discovered the enormous potential that psychedelics had for psychotherapy.
Because of the abundant psychological benefits and the incredible spiritual transformations that he witnessed in his clients, Jacob chose to utilize substances like LSD and MDMA in his practice despite their illegality.
The book covers the process that Jacob developed for selecting and preparing candidates, information about the psychoactive substances and their proper dosages, along with guiding principles for running both individual and group sessions.
The Secret Chief The Varieties of Psychedelic Experience:
The Classic Guide to the Effects of
LSD on the Human Psyche
A book that looks at the therapeutic and consciousness illuminating value of LSD and other psychedelics like peyote.
A must have book for anyone interested in using psychedelics in a therapeutic setting so that the chances of errors or mistakes in guidance be effectively minimized.
The Varieties of Psychedelic Experience Trips:
How Hallucinogens Work in Your Brain
Sounds like it would be a boring technical book, but it is very entertaining and informative at the same time. Explore what hasn't been told about the brain's mysterious ability to hallucinate.
Details what neuroscientists, psychopharmacologists, medicinal chemists, and psychiatrists have learned about LSD and its effects on the brain in the 54 years since its discovery. 132 illustrations, 32 in color (By Robert Crumb).
Trips