Food of the Gods: The Search for the Original Tree of Knowledge A Radical History of Plants, Drugs, and Human Evolution

This one took me a while. And while I was reading other books during the two months that it took me to read Food of the Gods, that length of time was mostly due to the books density and depth of information. I was familiar with ethnobotanist and revered psychonaut, Terence McKenna, through his lectures, though this is my first time actually reading any of his work. Food of the Gods was a great place to start. Within, McKenna guides the reader through a history of psychedelic plants (and other indole hallucinogens) and how they affected the cultures that interacted with them. He touches on his 'stoned ape' theory, which I've always found intriguing (now more than ever), and which (if proven) would certainly indicate that the effect these ancient plants had on humankind was immense. McKenna goes on to describe the crumbling relationship humans have had with these plants and substances across thousands of years; the shift we have enacted from 'partnership societies' to the 'dominator society' in which we currently find ourselves. Thus, the book can be seen as a sort of call to action; to return once more to the realm of empathy, partnership, and freedom of consciousness which once went hand in hand with the consumption of ancient, shamanic plant substances and other consciousness-expanding drugs. McKenna is extremely verbose, and very intelligent, to the point that some sections of the book were relatively hard to understand for me, requiring a second read. Regardless, I found his arguments strong, and his research thorough and enticing. Terence and his brother Dennis are both individuals that I have looked into before as free thinkers and advocates of personal freedoms currently denied to all of us. He brings to light many things in this book that are more and more obviously astounding. Our love affair with alcohol for example, while cannabis (a proven medicinal plant) remains illegal and ostracized. He would be happy to see the progress made in that area (way to go, Canada) but nevertheless there is much work to be done; and on more than just cannabis. How can we as human beings ever claim true sovereignty over ourselves if our freedoms do not include the freedom of our own consciousness? I am reminded here at the close of Graham Hancock's TED Talk. I think that he and McKenna see eye to eye on a number of issues. I'd like to provide a link to the video here, but Amazon will not allow external URLs in reviews. I urge you to look it up yourself. This talk was actually banned by TED after its release, and removed from their content offering. Shocking, for a forum that promotes itself as forward thinking and open-minded. But more evidence that there is work to be done. A paradigm shift must occur. I look forward to reading more of McKenna's work.

I was a little surprised to find that this was a chronological history and academic work with plenty of references, a glossary and an index that explores the role that various psychoactive substances have played in the evolution and development of man, culture and society. I've had personal experience with most of the substances that he reviews, and I would also agree that the indole containing plant derivatives, including Psilocybin from mushrooms and the semi-synthetic LSD-25, are the most interesting in terms of their historical significance, effects and potency. The fact that the human brain has receptors that respond to these indole compounds does not seem accidental. I am personally sympathetic with many of Terrence McKenna's views, although some of those views are difficult, if not impossible, to prove or refute. It seems that one of the main points of the book is his contention that the indole ring containing psychoactive substances played a significant role in human evolution and may have played a key role in the development of language and communication. Females may have played a more important role here than males, largely because their roles in early societies required cooperation and communication. His division of cultural/societal models into the Archaic / Feminine focused model and the Dominator / Patriarchal is useful, and it might be useful to incorporate some of the old practices and values into modern day society if it is to continue to flourish. There are snippets here and there containing descriptions of psychedelic experiences of various individuals, but these are presented within the context of an academic discussion. You really have to experience that sort of thing to appreciate it anyway, but they are illustrative descriptions. There is an interesting discussion about the roles that alcohol, narcotics/opiates, tobacco, tea and coffee (all drugs) have played in recent history, as well as discussions about the impact that other more recently distributed drugs have played in society. It is probably no accident that governments and Dominator focused organizations seek to control many of these substances. The indole plant entheogens probably pose a particular threat in this regard, not because of financial or abuse considerations, but because they may hold the potential to transform society once again.

