The Magic Mushrooms Shop top 10 Psychedelic Books

There’s nothing quite like curling up with a good book. And while text may not always capture the trippy visuals and non-linear flow of a psychedelic experience, the written word can certainly transmit a lot of wisdom in its own way. In the spirit of celebrating the books that have supported us along the path of conscious expansion, we’ve created a list of our top 10 psychedelic books for you to enjoy!

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Supernatural - Graham Hancock (2005)

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In this incredibly well-written and well-referenced book, Graham Hancock attempts to answer what has been described by scientists as “the greatest riddle in human history” ─ the rapid and dramatic evolution of our species. Hancock’s thesis points out that psychedelics may have been a major factor in our evolution because they experientially connect us with the “ancient teachers of mankind”.

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Throughout the text, Hancock takes a deep dive into shamanism and the influences of psychedelics on the earliest forms of art and culture tracing all the way to the modern human mind. He also describes his experiences with ayahuasca, ibogaine, magic mushrooms, and DMT adding a personal touch to the storytelling. 

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The Doors of Perception - Aldous Huxley (1953)

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Philosopher Aldous Huxley blew the minds of his generation with this book which describes the first time he tried mescaline. He chronicles the experience beautifully, expressing how he (re)connects with everyday objects and speaking about the sensation of truly living in the present moment. 

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The main message of the book is about the importance of widening our perception to the things that lay beyond our normal limited reality. A must-read!

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How to Change Your Mind - Michael Pollan (2018)

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Michael Pollan was intrigued by the emerging studies showing the medicinal benefits of psilocybin so he decided to delve into the world of psychedelics. This best-selling book is the result of his investigation. 

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In How to Change your Mind, Michael Pollen starts by recording the effects of psilocybin on end-of-life patients, and people suffering from addiction and severe depression. Throughout the novel he makes a strong case advocating for the medicinal use of psychedelics and shares anecdotes and evidence about the amazing potential of LSD, psilocybin and DMT to, well, change your mind. 

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Running parallel to this scientific dialogue, Pollen describes his own transformative adventures with psilocybin, offering beautifully articulated and personalized descriptions of the psychedelic experience. 

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The Psychedelic Experience - Timothy Leary, Richard Alpert and Ralph Metzner (1964)

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This is the O.G. trip manual, penned by psychedelic icons Timothy Leary and Ram Dass, and based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead. In the book, they relate the psychedelic experience to traditional Buddhist teachings, known as bardos. It’s within this text that Leary first put forward his ideas about set and setting that are now a cornerstone concept within the psychedelic community.

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In The Psychedelic Experience, a trip is broken down into three stages or bardos. The first bardo is about ego death, the second is about riding the vibrations of the universe, and the third is about coming back down to reality. It’s a fantastic guide for beginner and seasoned psychonauts alike.

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The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test - Tom Woolf (1967)

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Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test is a raw, firsthand account that charts the birth of counterculture in 1960’s America. It follows Ken Keesey, literary icon turned felon and the Merry Pranksters as they ignite a social revolution.

This crew united the counterculture with their epic road trip around the USA in a big psychedelic bus called “further”. They threw parties known as acid tests and where they would dish out the LSD in Kool-Aid, opening the minds of America’s youths, one glass at a time.

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DMT the Spirit Molecule - Rick Straasman (2000)

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In the early ’90s, Rick Strassman carried out the first clinical studies of DMT. His research was groundbreaking, and he tells us all about it in The Spirit Molecule. Throughout the book, he explores the evolutionary and psychological purpose of DMT and how it relates to the pineal gland.

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As well as having a solid scientific foundation, the book also considers the effects of DMT on the human spiritual experience and contains many moving stories from the individuals that volunteered in the studies.

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LSD My Problem Child - Albert Hoffman (2013)

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This is the acclaimed autobiography of Albert Hoffman, the godfather of LSD. It is a thorough account of the incredible journey of LSD and its prohibition. 

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Hoffman describes the personal growth that came with taking LSD and how it inspired his lifelong study of sacred hallucinogenic plants. Hoffman also gives a touching account of how psychedelics can improve humanity and help us to understand the world in both a scientific and spiritual way.

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PiHKAL - Phenylethylamines I Have Known and Loved - Alexander and Ann Shulgin (1990)

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Alexander Shulgin was the renowned psychopharmacologist who identified MDMA. Alongside his wife Ann Shulgin, he dedicated his life to creating psychedelic compounds and studying how they impacted the human mind. Together they used psychoactive substances therapeutically as an aid for talking therapies.

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As well as being a touching autobiography (and a bit of a love story), PiHKAL also gives a very scientific account of Shulgin’s research and investigations. The second half of the book describes phenethylamines, their physical properties, dosages used, duration of effects observed, and commentary on effects.

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The Psychedelic Explores Guide - James Fadiman (2011)

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James Fadiman has been strongly involved in psychedelic research since the 1960s. In The Psychedelic Explorers Guide, he generously shares his extensive knowledge providing an essential manual for safe psychedelic exploration. 

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The book covers a range of topics, from trip guides to prohibition, as well as the scientific and medicinal uses of psychedelics. It also offers a clear dosing structure, including a high ‘spiritually enlightening’ dose, and a moderate medicinal dose, as well as the microdose with its many benefits. 

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True Hallucinations - Terrance Mckenna (1994)

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In 1971 Terrance Mckenna went in search of sacred hallucinogenic plants in the Amazon Basin, along with his brother Dennis and several of their friends. This book is a mesmerizing and surreal account of their experiences. 

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It’s part diary, part fanciful psychedelic insight featuring spaceships and aliens, with profound concepts such as the development of the human language and consciousness thrown in as well. True Hallucinations is a fascinating peek into Terrance McKenna’s infamous mind.

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Conclusion

So, there you have it ─ our top 10 psychedelic book recommendations for your reading pleasure. All the books on this list are a must-read for anyone serious about learning more about the philosophy, science, and spirituality of psychedelics. 

Note: If you’re suffering from a mental illness and are curious about using psilocybin or any other psychedelic therapy, please consult one of the relevant medical authorities first. Do not self-prescribe, it’s vital to have the right support and guidance when using psychedelics as medicine.