A dazzling work of personal travelogue and cultural criticism that ranges from the primitive to the postmodern in a quest for the promise and me...
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Dec 27, 2010
Reading through Pinchbeck's incredibly well-documented experiences with various plant substances such as iboga and ayahuasca, along with his quest for knowledge in understanding the dwindling shamanic culture of the rainforests was a thrilling way to live vicariously through someone's most intimate and trippiest moments. He's just that good at getting it all down on paper. But the best part of this book is the message that really gets driven home to the heart of who we are, the potential of what
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Jan 23, 2012
Though Daniel Pinchbeck’s name will doubtless gain familiarity with the publication of this book, heretofore he has been known mostly to the younger literary cognoscenti who comprise the target audience for OPEN CITY, the literary magazine he began with the late fiction writer Rob Bingham. Since Bingham’s untimely death from a heroin overdose in 2000, Pinchbeck has continued OPEN CITY, publishing, among others, poet/musician David Berman. But his new book represents a personal quest that at firs
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May 26, 2011
Brian
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I enjoyed this perspective on modern/ancient psychedelic experiences. The author has a frank honesty about the rationale for his drug use and seeks out spiritual experiences throughout this novel for his own personal fulfillment. I enjoy books that suggest other authors for me to check out and point back to an author's reading experience and journey as a learner and this book was not short on those suggestions. This book seemed to me to be the evolution of perspective that one might have on d
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Feb 11, 2011
Amber
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I have long thought that if I were to experiment with any kind of drug it would be with hallucinogens. I like reading about trips and the rituals surrounding hallucinogens in various cultures throughout history. So when I saw this book at my local Barnes & Noble, I had to sit down and take sample.
The thing I liked most about this book is how Mr. Pinchbeck combines his sources - scholarly, historical, philosophical, esoteric and personal - and provides a much more detailed perspective More...
The thing I liked most about this book is how Mr. Pinchbeck combines his sources - scholarly, historical, philosophical, esoteric and personal - and provides a much more detailed perspective More...
Aug 27, 2009
Nicholas
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Since November of 2007 to present day August 27, 2009 I have read an estimated 160 books. Daniel Pinchbeck is a voice that speaks to me more than any I've encountered along my self-developmental path. With a supreme command of the English language, Pinchbeck accounts the history of his and many great minds of the "Beat" generation while venturing into unfamiliar cultures, ritualistic initiations, and transcendent states of being and alteration through a number of organic substances an
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Jul 18, 2009
al•veiz
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The least insulting thing I can say about this book is maybe that Pinchbeck was too young to write this when he did. It's a complicated topic and he deserves some credit for addressing it's intrigue. In general, I got the feeling he wrote this to enhance his hip, New York bachelor, image. Pinchbeck's background is in journalism, and that style is expressed pretty grossly here. He travels around being the witness, relaying different accounts of psychedelic or shamanistic encounters without ex
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May 31, 2011
Jeff
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I came across this randomly in a bookstore and was intrigued, partly by the hallucinatory cover. But I'm glad I did. I've always had a fascination with altered consciousness, particularly with a more spiritual slant to it, as though the hallucinations represent a different world altogether. I appreciate books that change the way I think to a degree, and this book did in the fact that I do look at plant life differently. At times his tone seems like it pushing too hard to open one's mind to a psy
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Aug 23, 2011
Teri
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This is an excellent book about altered consciousness. I particularly like the fact that it instills a need for respect and integrity when working with the invisible realms. Too many people approach drug use, getting drunk and getting "high," casually. This is dangerous. Daniel Pinchbeck's writing and stories illustrate and emphasize this reality very clearly. I also like how the book is broken down into paired chapters. A first chapter on a particular substance will be historica
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Dec 22, 2009
blake
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Wow, I have rarely seen such an arrogrant prick writing so lazily. If the subject matter hadn't been absolutely fascinating, It would have gotten 1 star. Because of the subject matter, I only hated it (or more precisely, the author).
