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Psychonauts: Drugs and the Making of the Modern Mind

Name: Psychonauts: Drugs and the Making of the Modern Mind
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Book Synopsis: A provocative and original history of the scientists and writers, artists and philosophers who took drugs to explore the hidden regions of the mind “Jay is a leading expert on the history of Western drug use, and Psychonauts is the latest in a series of excellent studies in which he has investigated the roots of a kind of psychoactive exploration that we tend to associate with the nineteen-fifties and sixties.”—Clare Bucknell, New Yorker

“Captivating. . . . A welcome reconsideration of the role drugs play in life, medicine, and science.”—Publishers Weekly

Until the twentieth century, scientists investigating the effects of drugs on the mind did so by experimenting on themselves. Vivid descriptions of drug experiences sparked insights across the mind sciences, pharmacology, medicine, and philosophy. Accounts in journals and literary fiction inspired a fascinated public to make their own experiments—in scientific demonstrations, on exotic travels, at literary salons, and in occult rituals.

But after 1900 drugs were increasingly viewed as a social problem, and the long tradition of self-experimentation began to disappear.

From Sigmund Freud’s experiments with cocaine to William James’s epiphany on nitrous oxide, Mike Jay brilliantly recovers a lost intellectual tradition of drug-taking that fed the birth of psychology, the discovery of the unconscious, and the emergence of modernism. Today, as we embrace novel cognitive enhancers and psychedelics, the experiments of the original psychonauts reveal the deep influence of mind-altering drugs on Western science, philosophy, and culture.

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Discover the captivating history of drugs and the mind with Psychonauts: Drugs and the Making of the Modern Mind. Written by renowned expert Jay, this thought-provoking book delves deep into the world of scientists, writers, artists, and philosophers who used drugs to unlock the hidden potential of our minds.

Take a journey through time as Jay uncovers the roots of psychoactive exploration, a phenomenon often associated with the revolutionary periods of the 1950s and 1960s. By experimenting on themselves, these trailblazing individuals not only paved the way for advancements in psychology, medicine, and philosophy but also captured the imagination of the public.

With vivid descriptions of drug experiences, Psychonauts inspires a reevaluation of the role drugs play in our lives, medicine, and science. It challenges societal norms, encouraging us to consider the potential benefits these substances can offer in unlocking our understanding of the mind.

From Sigmund Freud's experiments with cocaine to William James's revelatory epiphany on nitrous oxide, Mike Jay expertly uncovers a lost intellectual tradition of drug-taking. By exploring these forgotten psychonauts, Jay reveals the profound impact mind-altering drugs have had on Western science, philosophy, and culture.

Experience the power of knowledge and dive into the intriguing world of psychonauts. Join us on this captivating journey by getting your copy of Psychonauts: Drugs and the Making of the Modern Mind today!

Ready to unlock the mysteries of the mind? Embrace the legacy of the original psychonauts. Order your copy of Psychonauts: Drugs and the Making of the Modern Mind and discover the profound influence of mind-altering substances on Western science, philosophy, and culture.

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