Product Description

Reissued because of the current interest in Ecstasy, this is McKenna's extraordinary quest to discover the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. He wonders why we are so fascinated by altered states of consciousness, do they reveal something about our origins as human beings and our place in nature?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15686 in Books
• Published on: 1999-05-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 338 pages

Customer Reviews

An eloquent exploration of the origin of human consciousness
This book takes the reader from the first faltering footsteps of humanity to the advanced states of consciousness involved with the ingestion of entheogenic plants and fungi in a clear and eloquent fashion. McKenna argues Wasson's theory on Soma in a believable and educated way. Easy to read and a great workout for the mind. Should be in every school, library and bookcase.

Compelling stuff
Terence McKenna .. now sadly dead... was an engaging but oddball apologist for the use of psychotropic drugs, and this book sets out in detail his basic theories.

It is written in breathless style, peppered with fascinating titbits of information about society and its attitudes to drug use. Even sugar comes under the microscope.

As an anarchic but well intentioned intellect, McKenna has few equals. If there is a tragedy about his life, it is that with all his awesome powers of deduction, he failed to gain much of a wider perspective, just about ascribing everything that's human down to the beneficent influence of magic mushrooms.It's a theory. But, as they said of King James 1, this is the work of one of the wisest fools in Christendom.

And, of course, a must-read.

Compelling stuff
Terence McKenna .. now sadly dead... was an engaging but oddball apologist for the use of psychotropic drugs, and this book sets out in detail his basic theories.

It is written in breathless style, peppered with fascinating titbits of information about society and its attitudes to drug use. Even sugar comes under the microscope.

As an anarchic but well intentioned intellect, McKenna has few equals. If there is a tragedy about his life, it is that with all his awesome powers of deduction, he failed to gain much of a wider perspective, just about ascribing everything that's human down to the beneficent influence of magic mushrooms.It's a theory. But, as they said of King James 1, this is the work of one of the wisest fools in Christendom.

And, of course, a must-read.