Animals and Psychedelics: The Natural World and the Instinct to Alter Consciousness

by Giorgio Samorini, Rob Montgomery (Foreword)

An Italian ethnobotanist explores the remarkable propensity of wild animals to seek out and use psychoactive substances. • Throws out behaviorist theories that claim animals have no consciousness.

• Offers a completely new understanding of the role psychedelics play in the development of consciousness in all species.

• Reveals drug use to be a natural instinct.

From caffeine-dependent goats to nectar addicted ants, the animal kingdom offers amazing examples of wild animals and insects seeking out and consuming the psychoactive substances in their environments. Author Giorgio Samorini explores this little-known phenomenon and suggests that, far from being confined to humans, the desire to experience altered states of consciousness is a natural drive shared by all living beings and that animals engage in these behaviors deliberately. Rejecting the Western cultural assumption that using drugs is a negative action or the result of an illness, Samorini opens our eyes to the possibility that beings who consume psychedelics--whether humans or animals--contribute to the evolution of their species by creating entirely new patterns of behavior that eventually will be adopted by other members of that species. The author's fascinating accounts of mushroom-loving reindeer, intoxicated birds, and drunken elephants ensure that readers will never view the animal world in quite the same way again.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Animals, Psychology, Nature, Drugs, Spirituality

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

È un elenco inesauribile di animali che cercano piante, frutti, funghi e qualsiasi altra cosa che possa alterare la loro coscienza. Ci sono praticamente tutti, dagli elefanti alla mosca, passano per koala, gatti, falene, capre...

Alcune storie passate nel folklore: per esempio si dice che in Etiopia il caffè sia stato scoperto guardando le capre mangiare delle bacche rosse che le rendevano più eccitate ed energetiche.

Ma altre... ho dovuto scoprire così che i pucciosi koala, che già non stanno bene perché hanno tutti la clamidia, potrebbero benissimo vivere di pane e miele come Winnie the Pooh. Non è vero che possono mangiare solo eucalipto, ma l'eucalipto li fa sballare e preferiscono continuare così. I cuccioli ovviamente ereditano la tossicodipendenza dai genitori.

E i micetti? L'erba gatta è afrodisiaca. Le falene? Si fanno di datura. Gli elefanti? Si limitano ad ubriacarsi con frutta fermentata, son bestie semplici.

I pesci... ecco, i pesci non vengono citati. Immagino sia perché è difficile seguirli alla ricerca di qualche alga psicotropa, a questo punto non credo che loro siano l'unica specie morigerata.

[Max Renn · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is one of those many instances i wish for a half-star rating capability on GR, for in actuality this book is a slender delight whose only fault lies in being much to light on the ground to really put some heft into its intriguing thesis.

filled primarily with little-known and highly poetic anecdotes of animal intoxication, one finds oneself ready to jump on board with the whole idea, only to discover the science in an embryonic state. more a statement of intent than an actual document.

but then in this case the anecdotes, filled with robin drug orgies, mongooses in mourning and durian stealing tigers... might actually be enough...

[Brett Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was hoping for a thorough, well-cited scientific take on the phenomenon of animal intoxication, but this book did not deliver. The author's conclusions about the motivations behind animal behavior were unfounded and far-fetched, and he didn't cite any sources. It read like a book of tall tales -- and not a non-fiction account of actual happenings in the natural world -- to me.

[Stefania Toniolo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interessante ma speravo in più studi scientifici.
Sarebbe tre stelle ma ne perde una perché nel finale diventa delirante

[Janis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started reading the book five times before I finally decided to just sit down and finish it in one setting. The field of animal driving themselves is obviously new and facing obstacles in finding funding and locating clear evidences, as the author clearly acknowledged. However, as a scientist, it is appalling to see a book throwing out folk stories as scientific evidence without citing many known collaborators. There are also formatting errors in the book. It's a good introduction to a new vote to this major drug problem our culture imposes on us, but I would really like to see more than anecdotes in a book.

[ar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its a short read, but there is very enjoyable and novel information here, information that makes a very strong argument.
It is not 'the human-drug-problem'.
It is more like 'the animal-drug-phenomenon'.
Did you know even insects seek intoxication?

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Animals and Psychedelics is a brief summary of some cases of animals and their relationship with substances and hallucinogens in nature. This is an interesting subject that deserves further research and discussion but unfortunately, due to the books length there really isn't much here aside from a brief discussion that might peak your interest in the subject.

Published in 2000, this book is of a different time in the world of psychonautics and public perception of psychedelics. While still a long way to go, the world of 2023 is home to many legalizations and decriminalizations of psychedelics in the United States. Nearly a quarter century ago, scientists and psychonauts were tasked with normalizing and reporting the natural and historical nature of substances in human society. While there is still a lot of prejudice against drugs in 2023, most people have moved beyond a base discrimination and are looking for further research and information to better inform or discredit their stance.

Author Giorgio Samorini offers an interesting exploration into the animal kingdom and their relationship with substances. I found some of these subjects to be of interest but nothing too revelatory to someone who has explored psychonautic subjects for a few years. While I'm not aware of many other books on this subject, I'm sure that more research has been done since this book was published and further details have been disclosed. If you are looking for an introduction to this subject its worth checking this book out but aside from that you'll probably find better sources in today's world.

[Lucia Palomba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vi siete mai chiesto se gli animali si drogano?
Se sì, perché?