Love reading concepts like this. Very fascinating and thought provoking

The book was listed as "Good" condition and that's what it is. Short of the back cover having a crease in it, it was like new. It seems to be a very interesting book for someone that enjoys thought provoking theories and I'm looking forward to reading more about Mr McKenna's "stoned ape theory" lol I love that his peers tried calling it that to mock him and he leaned into and embraced it ! Oh and the last thing, this was an excellent price for this book ! I couldn't be happier ! Thanks !

I’m sure many scientists and the religious would hate this book. I found it refreshing. The concepts about sugar and alcohol and dominator culture make so much sense to explain ‘Merica. He really was ahead of his time on putting his finger on the pulse of societal decline. There’s an audiobook recording on YouTube for free. It’s 9+ hours but it’s word for word what’s in here. I think this is mandatory material to read or listen to. Even if you don’t agree with him, hear him out. He resonates with me on so many notions but explains them in ways I’m too stupid to on my own.

This is the first book from Terrence McKenna I have read, but I have listened to a number of his lectures. As it stands, if I had to sum of the book in one phrase it would be, "An illicit peepshow of truth regarding our human culture." This book quite literally takes you all over the world, back and forth through time in 275 very novel pages. It employs the character of showing us how closely attached we, the human species, have been to drugs, or altered states of consciousness. There is also an attribute on how we as a species have developed society and religion as result to these experiences. This is a manifesto that beckons the need for further research into the areas of which McKenna vectors us. This book is also far much more than just a pontification about the history of drugs, it also delves deep into human culture and alternative views of how culture developed, especially from the feminine perspective. I have to say those who wish to study our human origins should read this; it is definitely an intriguing compilation, especially with his theories on the origins of consciousness. McKenna does not fail to display his erudition in this work, just as he does in his lectures, which is one of the reasons why he has been a preeminent hero of mine since I came into knowledge of him. Most people are immediately going to reserve themselves in the position of dissenting, more or less because this is not what has been spoon fed to them by the conventional education machine. If you want the truth, or unbiased information, seek knowledge with an open mind, independently and from a multitude of perspectives. Especially, in the frame of the history, but even more so with his theory of how consciousness developed through prolonged exposure to entheogens. His theory for the catalyst for consciousness is very novel and pushes the paradigm on conventional theories. Nonetheless, McKenna's theory is highly controversial and many are likely to disagree without considering its probability. In actuality, Tim Leary attempted to study the effects of drugs on the mind while he was a Harvard professor, so these ideas are not intellectually destitute. Even if you disagree with everything he writes about, the subject matter will at least give you an adverse perspective that is in existence, but is not the orthodox. In reference to the effects of drugs (natural drugs, not pharmaceuticals and alcohol) on the consciousness and the "journey" into your subconscious, I emphatically agree with McKenna and it is something that is simply experiential. It is an invigorating experience if you allow it to be, you must search within yourself to find answers. I personally like McKenna's rules for experiencing entheogens (as evident on pg. 248), "one sits down, one shuts up and one pays attention"-especially alone in the dark, no TV and no radio. It may not be for all, but it is quite effective for the psyche and intellect. Unfortunately, do to the politics of the scholarly realm and the laws from the "drug war" his theories will merely lie in ruin as an anecdotal hypothesis, but has much potentiality for a concrete conclusion. The only reason I did not give this book five stars is due several things I disagree with McKenna on. Throughout this book, and his lectures, he seems to advocate a very socialistic and communist lifestyle, which to me, politically is an issue of dissonance. With this subject I guess we differ on a polarity, but I still enjoy his very eloquent philosophy. At times he also references the "barriers" that we create to create individual territory, and that we would be wiser to dissolve those and live communal lives. I like capitalism, the harder you work the more capital you receive; in a socialist society those who work hard gain nothing, because everything is of neutral division, and in the end it stifles ingenuity and innovation; and, in the same system the laziest are parasites that reap the rewards. Along with those ideas, he also bends over backwards to force a square dowel into a circular hole, and because of this there are times that makes it hard to concur with him. There are also periods in his book that there exists not enough evidence for the clarity of his postulants. Here are some quotes I found resonance with: Pg. 147 "Wife beating without alcohol is like a circus without lions." - So true, but we find that marijuana, an innocuous substance is outlawed. Pg. 148 "Yet how can we explain the legal toleration for alcohol, the most destructive of all intoxicants, and the almost frenzied efforts to repress nearly all other drugs?" Pg. 163 "The "recreational" context for substance use, as currently understood in the United States, is an atmosphere that trivializes the cognitive impact of the substance used." Pg. 272 "If mere preaching of virtue could provide the answer, then we would have arrived at the threshold of angelic existence some time ago. If mere legislation of virtue were answer, we would have learned that a long time ago." In conclusion, it is odious and criminal for me to desire and endeavor to experience mushrooms or marijuana in my own home, but it is ok for America to line up at the pharmacy for their $4 monthly prescriptions for various absurdities; and aside to that, the most corrosive substance, alcohol, in society is ubiquitously supported and served as a nuance of fermented passion, and because of this, the atrocities that it induces America retains a superficial relationship with. - D.R.Thomas

