Psychedelic Press UK
Literary Reviews
Literary Review: ‘Spiritual Growth with Entheogens’ by Thomas B. Roberts [Ed]
Originally published in 2001 under the title ‘Psychoactive Sacramentals: Essays on Entheogens and Religion’ this 2012 edition, titled ‘Spiritual Growth with Entheogens: Psychoactive Sacramentals and Human Transformation’ has been issued by Park Street Press. Its editor, Thomas B. Roberts, is professor emeritus at Northern Illinois University and a former visiting scientist at Johns Hopkins. He … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘Are you Experienced? How Psychedelic Consciousness Transformed Modern Art’ by Ken Johnson
Originally published in 2011 ‘Are You Experienced? How Psychedelic Consciousness Transformed Modern Art’ by Ken Johnson is an examination of art since the 1960s. Complete with images and discussion, the book attempts to identify a psychedelic dimension in certain artists and art movements that have arisen since the heyday of popular psychedelic use. Ken Johnson … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘The Alchemy of Culture’ by Richard Rudgley
Originally published in 1993 ‘The Alchemy of Culture: Intoxicants in Society’ by Richard Rudgley examines the cultural use of drugs from across both time and the globe. The book was the winner of the British Museum Press Prometheus Award. Rudgley has written or edited a number of books concerning drugs, including ‘Wildest Dreams: An Anthology … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘Artificial Paradises’ by Mike Jay [ed.]
Originally published in 1999 ‘Artificial Paradises’ is a collection of passages from across the far-reaching genre of drug literature and was collated and edited by Mike Jay. Jay is one Britain’s leading drug writers and his works include ‘Blue Tide’, ‘Emperors of Dreams’ and, more recently, ‘The Atmosphere of Heaven’ and ‘High Society’. The title … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘Pleasures and Pains’ by Barry Milligan
‘Pleasures and Pains: Opium and the Orient in Nineteenth-Century British Culture’ (1995) by Barry Milligan utilises a multidisciplinary approach, including psychology, literary criticism, history and psychology, in order to examine the relationship between Britain and the Orient. Broadly speaking a work of cultural studies, the book concentrates on the trade of goods and ideas as … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘Why We Take Drugs’ by Tom Yardley
Originally published in 2012 ‘Why We Take Drugs: Seeking excess and communion in the modern world’ by Tom Yardley is a phenomenological analysis of intoxication. The book takes into account a number of theories to explain the descriptions of drug intoxication given to the author in a series of interviews with users. Yardley is currently … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘Too Much to Dream’ by Peter Bebergal
Originally published in 2011 ‘Too Much to Dream: A Psychedelic American Boyhood’ by Peter Bebergal is an autobiographical account of the author’s search for a higher spiritual meaning. Bebergal is the co-author of ‘The Faith Between Us’ and has written reviews and articles on culture, religion and science. Too Much to Dream: A Psychedelic American … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘Being Psilly’ by Samuel John Ross
Published in 2011, Samuel John Ross’ collection of poetry ‘Being Psilly – Illustrated Poems 1999-2005′ is a beautiful blend of playful language and illustration, which along with the type-face, was also created by the author. Aside from poetry, Ross also heads up fleshprism.com – a website for visionary art, psychedelic poetry and alike. The stories … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘Mysticism Sacred and Profane’ by Robert Charles Zaehner
Originally published in 1957 ‘Mysticism Sacred and Profane – An Inquiry into some Varieties of Praeternatural Experience’ was written by Robert Charles Zaehner (1913-1974). The basis of the book is a refutation of Aldous Huxley’s claim that mescaline is able to produce a mystical experience in those who use the drug; set against a wider … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘Psychedelia Britannica’ by Antonio Melechi [ed.]
Originally published in 1997 ‘Psychedelia Britannica’ is a collection of essays dealing with the cultural history of psychedelics in Britain, edited by Antonio Melechi. The book looks at psychedelic drugs through the context of literature, music, psychiatry and the counterculture and includes a number of prominent individuals like Ronald Sandison and Alexander Trocchi, with a … Continue reading
