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Summary: brilliant insight into chemically induced states of mind
Review: If you've ever been curious as to what the chauvinistic governmental regulations have been keeping from you, here's the place to discover all you'll need to know. The author offers brilliant and informative insights into the chemically altered human states of mind. With his wife and life long partner also offering her point of view. If you've been curious as to what it's like and how to get there, this book is for you!
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Summary: Good science, good chemistry, good insight
Review: If you've heard about this book, you have probably heard of the 179 recipes for "designer drugs" (which, as Shulgin points out, is a moronic concept as all chemicals synthesized are made by design), whether inactive, active, or just plain weird in effect. They are there, in full detail for the chemist though lacking basic instructional material for the enthusiastic but untutored. (Like, they might not say what LAH in Et2O is, or that LAH can explode...) The syntheses include not just the overall gist, but grams of this and mls of that, including the extractions and purifications.However, what Shulgin will give you that you didn't plan on is an insight as to why this is interesting in a scientific sense - the benefits in psychotherapy, the DRASTIC differences between effects of these chemicals in humans as opposed to rats, to the point where one compound is a highly effective analgesic in the one "taster" who has tried it so far, yet was ignored because rats had no effect, for example. Last but not least, note that his DEA-approved research laboratory was busted and shut down in retaliation for his publication of this book. Solidarity...! The "love story" itself (biography of the authors) ranges from fascinating to dull as you go along. Still, it gives a taste of what it is like to try so many bizarre drugs in a circumspect manner, and reminds you that this is someone who has subjected his brain to this for 20 years and is still smarter than YOU.
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Summary: A must read for anyone interested in exploring conciousness!
Review: It's not often that you find a combination of scientific objectivity and readability, but this joint effort by Shulgin and his wife Anne was entertaining, enlightening, and passed on a wealth of information, both personal and professional in nature.
Here you find a fascinating account of their brave excursions into the inner unknown, an account of the plusses and minuses of their experiences, a glimpse of the theraputic possibilities that lay in MDMA, and a wealth of technical information, layed out in a manner that even a layman can appreciate and enjoy.
For further reading by the same author I also recommend TIHKAL, a book that tells the story of the Tryptamine family of compounds in the same entertaining manner.
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Summary: The Book of Spells
Review: No psychedelic library is complete without PIHKAL. Some day in the future, when it may again be acceptable to use chemical tools to study the mind, this book will be a treasure-house, a sort of sorcerer's book of spells, to delight and enchant the psychiatrist / shaman of tomorrow.
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Summary: FANTASTIC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: One of best books I have ever read. It is a must for everyone who was interested in or just plain curious about psychedelic drugs or drugs in general. It is real shame that DEA wanted to stop the publishing of this book ??????? This book is very educational and opens the readers mind to the universe within! KUDOS TO SHULGIN!
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Summary: Only people who love Psychedelics could like this.
Review: Only people who already use psychedelics could actually like this book. The first parts (the story parts) are horribly written. Dr. Shulgin sees fit to add the line, "And he's a good friend to this day" after he introduces anyone. Ann Shulgin's part is no better. The part where she describes her first use of Peyote is so contrived she might as well have lifted the dailogue from a 50's propoganda film. The story they tell could be interesting if they could actually write, but sadly they can't. Each chapter, a chemical is picked, and they write the story about it. Sometimes, Dr. Shulgin even describes its effects. This is so obviously some fan service for the users who read it, because the effects sound in no way enticing. If you're looking for an entertaing read, look elsewhere. If you're looking to learn about psychedelics, look elsewhere. The final part of the book, the recipe collection is quite useless unless you're a chemist who knows how to get those compounds and make them. Don't let anyone say different, he doesn't teach you how to trip off of the nutmeg in your kitchen. If you already do psychedelics, this book will just reinforce all that you believe. This book would've been better if Dr and Ann Shulgin could write, and if they weren't so dogged in trying to convince that psychedelics are good for us.
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Summary: An amazing, fantastic book! Highly recommended!
Review: Shulgin and his wife give a very entertaining, educational, and fascinating account of their exploration of psychedelics, with a separate section on their chemistry. The DEA hated this book so much that they harassed the authors and their friends for months after it was published.... but you'd have to be a narrow-minded pinhead to hate this book! Shulgin goes on my short list of "heros".
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Summary: Started so brilliant... went downhill dramatically...
Review: The first half of this book is excellent. It tells us about the chemists life and how he discovered exciting new drugs. It also tells us about his experiences taking them.The second half is terrible. It is written by his wife and it is a love story. She has to be the most pathetic person I have ever come across. I don't know how anyone can be so needy and insecure. The amount of times I cringed at her "inner thoughts" (written in italics in the book). Agh. It really ruined the book. Overall, I recommend this book because the first half is so good. Maybe I'm too cynical and you might enjoy the second half, but I doubt it...
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Summary: A jewel indeed...
Review: This book is a fine addition to any organic chemist's library. Entertaining, informative, and free-spirited! I proudly display a copy in my own lab. Better living through chemistry!
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Summary: Pihkal: It will change you.
Review: This book is divided into two halves. The first half is the story of Shulgin's life, from childhood to modern times. It is a moving and beautiful tale of one man's attempt to make sense of the world and his place in it. Intertwined in this personal experience is a budding love affair with a woman who could only be rated as amazing. The second half consists of Shulgin's recipes and notes on the synthesis of every compound in the Phenethylamine category that he has ever made. Overall, this book will change the way you feel about psychedelics, and the reasons that people use them. The story is at times inspiring, at times heartbreaking, and always genuine. Highly recommended as an introduction to the spirituality behind psychedelics and some of the issues involved with them.
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