Opium

As a high school teacher of over 35 years, I highly recommend "The Mystique of Opium" for two important attributes: One, it is filled with gems of information which give a full and balanced picture of the drug. Two, it is an excellent example itself of first class teaching. The writing is clear and interesting but never pedantic. The illustrations and pictures are extraordinary. It's a "must" for every teacher.

What a delight THE MYSTIQUE OF OPIUM is! It introduces us to startling new perspectives on opium, as when Nick Tosches states that "When God put His mouth at the nostrils of Adam, there was probably opium on his breath." It tempers its subject by keeping the narrative on two tracks: opium and its blissful appeal, opium and its destructive effects. There's a punning wit to the titles ("Poppy Nose Best") and a stunning clarity to the many visuals that show us the inner historic world of the opium pipe and the opium den. I confess I got hooked, seriously addicted -- I discovered that the subject of opium handled appropriately can stand in for the real thing and weave its magic in the head as surely as if it had been inhaled with the nostrils rather than the eyes. A stunning treatment of a subject best known to many of us, I suspect, at this kind of remove. Highly recommended.

Some books have substance; some have fascination; some have class. Donald Wigal's The Mystique of Opium, a slim but rich volume, has all three. The cover, stunning in itself, is a promise of things to come. The source of opium, the history of opium, and the culture of opium (which culture generated over the years museum-quality artifacts) are laid out here in a clear, readable style, along with an abundance of superb illustrations. The result is that a book which could have been dryly informational is a page-turner. If you think that opium is an interesting subject, read this book, then think again. Joseph H. Wessling

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. It is also said that a well-turned phrase is worth a thousand pictures. Well, with the many beautiful pictures and the many well-turned phrases contained in La Mystique De L'Opium, one would expect a very large and lengthy book. To the contrary (and pleasantly so), however, La Mystique is a compact treat. The text of the book evidences a depth of knowledge presented in an attractive format. The writing style is concise, clear and witty. The illustrations are carefully woven into the context of the presentation. Opium is indeed an interesting topic. La Mystique makes for informative reading which is pleasing to the eye and stimulating to the mind. Every coffee table should have a copy - and not just for show!

The topic of this compact book--opium--has long been a controversial one, and this new volume is a welcome perspective on the subject. Recommended