☙ Psychedelia ❧

Bibliothēca Studiorum Psychedelicorum

Books from 1970–1979

✾

1970

Psychedelics: The Uses & Implications of Hallucinogenic Drugs

by Bernard Aaronson & Humphry Osmond

(London: Hogarth)

Another great, sober work put out by two of the most important psychotherapists who had worked with LSD (etc.) over the previous couple decades.

✾

1970

The Sacred Mushroom & The Cross

by John M. Allegro

(New York: Bantam)

I have this, but admit I haven’t read it, only skimmed through it — just the title (and tagline) make me want to roll my eyes into the back of my head.

✾

1970

Drug Awareness: Key Documents on LSD, Marijuana, and the Drug Culture

by Rishard E. Horman & Allan M. Fox, Editors

(New York: Avon)

Some interesting articles in here related to psychotherapy, but overall this book is perhaps of most interest for the “key documents” included, mostly having to do with the sociological and cultural impact that psychedelics had had (at that time), and how “serious” the situation should be taken.

✾

1971

The Boo Hoo Bible: The Neo-American Church Catechism

by Art Kleps

(San Cristobel, CA: Toad Books)

Exactly what it looks like — absolute ridiculousness, almost little more than a silly (and overly-long) comic book.

✾

1972

Licit & Illicit Drugs

by Edward M. Brecher & the Editors of Consumers Reports

(Mount Vernon, NY: Consumers Union)

The publication of this book back in ’72 was a long-awaited “big deal” for the public-at-large, and copies of it could be found in libraries (and homes) all over the place. I read the entire thing as a kid, and to the best of my recollection this was the first “major” book on drugs that I looked at (along with countless pamphlets and other things like that which were put out in schools at the time).

✾

1972

Flesh of the Gods: The Ritual Use of Hallucinogens

by Peter T. Furst

(Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland)

Excellent book on ethnological perspectives on psychopharmacology, from one of the most important authors in that field.

✾

1972

The Psychedelic Teacher: Drugs, Mysticism & Schools

by Ignacio L. Götz

(Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press)

Yes, this one is as silly as it sounds.

✾

1972

Mind Games: The Guide to Inner Space

by Robert Masters & Jean Houston

(New York: Delta)

Not related to psychedelics, specifically, but the third book from the same authors who wrote The Varieties of Psychedelic Experience (1966) and Psychedelic Art (1968).

✾

1973

Hallucinogens & Shamanism

by Michael J. Harner

(New York: Oxford University Press)

Another great book on ethnopsychopharmacology, very easily accessible. One of the more fascinating chapters concerns the psychoactive drugs used by “witches” in mediaeval Europe (something that’s not much discussed in other books). Lots of other really interesting stuff in there, too, though!

✾

1973

The Man Who Turned On the World

by Michael Hollingshead

(London: Blond & Briggs)

Autobiography of Hollingshead, who made a pretty good effort at saturating America with acid (with help from others such as Leary and his friends, as well as more serious researchers like Masters & Houston, and others).

✾

1973

In Search of the Magic Mushroom

by Jeremy Sandford

(New York: Clarkson N. Potter)

Somewhat similar to, say, Carlos Castaneda’s works (which I’ve also read, but no longer have any copies of in my library — although I probably should, if only for posterity’s sake!), in this case of a white man who went off in search of the “sacred” mushroom.

✾

1974

Drugs from A to Z: A Dictionary

by Richard R. Lingeman

(New York: McGraw-Hill)

Just a reference book from that period (of interest only as such, as a reflection of that time and what all was around back then).

✾

1975

A Child’s Garden of Grass

by Jack S. Margolis & Richard Clorfene

(New York: Ballantine)

From the library of every pot-smoking teenager back in the ’70s.

✾

1975

Bad Trips, Freakouts, Overdoses: Emergency Treatment of Drug Crises

by authority of the Minister of National Health & Welfare

(Ottawa: Information Canada)

This was the first “book” (actually very short/small) that I ever owned myself — more of a little emergency reference (or “first aid“) manual, really, but also a reflection of the times. I wouldn’t say it doesn’t have relevant or accurate info, though. I’m just glad I kept it, mostly, because it was my “first” book on the subject of drugs — surprised it survived all these many years, since my childhood!

✾

1975

LSD: A Total Study

by D.V. Siva Sankar, et al.

(Westbury, NY: PJD)

This book is a monster! A veritable doorstop! It’s HUGE, in thickness and scope and actual weight — although it’s mostly very dry, boring stuff, largely having to do with things that were little-covered in other “major” works on the subject of LSD (i.e. things like chemical studies, biophysiological perspectives, etc.). There are some chapters related to therapeutic issues, but if that’s your interest then you won’t find a lot of that in here — nevertheless, it’s still perhaps the most comprehensive overview of those other areas, and a worthwhile reference as such.

✾

1976

Hallucinogens & Culture

by Peter T. Furst

(Novato, CA: Chandler & Sharp)

Another wonderful, enlightening book from Furst.

✾

1979

Psychedelic Drugs Reconsidered

by Lester Grinspoon & James B. Bakalar

(New York: Basic)

If you wanted just one, and only one, book that gave an overview of “everything,” of virtually every aspect of psychedelics, then this thoroughly-researched, comprehensive book would be it — and it has the most amazing annotated bibliography at the end of it, to boot (if, like me, you’re “really” interested in pursuing further research in any area related to psychedelics, that bibliography is a great launching pad for what further reading to seek out next!).

✾

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☞ Contact Psymon ☜

All text, graphics and web design of this entire site
are copyright © Ron Koster / Psymon
and may not be reproduced or distributed in any manner
without explicit permission of Ron Koster / Psymon.
All Rights Reserved.