Spirit This book is a clear and cogent discussion around the most amazing substances ever to be found on our planet: many plants contain molecules that interact with human consciousness in marvelous, magical ways that cannot be described, but nevertheless have a lifelong impact on our sense of who we are, how we feel, and what we think. McKenna has for years been a consistent voice in the maelstrom of disinformation and hysteria that has occurred in the aftermath of the collapse of the drug culture of the 1960s. The popular press has overlooked the fact that for many of the pioneers of the psychedelic drug experience, taking drugs was a part of a legitimate spiritual quest. McKenna reminds us that this use of psychedelic drugs for increasing spritual awareness has been a part of the human experience since before the dawn of history. I can only hope that with our increasing understanding of the role of consciousness, mind, and spirit in the unfolding of the universe, reason will return to our conversations and decisions about mind-expanding drugs. "Food of the Gods" is a look at humanity's ancient and ongoing involvement with psychedelic plants, and a thoughtful discussion of what we have next to do in order to partner with these plants in discovering our true relatedness with the rest of this planet and its organisms.

Such a powerful message. Terrence Mckenna's vocabulary is impressive.

Algo que las personas de este siglo deberían leer. Esta información podría ayudar salvar nuestro mundo que hemos estado destruyendo año tras año. Es filosófico, antropológico, científico, y psicológico etc.. Sus podcasts también son increibles. Terence McKenna me lleva influenciando ya casi un año. Podría salvar nuestro mundo esta manera de pensar y comprender el mundo y el universo.

Desde amazon usa a México. Libro nuevo y entrega rapida.

While the condition was listed as "acceptable," this was indistinguishable from a used book. I was so pleased when I opened it to find such a pristine copy. I look forward to wearing it in over multiple readings.

Boken beskriver mycket möjliga rötter till det psykedeliska riket och beskriver en historia som sträcker sig över tio tusen år tillbaka i tiden. Flera olika folkstammar beskrivs. Den beskriver bortfallet av psykedeliska växter ur vår kulturella diet och hur "den äkta varan" byttes ut mot t.ex. abstrakta symboler och till slut även en glömska av det gudomliga som dessa plantor hävdas ge. Relativt nutida händelser skildras också, såsom "the war on drugs", kriget mot drogerna, samt en blick i hur framtiden skulle kunna se ut. Jag kände mig gripen och fascinerad genom hela boken. Jag kände mig känslomässigt investerad i kapitlen och fick dessutom några riktigt goda skratt. Det är en historiebok med bias till drogliberalitet. Kan inte rekommendera den nog. Skaffa den! Väl värt läsningen.

Great book