Rating: 
Summary: A remarkable sourcebook of every aspect of psychedelic drugs
Review: "Peter Stafford's encyclopedic guide to psychedelics is a gas to read. It is scholarly, hip, scientific, witty, well-written, hopeful, and a treasure chest of weird and wonderful information." --Robert Anton Wilson, author of The Illuminatus.PSYCHEDELICS ENCYCLOPEDIA draws from scientific research, personal accounts and popular literature to document the properties attributed to psychedelic substances, their preparation and use, and shifting social attitudes toward them over the past half-century. This is a remarkable sourcebook for anyone interested in the psychological, biological, physiological and cultural aspects of psychedelic drugs. A fascinating historical reference on psychedelia, from the LSD-25 of the sixties, to the memory and cognitive enhancers of today. Includes over 200 illustrations. THE LSD FAMILY * MARIJUANA & RELATIVES * PEYOTE * MESCALINE & SAN PEDRO * PSYCHOACTIVE MUSHROOMS * THE MDA CLUSTER * YAGE & HARMALINE * IBOGAINE * SHORT-ACTING TRYPTAMINES (DMT, DET, DPT) * NOOTROPICS * OTHER PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES HISTORY * BOTANY * PHARMACOLOGY * PHYSICAL EFFECTS * MENTAL EFFECTS * FORMS * SOURCES * PURITY TESTS * BIOGRAPHIES * UPDATES * BIBLIOGRAPHIES "PSYCHEDELICS ENCYCLOPEDIA by Peter Stafford offers the most thorough history to date of the modern-day use of psychedelic drugs. LSD, mescaline, psilocybin, cannabis, and a host of lesser-known and exotic psychotropic agents are discussed in this entertaining survey." --New Age Journal CONTENTS Foreword by Dr. Andrew Weil; Introduction to the First Edition by Dr. John Beresford; Psychedelic Renaissance by Dan Joy; MDMA Update; Psychedelic Obituaries; Index to New Material in the Third Edition; Preview; Chapter One: The LSD Family (the archetype); Chapter Two: Peyote, Mescaline and San Pedro; Chapter Three: Marijuana and Hashish; Chapter Four: Psilocybin Mushrooms; Chapter Five: Nutmeg and MDA; Chapter Six: DMT, DET, DPT and Other Short-Acting Tryptamines; Chapter Seven: Ayahuasca, Yagé and Harmaline; Chapter Eight: Iboga and Ibogaine; Chapter Nine: Fly Agaric, Panther Caps and "Soma"; Chapter Ten: Contrasting Profiles; Appendices: Notes on Purity Tests and Precursors, Thoughts on Increasing Intelligence (by Francis Jeffrey), Other Literature, Index to the Second Edition Text
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting, informative
Review: A very well constructed foray into the psychedelic world from the more objective point of view. Includes updated information, chemical properties, effects on the human body, history, legal information, and MUCH MUCH MORE!
Rating:
Summary: Interesting, informative
Review: A very well constructed foray into the psychedelic world from the more objective point of view. Includes updated information, chemical properties, effects on the human body, history, legal information, and MUCH MUCH MORE!
Rating: 
Summary: An entertaining classic
Review: An excellent book, one of the defining classics of the genre. It does have a few minor factual errors here and there, but overall a great book on the subject matter. Put simply, it is overflowing with information. It's also a very entertaining read, which makes it more than a simple reference. Worth the investment, even for those who are already well versed in the topic.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing.
Review: This book has a number of blatant errors in it that caused me to question everything asserted as fact in this book. Examples of errors would be the error about the asymmetric carbon in MDMA and in the number of molecules in 2/100ths of a microgram of LSD. These are only a few of the errors, just for illustration.
I also find that the book logically contradicts itself often. For example, when making a point about LSD and alcoholism, the author makes it clear that the LSD experience is not like the DTs (and thus 'curing' alcoholism according to this hypothesis didn't work). Later, however, the author asserts high sucess rates for alcoholism treatment with LSD.
What disappoints me most about this book is that it is too obviously biased towards psychedelics drugs. When I bought the book I was really looking for something objective, but this book has almost nothing bad to say about psychedelic drugs at all. It ventures in to the absurd discourses of "enlightenment" and creativity enhancement under scientific pretenses.
I am all for legalizing psychedelic drugs. I have taken hundreds of psychedelic trips in my life. I am a pharmaceutical chemist. This book is a disappointment to me because it is just as misleading (though less inaccurate) than much anti-drug propaganda. If you're looking for an objective, balanced book about psychedelic drugs, this is not the book for you.
That being said, the redeeming quality of the book are the sections detailing the histories of each drug. These parts were very interesting. The book does a good job of detailing the attitudes of various societies at various times towards certain drugs.
Rating:
Summary: Doses, cacti and shrooms, oh my!
Review: This book is a simply amazing in4mational text, and the forward was written by a close personal friend. If a person has questions regarding psychedelics, this is most likely the place 2 find the answers!!
Rating:
Summary: An entertaining classic
Review: This book is perfect in every way, there is no drug war propaganda, it is pure facts, experience, and knowlege. If Psychedellics interest you then you absolutly must have this book otherwise you really have no idea what you are missing.
Rating:
Summary: Flawless
Review: This book is perfect in every way, there is no drug war propaganda, it is pure facts, experience, and knowlege. If Psychedellics interest you then you absolutly must have this book otherwise you really have no idea what you are missing.
Rating:
Summary: Definitive Source
Review: This book is the definitive source for information about
psychedelic drugs. Chapter by chapter, Stafford takes
the reader through the world of psychedics, categorized by
chemical similarity. He includes traditional uses by indigenous
groups, as well as the Western history of use, short as it is.
This book is a rare source of straight informaion-- no
Drug War propeganda here. A must for any seeker
Rating:
Summary: Impressed
Review: Unlike many of the books written on this subject, Psychedelics Encyclopedia is objectively written with eloquence and precision. This extremely well researched, well put together examination of psychoactive chemicals is best used as a source of research. Peter Stafford has undoubtedly established himself as an authority on this topic. This book however has its drawbacks. This is by no means an easy read. Though his writing is both cohesive and flowing, this book should not be read as a novel. Much like other reference books, it has been formatted into sections, and with the help of his extensive index it becomes very manageable. Stafford has out done himself in getting the reader through the scientific jargon and gives thorough explanations and definitions. The text is accompanied by detailed photographs and diagrams that Stafford makes easily understandable through captioned explanations. Overall this book comes highly recommended from me, and in my opinion, has rightfully assumed its place among the most informative pieces written on the subject.
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