PIHKAL is a 1991 book by Dr. Alexander Shulgin and Ann Shulgin about psychedelic phenethylamines. The full title of the book is Phenethylamines I H...
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Dec 14, 2007
Michael
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I discovered this book and its sister publication (TIHKAL) during an interesting period of my undergraduate career. The book has three parts. The first part documents Dr. Schulgin's development of Zectran at Dow Chemical and his ever evolving interest in psychoactive drugs and finally his love affair with his wife Ann. The second part is the "Love Story" depicted from Ann's point of view. The third part of the book is an index of interesting chemicals and a rather detailed library of t
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Feb 09, 2008
Esmeralda
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Alex Shulgin is a creative chemist who uses drugs in the philosophical vein of Huxley. It is refreshing to go back to those basic lessons, such as drugs are evil! -and realize the absurdity of assumptions behind that line of thinking. The writer is pedantic on this point. He writes objectively about surreal chemical experiences- in quanities and precise language. Yes, there is a responsible way to take drugs. However, the spritiual experiences expoused in this book are forein territory to me.
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Dec 17, 2009
Tim
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A fascinating dual biography of a man dedicated to synthesizing chemicals to unlock the hidden potential of the human mind, and the woman who came to love and support him in all his endeavors. The second half of this book is filled with the chemical recipes for hundreds of phenethylamines, along with descriptions of their entactogenic, empathogenic, hallucinogenic, and other effects on those who choose to partake in them.
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Dec 17, 2009
ba
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If you like hallucinogens, you'll probably like this book. If you want to invent a new smart drug, this book is also for you.It's a (admittedly very wordy) memoir of a chemist exploring consciousness-expanding substances at the edge of legality, and in the process finding love.
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Aug 21, 2010
Nathan
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An engaging account of a chemist and his partner, written in three parts. First, by the chemist, second, by his partner, third, an account from both on their journey through scientific testing of lab created psychedelic substances. The second half of the substantial book is a chemical reference, with qualitative observations included.
While no one should ever push the use of psychedelics on another due to the extreme personal nature of the reactions, those who contemplate the experi More...
While no one should ever push the use of psychedelics on another due to the extreme personal nature of the reactions, those who contemplate the experi More...
Sep 29, 2008
Ttown
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read it. they don't want you to know. it ought to be banned. like the books in fahrenheit 451. and be aware that you might end up on some agency's watch list. maybe already just for reading this review.
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Jul 25, 2008
J
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The most comprehensive book on the subject available. Too bad I'm not a chemist.
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Jul 04, 2008
Afsaneh
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months of enjoyment, maybe even years.
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Jun 22, 2011
Damien
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I finished the first half of the book. The second half of the book is in a different structure, and I have not yet tackled that half -- it is organized in a way that promotes use as a quick-lookup reference on a number of phenethylamines discovered or explored by Dr. Shulgin, and so that is the approach I intend to take with it.
There is a lot of value in the narrative in this book. We are in a state of global crisis, with the so-called War On Drugs quickly becoming absolutely untenable More...
There is a lot of value in the narrative in this book. We are in a state of global crisis, with the so-called War On Drugs quickly becoming absolutely untenable More...
Jan 02, 2012
for years now, I've been planning to check this book out... I finally took a quick glance through it after seeing it in a book store just the other day and man oh man am I ever excited to get it now. I've been holding off on buying it because I thought the prices I keep seeing online were a bit steep but having held this mammoth in my own hands, I realized that it was probably well worth the prices I've seen it for online but the entirety of the $40 that the book store was charging for it. I f
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Feb 10, 2009
David
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In true Valentine’s Day spirit, today’s review of PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story is about love. And chemicals. PiHKAL is the acronym for Phenethylamines I Have Known And Loved. Alexander “Sasha” Shulgin gives the definition at the beginning of the book:
phenethylamine: 1. A naturally occurring compound found in both the animal and plant kingdoms. It is an endogenous component of the human brain. 2. Any of a series of compounds containing the phenethlamine skeleton, and modified by chem More...
phenethylamine: 1. A naturally occurring compound found in both the animal and plant kingdoms. It is an endogenous component of the human brain. 2. Any of a series of compounds containing the phenethlamine skeleton, and modified by chem More...
Oct 07, 2010
Just bought it. yikes! what a tome. I admire the heck out of the Shulgins but I must admit their prose is un-charming as the other reviewers have agreed. I think their practical need to fictionalize their bio's to a certain extent might have led people to read novelistic ambitions into "Book I." It really seems to be little more or less than an autobiography. Far less technical than "Book II," but far less arch than a novel, it seems like Alexander Shulgin pretty m
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Jan 19, 2011
Sumanth
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A real achievement! Brilliant! Being a neuroscientist I naturally put the Shulgins on a pedestal. But still, few have achieved this level of understanding in an entire lifetime. It astounds me how the Shulgins simply continue to bear Fruit uninhibited by this great achievement like a vine whose sole duty is to fill the trellis with ripe grapes. +++++ on the Shulgin scale! =)
Aug 24, 2010
Kara
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Yup. It's about drugs. If you were one of those kids that came back with horror stories about 2ci and shit after a summer, this is the dude that made that stuff. Interesting, except his wife has a whole half of the book, and she talks about their relationship, while he talks about his work. It's kind of disjointed in that manner.
