Somehow I cringe when entertaining the thought that there might be some open-minded HNers for whom it just so transpired that one of the first pieces of text on

Somehow I cringe when entertaining the thought that there might be some open-minded HNers for whom it just so transpired that one of the first pieces of text on LSD chanced upon happened to be this. If it mere me, I'd probably remain unchanged after reading something which was written by someone who simply happens not to share many of the conceptual tools / words / concepts I presently have. I would instead recommend reading Albert Hofmann's original accounts of how he came to discover and to sample LSD for the first time; his was a very measured (though his very first experience was unexpected and therefore somewhat peculiar), delicate and elegant approach to discovering the molecule's effects; a scientist with an open mind - that read stirred quite a few things in me! A good read / book by any measure. http://www.maps.org/books/mpc/chapter1.html http://www.maps.org/books/mpc/chapter1.html edit - wanted to add that the book in question also includes early accounts of other researchers, psychiatrists, etc. - for a quick read, see e.g. this account in particular: http://www.maps.org/books/mpc/chapter4.html http://www.maps.org/books/mpc/chapter4.html