In questo interessante saggio si possono trovare le risposte a queste e altre domande che ci permettono di capire quanto gli esseri umani abbiano in comune col mondo animale.

[Alissa Thorne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book--almost more of a pamphlet at a mere 112 pages--is an easy and amusing read. It tells of naturally occurring intentional use of mind altering substances by animals. It is light reading that can open your eyes to a different perspective on how psychoactive chemicals fit into the world. But be warned--it has an agenda, which is laid on pretty heavily. Personally, I find this to be a bit of a turn off, even when I agree with the agenda.

Still, drunk-elephant stories are great to tell at parties.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is primarily a survey of the different documented cases of drug use is in the animal kingdom — from fruit flies and house flies and moths to sheep and cats and cows.

The conclusion is fascinating. Samorini hypothesizes that the desire for altered states of consciousness predates humanity's entrance to the evolutionary scene and that it is deeply embedded in our DNA to seek out these altered mental states. These altered states may even be responsible for many of our evolutionary gains as we see things differently when under the influence of certain inebriants.

I also appreciated the concluding suggestion that the modern predilection to cast drugs as immoral breaks a part of humanity’s relationship with nature and is at least partly responsible for the modern “drug problem,” as there is no culturally mediated way to seek out altered mental states. People who do seek them out must do so on their own terms which are often less healthy.

[Jeroen Mul · Rating 5 out of 5]

After witnessing the neighbourhood cats indulge on the fallen leaves of my kiwi tree, I got recommended this book by a friend.

In only 88 pages the author sheds new light on the place of humans in the animal kingdom, animal consciousness and social norms towards drug use.

This book is also very strong in the fun fact department ("Did you know all koalas are actually addicts", "A fly agaric is called a toadstool because the flies get stoned and the toads eat them")

Tip: Don't interrupt goats while they are eating psilocybin mushrooms.

[Brooke Ringler · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the book is very intriguing and reads easy, it seems more fiction to me than scientific. I found it hard to believe that most of the information was rooted in science, and was dismayed in the lack of references for the data. It is an enjoyable read if one takes it all with a grain of salt, but I was rather disappointed in the lack of authenticity.

[Tavo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, easy to read but feels incomplete.
I enjoyed reading it but at the end it just felt that the author had much more to give but decided not to.
The book feels like an unorganized collection of examples of how animals look for drugs, with a nice closing chapter.
However, I'm glad I read it and found such interesting conclusions and further authors on the topic.

[Ludo-Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

Libo cortissimo e divertente, con degli aneddoti interessanti. Il tono è abbastanza serio tranne quando l'autore scrive "animali che si drogano" in mezzo a frasi tutte scientifiche, allora giù a risate di pancia.
carino, le teorie dell'autore (verso la fine del libro) sono diciamo discutibili, però dai ci può stare perchè parla di animali che si drogano quindi non può non essere divertente

[Elisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book provides a number of examples of animals and insects using substances in the animal kingdom. They read a little like lists at times and would benefit from additional analysis. There are not many citations in the book, though the author also argues that not many are studying the topic.

It was an interesting, quick read. I’d love to see a more fleshed out book on the topic though.

[Pietro · Rating 1 out of 5]

Could not finish this.
A big, disorganized, source-less/vaguely sourced salad of Wikipedia articles written by a bot from 2009. Just genuinely, horribly written.
Sources are virtually non-existent.
This would've been a far better use of everyone's time as a 5 minute read on Buzzfeed, listing "30 cool facts about animals and drugs".

[Ian Fitzpatrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice fun and easy to read book, nice and thin, but has a lot in it that opens you up to the idea of us being a little closer to animals than we think. I hope the field gets more momentum to it in the coming years

[MarilindaDR · Rating 4 out of 5]

saggio breve, brevissimo e molto scorrevole
oltre al capitolo finale con spiegone e domande esistenziali, il resto si potrebbe definire una raccolta di curiosità sul mondo animale e sui comportamenti animali. È pur sempre un libro-scoperta ed è questo che gli dà il fattore wow a mio parere.

[Marco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book on the relationship between animals and the use of plants.

[Joe Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and Fun

[Maitreyi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. interesting, amusing. taught me new things and made me wanna get drunk w my cats lol
I wish more of it was backed by science but oh well

[akemi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fuck yeah. We were psychonauts before we were human. Death to bourgeois moralism. Long live the depatterning instrument of narcosis.

[Shiaowei Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting idea. The fact that drugs are just a natural part of life on earth and humans are the only animal that turns it into a cultural “drug problem”

[Fernando del Alamo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este es un pequeño librito (se lee en 2 o 3 días) que nos explica cómo se drogan los animales, cosa que no tendría importancia si no fuera porque también lo hacemos nosotros. Para empezar, es muy difícil definir qué es drogarse, pues si lo hacemos en función de la necesidad, de síndrome de abstinencia y cambios de humor, podríamos decir que comer cada día es una droga.

Y así el librro da un repaso de algunos animalitos: ratas, elefantes, moscas, caracoles, etc. Y algunas de las sustancias son fuertemente afrodisíacas en los gatos.

Muy curioso, para todos los públios.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly this book changed my opinions (and shame) around the use of psychedelics and really highlighted how it is completely natural and expected for animals to want to "alter their consciousness". A quick read that will change negative opinions if you're open minded. I wish it was longer.