Tripping: An Anthology of True-Life Psychedelic Adventures

Offers a very diverse selection of psychedelic experiences written by real people.

This book contains an amazing interview with Terence McKenna, which took place toward the end of his life, that is worth the price of the book. Tripping is the best story-telling approach to the psychedelic encounter that I have read or experienced. I have always felt that all story-telling festivals need a psychedelic tent, because these extreme experiences are some of the best stories human beings can tell. Through the psychedelic medium human beings still tell stories of meeting gods and demons, travelling to new fantastic worlds, and taking mythic and perilous journeys. Even though these stories are about the experiences of a number of travellers, Hayes has expertly rewritten their accounts through a single narrative voice. This gives the book continuity it otherwise might have lacked. Bruce Eisner's story about taking too much LSD at Burning Man is hilarious. Very well done.

Whether you have tripped or not, this is a must read. For those who have, it will make you almost nostalgic, and almost incredulous that you ever altered your conciousness to this extent. For those who never ingested hallucinogenics, this is a window into the extraordinary world tripping can offer, under the right circumstances. The narratives are sometimes funny, sometimes scary, and sometimes really sad. The excellent research into the pharmacology, and the cultural, and historical roles hallucinogenics have played throughout civilisation, make this book more than just a trip down memory lane for the average acid head. It is surprising that more authors have not tackled this fascinating topic.

"Tripping" by Charles Hayes is a unique collection of personal narratives about the LSD experience. A joy to read, it provides a much-needed corrective to the anti-drug hysteria which demonizes substances and their users. This work replaces psychedelic explorations where they belong, in the minds and hearts of normal human beings. The stories are as unique as each person is; a wide range of reactions is included, some funny, some sad, spiritual, frightening, and exciting. Besides being fascinating, this book is also useful to libraries as a reference source, since the stories are accompanied by well-researched scholarly material. I loved this book!

Though I've never had any first-hand experience with tripping, I mustadmit, I've always been curious. Charles Hayes' anthonolgy satisfiedthat interest and then some. Not only was I entertained by theindividual accounts in this book, I was faciniated by the historybehind psychedelic substances. The book never endorses nor condemsthe use of these drugs--it simply reports on them in ways that aresometimes amusing, sometimes frightening, often spritual and alwayshonest and deeply personal. The discriptions are so vividly written,you can very nearly experience them yourself. When it is my turn tohost the neighboorhood bookclub, I and the rest of my suburbanhousewife compatriots will be Tripping! You don't have to be a '60'shippy or part of any drug culture to thoroughly take pleasure in thisbook. I highly recommed it.

The censors of consciousness are not going to like this book, which is reason enough to read it. For those who have taken a psychedelic journey or two it's a confirmation and vivid reminder of the experience. I was startled to see descriptions of unusual events and/or visions that I could have written myself, they were so similar to my own. For those who haven't ingested a psychedelic the book is must reading; it offers insights into the experience that are revealing, inspiring, and sometimes frightening. These drugs change lives, often for the better, especially if the set and setting are paid the proper attention. These stories testify to this fact. We would all be amazed and delighted if everyone who had ever benefited from psychedelics went public with it. Differing forms of these substances have been used for as long as there have been human beings, sometimes playing a vital role. One need only realize/recognize/remember that the religious systems of India and Greece, to name just two, were dependent on the use of psychedelic plants, to understand their potential value. Read this book: it will open your eyes. And to all users of psychedelics, past and present, I issue a challenge: Don't let others tell you what you can and can't do with your own mind and consciousness. Stand up for your rights, which are being whittled away daily by those running the Drug War--and make no mistake, it is a war. Half the prison population is comprised of drug POWs. Speak up. Defend yourself. Come out, come out, wherever--and whomever--you are.