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Oct 21, 2009
Michelle
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p. 291 When modern civilization finishes draining the world's resources, when this house of cards collapses, we will see ourselves stripped down to our essence and whimper for forgiveness like third-grade bullies caught by our teachers, unable to comprehend what went wrong. Against the floods, genetic pollution, bacterial onslaughts, radioactive infernos unleashed by human stupidity or aggrieved nature, our technologies will pop like toy guns. Watch the fun as the stock markets continue to see
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Feb 09, 2009
Terry
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'The capitalist mind perceives the world purely in terms of material resources to be used for its benefit, to increase productivity and profit without thought of long term consequence. If there is still a vague and oppressive sense of guilt, of wrongness and imbalance, this gnawing guilt spurs capitalism on to greater acts of consumption, more ... Read moreviolent attempts to subjugate nature, more totalizing efforts to create distractions. To the "rational materialist" mind, death is
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Aug 17, 2011
Catherine
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This is much more than a cultural history of psychedelics. It is an argument for 21st century spirituality, which Pinchbeck claims is necessary to regain different levels of consciousness lost to the Western world. Towards the end, the book takes a rather bizarre turn but until then it's a good read. As a person who had previously only taken psychedelics for fun, Pinchbeck's book really made me reconsider the possibilities of these drugs and what other realities could be out there. It could have
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Dec 27, 2009
Jared
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An interesting account of one author's personal journey through experimentation with entheogens. Pinchbeck shares his experiences with Iboga (African psychotropic ritual substance) and Ayahuasca (South American hallucinogenic tea) in a manner that is very personal and immersive, thinking out loud about his reliance on alcohol throughout life and how these substances have effected his permanent consciousness. I found the continual speculation about the meaning of "life, the universe and ever
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Jun 29, 2009
Simon
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Pinchbeck’s Breaking Open the Head is my first exposure to the long term effects of the psychotropic drugs on the human brain. I’m not saying Pinchbeck is a pot-head, but in my opinion he is a connoisseur of selected mind altering drugs that have the power to diminish prefrontal cortex functioning (although it did inspire me to seek Terrance McKenna’s counter culture’s lectures, that are quite thought provoking). And the returns of this prolong investment has the potential to produce abstract wo
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Jul 11, 2010
Scott
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i was looking for a good book about Shamanism and other psychedelic journeys and i came across this book and i figured i would buy it and check it out. i pick it up and start reading and next thing i know i was half way done. Daniel Pinchbeck has a captive voice that makes his writing into a movie almost or a show. he writes in such detail sometimes you actually think you are there with him. i would suggest this book to anyone who is interested in Psychedelic drugs or Shamanism.
Jan 24, 2011
Meaghan
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This book is eloquently written and is something that those just beginning to dabble in the subject area will enjoy. One thing that I do admire about Pinchbeck's book is that it does not shy away from the darker side of psychedelics - a very honest and insightful personal journey. However, for those more versed in the subject area I would more highly recommend the books that he has listed in his acknowledgments!
Jan 12, 2010
Matthew
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I'm such a fan of Daniel Pinchbeck. Few contemporary writers have such a command of our language. He's also incredibly generous sharing his mistakes, observations, limitations, and vulnerabilities in order to honestly and eloquently tell his story. He's a true educator. (Oh, and now is a perfect time to read his book on 2012. It's a must, in order to counter the Hollywood version of 2012 equating to Armageddon.)
Jan 17, 2009
Carlos
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Such a neat book that drowned in weirdness due to it's ending. Still though if you ever wondered what its like to be under the influence of a hallucinogenic substance and don't have the stomach to try for yourself then read this book. Pinchbeck does an amazing job of describing the events. It's also a great insight into the world of shamanism over its many many many years of evolution.
Dec 17, 2011
Amanda
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I'm completely engaged by PInchbeck's great clear writing and his very personal subjective accounts mixed with excellent scholarly review of the topic. This book explores various angles of the most fascinating topic for me: what is reality? Of the many books I've read on the topic coming from diverse points of view, Pinchbeck's is by far the best written and most comprehensive and well organized. I also very much appreciate his bibliography in the back of the book.
