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 - Read this book!Interesting and eye-opening history, and entertaining read...pulls so many separate strings in history together in its focus on LSD Rating: - Lsd's impact on CultureIf you are considering purchasing this book, be aware of a few things. First of all, this book is not just about LSD and the CIA. This book is about the origin of use of many hallucinatory and mind-altering chemicals, and the impact that these chemicals, namely LSD and to some extent Marijuana, had on the ensuing counter-cultures of the late 60's and early 70's. Connections between the CIA and LSD are mentioned early in the book and referred to occasionally after that. Although, there does seem to be an underlying message in the book that maybe LSD usage in the public wasn't exactly accidental. Overall this book is very well written and does an above average job of providing reliable sources of the information. On the other hand, their are many instances where the authors use this book to express their own political ideations and personal opinions. Nevertheless, for the most part the reader is provided with a fairly in depth view of how mind-altering chemicals played a significant role in much of what was going on during this time period, including music, the Vietnam War, the hippies, art, and the intrinsics of many aspects of the U.S. government, namely certain intelligence agencies. Rating: - We Are ExperiencedYou will count yourself experienced after reading this completely fascinating book. Lee and Shlain deliver the social history of LSD, along with the historical forces that shaped it and were shaped by it, with both investigative integrity and a refreshing amount of hip slang. You can't go wrong with a book that combines chemistry, political analysis, and sociology with witticisms like "listen to a digger rap it down" and "that great Dionysian rap dance." This book has it all: top secret government shenanigans, bizarre medical experiments, spooks and infiltrators, beats and hippies, radicals and revolutionaries, international drug cartels, outlandish conspiracy theories (with clarity and a grain of salt), rock n' roll and pop culture. It's all wrapped up in a stirring social history of the United States during the 1950's through 1970's, as the influence of LSD spread far beyond it's origins among chemists and CIA agents. In addition to Lee and Shlain's completely insightful social history, they also deliver some keen revelations about the US government's shifting attitudes toward drug control, which are rarely based on sound science or medical studies. You'll learn that LSD was once heavily supported by the CIA as a mind control drug, but they disowned it when it hit the black market and inspired a generation of activists and free thinkers. LSD was then outlawed supposedly for public health reasons, but Lee and Shlain give plenty of evidence that these new drug laws were merely a tool of social control to hose down restless young people and nonconformists. The same could probably be said about most other drug laws. This is just one of the many intriguing revelations in this outstanding book. Not unlike its root subject, this book can blow your mind, simply by the power and fascination of the writing and investigation by Lee and Shlain. Highly recommended. Rating:  - Story of the psychedelic shower - and all it's characters!This is a terrific book for those who are interested in a well written and entertaining semi-chronological survey of the story of LSD and the culture/counterculture that it inspired. Here you will read brief and interesting snippets about every kooky character involved in this extended comedy, which is still being played out in the present day (if you disagree take a hard look at the current American political climate). The evolution of LSD is an epic of weird spies, cult figures, radical politicos, high falutin' intellectuals, right-wing paranoids, fanatical scientists, artists, terrorists, radicals, hippies, yippies, sex-obsessed freaks, and ordinary folk who are interested in sampling a slice of infinity for a few bucks a hit. I would invite you to partake of this experience (of course I only refer to READING THE BOOK) if you are brave, self-assured, and happy. All others need not apply, but if you feel interest then as the MAN says...Turn off your mind, relax, and float downstream...best wishes and enjoy. Rating: - Amazing trip into the underside of LSDSomebody who read my review of "Writing on Drugs" recommended this book to me, and I am so glad that person did! This is an insightful, balanced look at the history of LSD, from its roots as chemical warfare for the CIA (and to think we're at war with Iraq in part because of their chemical weapons) to the psychedelic 1960s and beyond. We meet such fascinating people as Timothy Leary, Allen Gingsburg, and Ronald Stark, and see how the government and people with greed on their minds ruined what might have been an eye-opening drug. (Not that I recommend people take LSD--I do write for a substance abuse prevention program!) The book also raises questions about our drug policy--aat least up through the 1980s and how it affected people's use and interest in LSD, not to mention the kind of trips they took. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to know more about drug history, government conspiracies, and history of the 1960s in general.
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