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Reviews by erowid
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The Answer to the Question
by Fred C. May Jr
Publisher:
Trafford Publishing 
Year:
2004 
Reviewed by Erowid
1/31/2005

A short booklet (published on-demand) reminiscent of daily meditation books. Includes grouped concepts and quotes under headings such as “Knowledge and Truth”, “Wholeness” or “Epiphany”. For those who enjoy interesting thoughts to ponder about the nature of being human, whether sober, in meditation, or in other altered states. [ read more ]

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Recreational Drugs
by Harry Shapiro
Publisher:
Salamander Books 
Year:
2004 
Reviewed by Erowid
1/29/2005

Covers most of the mainstream recreational drugs with a 2-4 page summary for each. On the more accurate side for books of this type, though a number of errors can still be found. The tone is relatively neutral, avoiding the hyperbole of more anti-drug authors. A little uninspiring, with little new information for anyone knowledgeable in the field, but in ... [ read more ]

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Mezcal
by Jorge Quiroz Marquez
Publisher:
Universidad Jose Vasconcelos de Oaxaca 
Year:
1997 
Reviewed by Erowid
1/29/2005

A short and concise summary of information about mezcal. Includes some nice photos, a brief history of mezcal, modern cultural ties, production information, and recipes. [ read more ]

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Magic Mushrooms and Other Highs
by Paul Krassner (ed.)
Publisher:
Ten Speed Press 
Year:
2004 
Reviewed by Erowid
1/27/2005

A fun collection of trip reports, weighted heavily towards the silly and absurd rather than the serious. The generally 1-2 page stories are organized by substance (mostly psychedelics) and provide a sense of the experiences to be had with psychoactives. [ read more ]

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Eden
by Ken Wisman
Publisher:
AuthorHouse 
Year:
2004 
Reviewed by Erowid
11/3/2004

A surprisingly nice attempt at integrating psychedelic concepts into a sci-fi/fantasy novel. Wisman alternates between telling the story of Eden, and occasionally breaking out to write about his own use of “a powerful chemical substance”. He never names this psychedelic material, but describes his frequent work with it and the thoughts and philosophical meanderings he experienced while under its effects, ... [ read more ]

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The Marijuana Question
by Helen C. Jones & Paul W. Lovinger
Publisher:
Dodd, Mead and Co. 
Year:
1985 
Reviewed by Erowid
8/29/2004

The Marijuana Question purports to be a summary of what “scientists” have found about the health risks of marijuana. Unfortunately their biases get in the way of scientific neutrality. The book is well-written and well-documented, but presents a very one-sided argument in which the conclusions are foregone. Research which supports their conclusion is lauded and made to look definitive while ... [ read more ]

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Green Medicine
by Margaret B. Kreig
Publisher:
Rand McNally 
Year:
1964 
Reviewed by Erowid
8/26/2004

A nice look at the field of ethnobotany during the early 1960s. Kreig describes the histories of a variety of plants with medicinal or psychoactive properties as well as interviews with ethnobotanists such as Richard Evans Schultes. Green Medicine also includes a nice series of photos of Schultes, R. Gordon Wasson, Roger Heim and others involved in the field. Good ... [ read more ]

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Solvent Neurotoxicity
by Peter Arlien-S0borg
Publisher:
CRC Press 
Year:
1992 
Reviewed by Erowid
8/25/2004

It can be difficult to find information about human research with toxic solvents. Solvent neurotoxicity provides a good overview of both human and animal research for a series of solvents including toluene, sylene, styrene, and trichloroethylene. Includes great reference lists. [ read more ]

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Psychedelic Trips for the Mind
by Paul Krassner (ed.)
Publisher:
High Times 
Year:
2001 
Reviewed by Erowid
8/3/2004

Interesting format of short quotes (1/2 – 1 page each) by different authors. Blurbs are grouped by topic, providing a variety of views, thoughts, and short experiences about an individual (Leary), a group (the Grateful Dead), a substance (LSD) etc. [ read more ]

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Hideous Absinthe
by Jad Adams
Publisher:
Univ of Wisconsin Press 
Year:
2004 
Reviewed by Erowid
7/23/2004

Hideous Absinthe offers a nicely balanced look at the history, facts, and mythos of absinthe. Adams offers reader an in-depth look at the role absinthe has played in artistic culture (especially that of the 19th century), and succeeds in doing this without taking sides. Among other issues, Adams attempts to clarify what level of influence absinthe had upon artists such ... [ read more ]