Dec 09, 2008
David
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Pinchbeck is the embodiment of a modern Huxley, Castaneda and McKenna. His descriptions are believable, honest and valuable. Anyone with a remote interest in shamanism will enjoy this book. I will say that every once in a while, his ideas seem to carry themselves away and take him along. Keep that in mind, but for the most part, this is an excellent book.
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Dec 15, 2008
Charles
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Very interesting look into rituals of initiation in tribal cultures. I would think that reading this book would be a much safer way of learning about psychadelic drugs taken by native cultures than it would to try all of them yourself in their native environments such as the author does. Awesome read. It will melt your face off.
Dec 23, 2010
Mercurymouth
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I am currently looking for something to read in my vast collection of un-read or partially read books. I want to start this one again and I also picked up KAFKA ON THE SHORE as I dont remember reading it, although my GOODREADS status says I have! I am getting that forgetful that I dont recall a Murakami book?
Dec 08, 2007
travis
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pinchbeck has made a name for himself
every group has a pinchbeck
its the cool guy of the group
the one who knows how to talk to people
the one who knows how to get people to listen by tweaking into their interests
pinchbeck is the hipster of the modern entheogenic shamanic movement
by far, he isnt the next leary (thank god)
in fact he devotes time in this book to express the fanatical flaws of leary
breaking open the head is an account along the lin More...
every group has a pinchbeck
its the cool guy of the group
the one who knows how to talk to people
the one who knows how to get people to listen by tweaking into their interests
pinchbeck is the hipster of the modern entheogenic shamanic movement
by far, he isnt the next leary (thank god)
in fact he devotes time in this book to express the fanatical flaws of leary
breaking open the head is an account along the lin More...
Jan 05, 2008
Susan
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It's an intriguing, educating and inspiring read. Don't get discouraged by the overdone literary analysis at the beginning (or just beyond the beginning) of the book; there's some good stuff in there but if that's not your thing just keep going and he gets back on his psychedelic journey where he accesses parallel dimensions and his ethical reflections on human life on this planet. For me it was one of those books that sort of changes your whole perspective on things, or better put, it brings yo
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Dec 03, 2008
I really enjoyed this book. It's a memoir meets research paper about psychedelic drugs and their uses in history, ranging from tools of other-worldly communications to irreverent diversions in modern culture. Fascinating, informative and intriguing.
Jan 03, 2012
He is a big promoter of psychedelics as the way into spritual realms, but tempers his enthuiasm with the words of wisdom from many different people's histories and philosophies. It's a slick read, entertaining if you're interested in psychedelics, magic, dissidence, etc.
Nov 13, 2008
Noel
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I've gone back to this book time after time because there is so much valuable information in it from several perspectives - including Pinchbeck's own subjective eyes, historical, cultural, and scientific.
A MUST READ for anyone who has ever taken psychedelics, or is considering taking psychedelics. I recommend this book to everyone I know because it sums up so much of what I believe...if everyone were to read this book, I believe that our culture would be a more accepting place for t More...
A MUST READ for anyone who has ever taken psychedelics, or is considering taking psychedelics. I recommend this book to everyone I know because it sums up so much of what I believe...if everyone were to read this book, I believe that our culture would be a more accepting place for t More...
Dec 21, 2009
Martine Aiyana
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I actually abandoned this book about halfway through. Having already read 2012: perspectives on the new age, i found this book to be a repetitive recollection of trips and experiences of Pinchbeck. It just couldn't keep my attention.
Aug 08, 2011
An entertaining read, but Pinchbeck tends to wander all over the place. At times he comes across as insightful, but at others he just sounds like a post-rationalizing druggie.
Jul 02, 2009
Current
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Meanders into the political polemic realm, but otherwise a fascinating first person account of psychedelic exploration in the context of the shamanic tradition.