May 14, 2008
Bird
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Should be: Phenethylamines I Have Known and Loved. Phenethylamines are a chemical family that contain many psychotropic chemicals, including methamphetamines, ecstacy, adam, 2-cb, 8-cb, etcetera. This seems to be a different edition than the one I read. Mine was in only two sections, the first a detailed description of the trips produced by various phenethylamines, the second a chemist's recipe book. I found it fascinating because it was not a hippy book about how to get high with kitchen che
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May 25, 2008
Naomi
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4/24: I have only now just gotten through the introduction, but it had a lot of really important information in it to lay the groundwork for the autobiographical novel portion of the book, which I'm now about to read.
On the first page of the introduction, one of the authors, Dr. Alexander Shulgin, states his personal philosophy: "Be informed, then choose." I think this a great philosophy, and so anyone who wants to form their own opinion about things the government says are More...
On the first page of the introduction, one of the authors, Dr. Alexander Shulgin, states his personal philosophy: "Be informed, then choose." I think this a great philosophy, and so anyone who wants to form their own opinion about things the government says are More...
Aug 08, 2011
Incredibly readable and interesting. It is ultimately what the title says it is -- a love story.
Jan 25, 2011
Sjoerd
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Heel erg interessant en leuk om te lezen, maar op een gegeven moment is het wel heel erg veel van hetzelfde. Alle verfrissende ideeën en filosofieën die in dit boek naar voren komen maken dat weer goed, en natuurlijk het receptengedeelte aan de achterkant van dit boek.
May 11, 2008
Lynne
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My boyfriend loaned me his copy a few months ago, and I finally managed to get through the whole first book (the second book, featuring the chemistry information is more than a bit over my head) in a couple months. What an amazing love story, and I love the shifts of perspective from Shura to Alice. The story is written as cleverly as the characters themselves.
Apr 02, 2011
Miguel
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Interesante pero no lo que esperaba. La verdad creí que sería una historia donde se explicara el papel de la química en el amor, pero en lugar de eso resultó ser un libro donde la química es el pretexto para que dos personas se enamoren.
No es malo pero no es un gran libro. Tal vez tenga que ver con el hecho de que no me gusta mucho leer memorias.
No es malo pero no es un gran libro. Tal vez tenga que ver con el hecho de que no me gusta mucho leer memorias.
Feb 21, 2010
Mike
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Technically I've only read book one of the two books in this, but the Second book is really more of a chemical reference guide and while I will finish it, for all intents and purposes I consider this book read.
Fantastic read for anyone who is interested in the effects of psychedelics on the human mind.
Fantastic read for anyone who is interested in the effects of psychedelics on the human mind.
Dec 16, 2009
Erik
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The first half of the book is an autobiography, sort of. It is far from 5-stars, although it is well told. However the second half is the synthesis protocols for, and personal accounts of, >300 hallucinogens that the author created. That, as a former chemist, brings a tear to my eye.
Jul 08, 2008
Jamie
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The definitive book for the study of psychoactive research chemicals. Alexander Shulgin changed the landscape of consciousness. This is his story, which is simultaneously a dissertation on psychoactive compounds and the love story of he and his wife Ann.
Jun 21, 2011
Bilmason
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The book is divided into a story, about the author and his wife experimenting with phenethylamines, and a reference section covering the various chemicals themselves. The story was an enjoyable read. I didn't have much use for the reference section.
Oct 31, 2008
William
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Currently reading,
this takes knowledge of a little more than novice chemistry to understand.
The formulas are incomplete, but little knowledge of orgainc chemistry is very helpful.
The doors these friends can take us through, goes beyond words.
this takes knowledge of a little more than novice chemistry to understand.
The formulas are incomplete, but little knowledge of orgainc chemistry is very helpful.
The doors these friends can take us through, goes beyond words.
Oct 06, 2008
Jahn
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an innocent story of consciousness exploration and love followed by hard-hitting technical organic chemistry lab write-ups of psychedelic synthesis and experimentation
Nov 16, 2010
Nick
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There is no finer book for aspiring illicit chemists; of this much I am sure. The fictional aspects are rather more tiring than anything else.
Oct 29, 2008
Wade
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The first half of this book is amazing. The second half takes a lot of chemistry knowledge to understand.
