4 ms·

PiHKAL by Alexander and Ann Shulgin is on its face a book about love and chemistry. Taken together it becomes more of a treatise on how psychopharmacology is a

by ipnon 5y ago

PiHKAL by Alexander and Ann Shulgin is on its face a book about love and chemistry. Taken together it becomes more of a treatise on how psychopharmacology is a method of personal and sociological analysis. Drug use becomes a psychological tool to manifest the phenomena of the mind that are normally hidden, and novel synthesis becomes a tool to then access the areas of the mind unexplored throughout history. Aside of all this, the Shulgin's story is one of absolute dedication to science in the face of its many impediments: internal psychology, interpersonal relations, social stigma, technical innovation, and authoritarian censorship.

biofox 5y ago
Shulgin was a gateway into psychedelics and the study of consciousness for me, however my overconfident use of psychoactive drugs ended up giving me PTSD. I'd advise anyone interested in this area to be cautious, and only work with experienced people you'd trust with your life.
michaelwm 5y ago
You've said everything I could ever say about PiHKAL; it's a masterpiece. TiHKAL, published three years after the Shulgin's lab was raided by the DEA, is also a fantastic read.
robocat 5y ago
This looks like a PDF of PiHKAL (Phenethylamines I Have Known and Loved): https://dailydialectics.com/education/pihkal/PIHKALAnthologyShulgin.pdf https://dailydialectics.com/education/pihkal/PIHKALAnthology...
grafelic 5y ago
If you're also interested in ethnobotany and more specifically the use and history of psychoactive plants I can highly recommend this tome: Ratsch,C - Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants Unlike many other books on this subject matter, it is very well researched and referenced, but at the same time also contains personal anecdotes and experiences from the author himself.
nemo1618 5y ago
I really enjoyed the book, particularly Ann's trip reports, but fair warning: it contains a lot more love triangle drama and, uh, old people sex, than I was expecting. Also, I wish I could buy just the first half of the book -- I don't want to end up on a watchlist!

by ipnon 5y ago

biofox 5y ago

Shulgin was a gateway into psychedelics and the study of consciousness for me, however my overconfident use of psychoactive drugs ended up giving me PTSD. I'd advise anyone interested in this area to be cautious, and only work with experienced people you'd trust with your life.

michaelwm 5y ago

You've said everything I could ever say about PiHKAL; it's a masterpiece. TiHKAL, published three years after the Shulgin's lab was raided by the DEA, is also a fantastic read.

robocat 5y ago

This looks like a PDF of PiHKAL (Phenethylamines I Have Known and Loved): https://dailydialectics.com/education/pihkal/PIHKALAnthologyShulgin.pdf https://dailydialectics.com/education/pihkal/PIHKALAnthology...

grafelic 5y ago

If you're also interested in ethnobotany and more specifically the use and history of psychoactive plants I can highly recommend this tome: Ratsch,C - Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants Unlike many other books on this subject matter, it is very well researched and referenced, but at the same time also contains personal anecdotes and experiences from the author himself.

nemo1618 5y ago

I really enjoyed the book, particularly Ann's trip reports, but fair warning: it contains a lot more love triangle drama and, uh, old people sex, than I was expecting. Also, I wish I could buy just the first half of the book -- I don't want to end up on a watchlist!