Acid Dreams: The Complete Social History of LSD: The CIA, the Sixties, and Beyond
By:
Martin A. Lee Bruce Shlain
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Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5
Description:
Acid Dreams is the complete social history of LSD and the counterculture it helped to define in the sixties. Martin Lee and Bruce Shlain's exhaustively researched and astonishing account-part of it gleaned from secret government files-tells how the CIA became obsessed with LSD as an espionage weapon during the early l950s and launched a massive covert research program, in which countless unwitting citizens were used as guinea pigs. Though the CIA was intent on keeping the drug to itself, it ultimately couldn't prevent it from spreading into the popular culture; here LSD had a profound impact and helped spawn a political and social upheaval that changed the face of America. From the clandestine operations of the government to the escapades of Timothy Leary, Abbie Hoffman, Ken Kesey and his Merry Pranksters, Allen Ginsberg, and many others, Acid Dreams provides an important and entertaining account that goes to the heart of a turbulent period in our history. "Engaging throughout . . . at once entertaining and disturbing." - Andrew Weil, M.D., The Nation; "Marvelously detailed . . . loaded with startling revelations." - Los Angeles Daily News; "An engrossing account of a period . . . when a tiny psychoactive molecule affected almost every aspect of Western life." - William S. Burroughs; "An important historical synthesis of the spread and effects of a drug that served as a central metaphor for an era." - John Sayles.
Publisher: Grove Press
Customer Review: 5 out of 5
Far out man - Very interesting. If you lived in the 1960's you'll appreciate the insight. If you didn't live through the 1960's, you'll get a very good idea of what went down.
Customer Review: 5 out of 5
An Eye Opener of a Book - At first glance at the title, one might mistakenly think this just another, "Dope" book. That is far from the case. The subjects of LSD and its proliferation, are well covered, but there is much more here. As the subtitle says, it is a, "Complete Social History of LSD, The CIA, the Sixties, and Beyond". Smartly written, you will find this highly readable book a real page turner. The authors have done a fine job, and because the raft of information is presented succinctly and to the point, much ground is covered. This book has wide appeal, as it explores important, little-known areas in history that span the better part of the 20th Century, and that unfolds between its pages at times, like a crime thriller. Although not written in textbook style, educators would do well to give this book a look, and anyone with an interest in the history of the counterculture, LSD, and covert operations of the CIA and their international counterparts, will find this book and eye opener. Highly recommended!
Customer Review: 5 out of 5
Acid Dreams - I lost a friends version of this book when I was reading it on the plane and had to replace it. This one came quick and in amazing condition!!! Thanks
Customer Review: 5 out of 5
Best book on LSD. - Anyone who is at all interested in LSD, on whatever level, should have a copy of this book. Fascinating, well-written and very informative. 5 dark stars. Mind Bomb
Customer Review: 5 out of 5
Get Ready for a Paradigm-Shift - If you're a person who has taken psychedelics and/or entheogens and you find yourself no longer fitting in with the status quo, more than likely dropping out of school and seriously pondering the life of a wandering penniless nomad, or are perhaps already well into that life, then read this book as it just might save your life. If you want the truth on a topic you absolutely must look at it from all viewpoints. This book does that and it delivers truth in an amazing fashion. Hippies tuned out and dropped out, but then what? I wonder if some of them ever sat there looking around in a daze and in poverty and wondered to themselves, "I've been totally destroyed, I'm holding a sign and begging for coin just so I can get something off of the dollar menu at McDonald's. Could it be that this whole 'movement towards enlightenment' was actually a well-engineered plan to demoralize us all into the oblivion?" Unless hippies are ingenius and/or have very rich parents who care about them, they will wind up in the grave or in prison. And they wont be hippies for very long in either of those places. Also, in their so-called "Sexual freedom" or the consequences thereof, I shudder to think of how many crack babies were blown out of their every hippy orifice after a night of "free love" and children who are now illiterate and illegitemit bastard children in group homes or juvenile hall, wondering why their parents would lay eggs without first building a solid nest. That's nothing, these are just my own musings on what becomes of the hippy movt, but this book documents all kinds of facts that will seriously change your mind about what the 60s actually were.
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