	Pſymon ☙ Psychedelia ❧ Bibliothēca Studiorum Psychedelicorum Books from 1970–1979 See also Books by Stanislav Grof (1975–1993) ✾ 1970 Psychedelics: The Uses & Implications of Hallucinogenic Drugs by Bernard Aaronson & Humphry Osmond (London: Hogarth) Another great, sober work put out by two of the most important psychotherapists who had worked with LSD (etc.) over the previous couple decades. ✾ 1970 The Sacred Mushroom & The Cross by John M. Allegro (New York: Bantam) I have this, but admit I haven’t read it, only skimmed through it — just the title (and tagline) make me want to roll my eyes into the back of my head. ✾ 1970 Drug Awareness: Key Documents on LSD, Marijuana, and the Drug Culture by Rishard E. Horman & Allan M. Fox, Editors (New York: Avon) Some interesting articles in here related to psychotherapy, but overall this book is perhaps of most interest for the “key documents” included, mostly having to do with the sociological and cultural impact that psychedelics had had (at that time), and how “serious” the situation should be taken. ✾ 1971 The Boo Hoo Bible: The Neo-American Church Catechism by Art Kleps (San Cristobel, CA: Toad Books) Exactly what it looks like — absolute ridiculousness, almost little more than a silly (and overly-long) comic book. ✾ 1972 Licit & Illicit Drugs by Edward M. Brecher & the Editors of Consumers Reports (Mount Vernon, NY: Consumers Union) The publication of this book back in ’72 was a long-awaited “big deal” for the public-at-large, and copies of it could be found in libraries (and homes) all over the place. I read the entire thing as a kid, and to the best of my recollection this was the first “major” book on drugs that I looked at (along with countless pamphlets and other things like that which were put out in schools at the time). ✾ 1972 Flesh of the Gods: The Ritual Use of Hallucinogens by Peter T. Furst (Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland) Excellent book on ethnological perspectives on psychopharmacology, from one of the most important authors in that field. ✾ 1972 The Psychedelic Teacher: Drugs, Mysticism & Schools by Ignacio L. Götz (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press) Yes, this one is as silly as it sounds. ✾ 1972 Mind Games: The Guide to Inner Space by Robert Masters & Jean Houston (New York: Delta) Not related to psychedelics, specifically, but the third book from the same authors who wrote The Varieties of Psychedelic Experience (1966) and Psychedelic Art (1968). ✾ 1973 Hallucinogens & Shamanism by Michael J. Harner (New York: Oxford University Press) Another great book on ethnopsychopharmacology, very easily accessible. One of the more fascinating chapters concerns the psychoactive drugs used by “witches” in mediaeval Europe (something that’s not much discussed in other books). Lots of other really interesting stuff in there, too, though! ✾ 1973 The Man Who Turned On the World by Michael Hollingshead (London: Blond & Briggs) Autobiography of Hollingshead, who made a pretty good effort at saturating America with acid (with help from others such as Leary and his friends, as well as more serious researchers like Masters & Houston, and others). ✾ 1973 In Search of the Magic Mushroom by Jeremy Sandford (New York: Clarkson N. Potter) Somewhat similar to, say, Carlos Castaneda’s works (which I’ve also read, but no longer have any copies of in my library — although I probably should, if only for posterity’s sake!), in this case of a white man who went off in search of the “sacred” mushroom. ✾ 1974 Drugs from A to Z: A Dictionary by Richard R. Lingeman (New York: McGraw-Hill) Just a reference book from that period (of interest only as such, as a reflection of that time and what all was around back then). ✾ 1975 A Child’s Garden of Grass by Jack S. Margolis & Richard Clorfene (New York: Ballantine) From the library of every pot-smoking teenager back in the ’70s. ✾ 1975 Bad Trips, Freakouts, Overdoses: Emergency Treatment of Drug Crises by authority of the Minister of National Health & Welfare (Ottawa: Information Canada) This was the first “book” (actually very short/small) that I ever owned myself — more of a little emergency reference (or “first aid“) manual, really, but also a reflection of the times. I wouldn’t say it doesn’t have relevant or accurate info, though. I’m just glad I kept it, mostly, because it was my “first” book on the subject of drugs — surprised it survived all these many years, since my childhood! ✾ 1975 LSD: A Total Study by D.V. Siva Sankar, et al. (Westbury, NY: PJD) This book is a monster! A veritable doorstop! It’s HUGE, in thickness and scope and actual weight — although it’s mostly very dry, boring stuff, largely having to do with things that were little-covered in other “major” works on the subject of LSD (i.e. things like chemical studies, biophysiological perspectives, etc.). There are some chapters related to therapeutic issues, but if that’s your interest then you won’t find a lot of that in here — nevertheless, it’s still perhaps the most comprehensive overview of those other areas, and a worthwhile reference as such. ✾ 1976 Hallucinogens & Culture by Peter T. Furst (Novato, CA: Chandler & Sharp) Another wonderful, enlightening book from Furst. ✾ 1979 Psychedelic Drugs Reconsidered by Lester Grinspoon & James B. Bakalar (New York: Basic) If you wanted just one, and only one, book that gave an overview of “everything,” of virtually every aspect of psychedelics, then this thoroughly-researched, comprehensive book would be it — and it has the most amazing annotated bibliography at the end of it, to boot (if, like me, you’re “really” interested in pursuing further research in any area related to psychedelics, that bibliography is a great launching pad for what further reading to seek out next!). ✾ See also Books by Stanislav Grof (1975–1993)
	Questions? Comments? Bug report? ☞ Contact Psymon ☜ All text, graphics and web design of this entire site are copyright © Ron Koster / Psymon and may not be reproduced or distributed in any manner without explicit permission of Ron Koster / Psymon. All Rights Reserved.