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17 reviews for:
Breaking Open the Head: A Psychedelic Journey Into the Heart of Contemporary Shamanism
Daniel Pinchbeck, Lee Fukui
3.8 AVERAGE
17 reviews for:
Breaking Open the Head: A Psychedelic Journey Into the Heart of Contemporary Shamanism
Daniel Pinchbeck, Lee Fukui
3.8 AVERAGE
A look at various shamanistic traditions that use entheogens: substances that make you see "god". Pinchbeck explores personally the use of Ayahuasca, Ibogaine, Pyscillopsybin and others and comes up with sometimes fantastic theories about what is going on during such encounters with the sublime.
Fascinating book. Daniel Pinchbeck is interesting because he didn't begin his spiritual journey as a "true believer", but rather as a cynical, post modern, urbane New York media professional. Good stuff.
A daring journey into worlds built by psychedelics and torn down by modern society. Daniel Pinchbeck takes on a topic that, all things considered, is as taboo as it is intrinsic to our current societal condition. Think this book is a must read for anyone who has considered any form of counter culture - whether literally or just whimsically.
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
p. 291 When modern civilization finishes draining the world's resources, when this house of cards collapses, we will see ourselves stripped down to our essence and whimper for forgiveness like third-grade bullies caught by our teachers, unable to comprehend what went wrong. Against the floods, genetic pollution, bacterial onslaughts, radioactive infernos unleashed by human stupidity or aggrieved nature, our technologies will pop like toy guns. Watch the fun as the stock markets continue to seek profit, down to the last seconds of recorded history, betting on the margin-calls of disaster relief and reinsurance agencies.
An interesting survey of various psychedelic substances and the cultures of which they are a part.
It's REALLY difficult, it seems, to give descriptions of these experiences. Pinchbeck is successful in this for the most part. Much will be familiar, particularly the history LSD and peyote in North America.
There were a few moments when he lapsed into some amateur physics concerning DNA and was inconsistent about the dangers of various drugs, but these are minor.
Recommended.
Entertaining and informative if you can get past the ego of the author
An all time favourite. Pinchbeck brings his most erudite prose and deep thinking to a year of losing his mind. I refer to him often and will likely think about it forever.