The Encyclopaedia of Psychoactive Substances Book + PRICE WATCH * Amazon pricing is not included in price watch

The Encyclopaedia of Psychoactive Substances Book

What's in that "smart drink," exactly? The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Substances gives up the goods on well over 100 drugs, plants, and animals capable of altering mood and thought. From ergot to Ecstasy, author Richard Rudgley provides in-depth ethnographic and historical information on past and current use, as well as the changing social attitudes toward this motley assortment of fun-loving chemicals. While short on pharmacological and scientific information--this is no PDR--The Encyclopedia is wildly entertaining and informative about the actual use and meaning of psychoactives. Did you know there are species of hallucinogenic fish? That ants have been used in vision quests? That barbiturates were named for St. Barbara? The book pulls together little-known facts from a variety of literature and produces cohesive, well-documented entries equally well suited to the student and the browser. Rudgley focuses more on naturally occurring substances than lab creations, but the big synthetics like LSD, PCP, and cocaine all get fair coverage as well. The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Substances is a welcome and much-needed resource for the intrepid psychonaut. --Rob Lightner Read More

from£26.97 | RRP: £17.22
* Excludes Voucher Code Discount Also available Used from £8.88
  • Product Description

    For all those who might like to believe that drug use has been relegated to the suburban rec rooms and ghetto crack houses of the late twentieth century, The Encyclopaedia of Psychoactive Substances offers shocking, yet thoroughly enlightening, evidence to the contrary. In fact, from Neolithic man to Queen Victoria, humans have abused all sorts of drugs in the name of religion, tradition, and recreation, including such "controlled substances" as chocolate, lettuce, and toads.

    From glue-sniffing to LSD to kava, The Encyclopaedia of Psychoactive Substances provides the first reliable, comprehensive exploration of this fascinating and controversial topic. With over one hundred entries, acclaimed author Richard Rudgley covers not only the chemical and botanical background of each substance, but its physiological and psychological effect on the user. Of particular value is Rudgley's emphasis on the historical and cultural role of these mind-altering substances. Impeccably researched and hugely entertaining, The Encyclopaedia of Psychoactive Substances will appeal to anyone interested in one of the most misunderstood and yet also most widespread of human activities--the chemical quest for altered states of consciousness.

  • 031219868X
  • 9780312198688
  • Richard Rudgley
  • 1 April 1999
  • St Martins Pr
  • Hardcover (Book)
  • 302
  • 1 Us ed
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. If you click through any of the links below and make a purchase we may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Click here to learn more.

Would you like your name to appear with the review?

We will post your book review within a day or so as long as it meets our guidelines and terms and conditions. All reviews submitted become the licensed property of www.find-book.co.uk as written in our terms and conditions. None of your personal details will be passed on to any other third party.

All form fields are required.