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The Psychedelic Renaissance: Reassessing the Role of Psychedelic Drugs in 21st Century Psychiatry and Society
Ben Sessa takes the reader on a journey through the fascinating history of psychedelic plants and chemicals, examining their role in human culture from prehistory to modern times. Based on a thorough review of scientific evidence, he makes a clarion call for a reevaluation of their clinical potential with appropriate setting in scientific research, psychiatry, psychotherapy, and personal growth. First published in 2012, Psychedelic Renaissance has been extensively revised and expanded to incorporate the extraordinary developments in research into psychedelics over the intervening years.
404 pages, Paperback
First published September 28, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 1, 2023
Sprawnie napisane kompendium wiedzy na temat historii psychodelików, nie tylko w kontekście zastosowań medycznych, ale tez generalnie ich wpływu na kulturę i być może na sam rozwój cywilizacji (choć na to podchodziłbym z dużą dozą sceptycyzmu). Ostatnie 100 stron właściwie można darować, ale poza tym to dobra pozycja dla osób szukających przekrojowego i rzetelnego przedstawienia tego tematu.
March 20, 2018
A great read - I knew next to nothing about the area prior to reading Ben's book. I'm eager to continue learning about the role of psychedelics in medicine.
February 2, 2019
Had the pleasure of meeting Ben at this year's Breaking Convention in London and was quite impressed, which led me to give his book a try.
The book gives a comprehensive overview of almost everything related to psychedelics. From how they originated, to the counter-culture of the 60's, the emergence and ban of both LSD and MDMA, going into contemporary research, leading to what he calls a psychedelic renaissance. The book also touches on a variety of other less famous psychedelic drugs, and on topics like spirituality and how they related to the psychedelic experience.
Most importantly, and what I liked the most about the book, is that gives a perspective from a psychiatrist. Someone who's entire life is about helping patients overcoming psychological suffering, and yet, many times our current drugs and treatments are ineffective, fully knowing there are other options that could help them, but they're out of reach, made illegal due solely social and political factors, independent of scientific reasoning.
My only complaint about the book is that I didn't find it very well organized. It often jumped from topic to topic, regularly touching on the same issue on several chapters. But overall, a tremendous resource for anyone interested in psychedelics.
Reading is a bit depressing, reflecting on how poorly some decisions were made and how it's affecting millions of people. But at the same time, hopeful to what the future will bring, and the development on this so called psychedelic renaissance.
The book gives a comprehensive overview of almost everything related to psychedelics. From how they originated, to the counter-culture of the 60's, the emergence and ban of both LSD and MDMA, going into contemporary research, leading to what he calls a psychedelic renaissance. The book also touches on a variety of other less famous psychedelic drugs, and on topics like spirituality and how they related to the psychedelic experience.
Most importantly, and what I liked the most about the book, is that gives a perspective from a psychiatrist. Someone who's entire life is about helping patients overcoming psychological suffering, and yet, many times our current drugs and treatments are ineffective, fully knowing there are other options that could help them, but they're out of reach, made illegal due solely social and political factors, independent of scientific reasoning.
My only complaint about the book is that I didn't find it very well organized. It often jumped from topic to topic, regularly touching on the same issue on several chapters. But overall, a tremendous resource for anyone interested in psychedelics.
Reading is a bit depressing, reflecting on how poorly some decisions were made and how it's affecting millions of people. But at the same time, hopeful to what the future will bring, and the development on this so called psychedelic renaissance.
January 13, 2022
An excellent review of the history of psychedelics and where the space is heading. It covers in detail the psychopharmacology of the major classical psychedelics, entactogens and dissociatives as well as a number of research chemicals.
Sessa is a great writer infusing wit and humour into the history of psychedelics, drug prohibition, the decades long battle for scientific legitimacy and the present and future state of how these substances may be utilised in medicine and culture.
One thing I particularly liked was that Sessa approaches the topic as a psychiatrist and scientist first and foremost - his takes are rational and not mired in the all too common naive optimism that psychedelics can solve all of our social and psychological ills. It may go a ways to helping to solve a lot of them but as Sessa lays clear the road to get there is long and will be paved with rigorous science and regulation, likely not dosing everyone with acid.
If you are at all interested in the psychedelic sciences - it’s history, major substances, major players and where it is going this is a great primer. Also v fun to read.
Sessa is a great writer infusing wit and humour into the history of psychedelics, drug prohibition, the decades long battle for scientific legitimacy and the present and future state of how these substances may be utilised in medicine and culture.
One thing I particularly liked was that Sessa approaches the topic as a psychiatrist and scientist first and foremost - his takes are rational and not mired in the all too common naive optimism that psychedelics can solve all of our social and psychological ills. It may go a ways to helping to solve a lot of them but as Sessa lays clear the road to get there is long and will be paved with rigorous science and regulation, likely not dosing everyone with acid.
If you are at all interested in the psychedelic sciences - it’s history, major substances, major players and where it is going this is a great primer. Also v fun to read.
February 10, 2023
Ben Sessa perfectly combined history and issues of psychedelic substances. This book definitely gives a big dose of valuable knowledge and for me it is must to read for all people intersted in every ology of science.
March 6, 2024
quite a few spelling errors but such a good book!!!
to actually publish the fag joke in chapter 9 is kinda crazy
to actually publish the fag joke in chapter 9 is kinda crazy
October 31, 2016
Sessa gives clear, well-cited documentation of the history of psychedelics from the perspective of an M.D. and psychonaut. By just mentioning Michel Foucault and R.D. Laing he goes further than many to update how we ought to rethink psychedelic therapy. Like most respected authors on psychedelics these days, however, while giving a good long history of psychedelics he lacks an updated cultural critique from after the wake of poststructuralism. This is typical of books and research advocating the deregulation of "Class A" and "Schedule I" substances, and I see the point. But, honestly, psychedelic research cannot afford to play merely a reactionary and submissive role to biopolitics and outmoded scientific positivism and claim to be scientifically up-to-date.
May 29, 2019
While this is a fine book to provide to psychedelic newbies or skeptics--I myself kept thinking how much my dad would enjoy this book--for serious heads, this is nothing new. However, I really appreciate Sessa's work in boiling down a lot of complex science into very easily digestible chapters. He also summarizes the work of many luminaries in the field of psychedelic research, as well as providing some valuable advice to the more hot-headed among us to calm down and try to word things so that the Dudes in Suits won't freak out and start another prohibition.
August 6, 2019
A great introduction for beginners. Broad in scope, honest in execution.
For more, uh, experienced readers it's got a list of lesser known but still interesting plant medicines (including the now popular kratom and kava), as well as a list of prominent psychedelic researchers.
In short, it's a primer on the basics. If you want to get up to date on the history of these substances and the cultural reactions to them you could start with far, far worse.
For more, uh, experienced readers it's got a list of lesser known but still interesting plant medicines (including the now popular kratom and kava), as well as a list of prominent psychedelic researchers.
In short, it's a primer on the basics. If you want to get up to date on the history of these substances and the cultural reactions to them you could start with far, far worse.
August 3, 2015
A great introduction to the history and future of psychedelic use, both recreationally and therapeutically. Easy to read, not overloaded with scientific jargon. Although I could suggest another round of editing as it is loaded with typos.
August 25, 2018
A great overview of the history of psychedelics in medicine, and little bits of the surrounding history and culture. Don't expect great depth in any particular direction but do expect a well written survey that is highly readable and entertaining.
March 16, 2017
Very informative and in-depth, the author clearly put a lot of great work into this.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews