Synopses & Reviews
This fascinating book presents a scientifically objective, and thoroughly documented exposition of the pharmacological and psychological effects of nearly every known substance that affects human consciousness, from alcohol to Zopiclone. It also features first-hand accounts and descriptions of the social, cultural, and religious milieus in which many psychotropic plants are used, and discusses historical allusions to many literary and scientific figures who used or wrote of mind-altering drugs, including Freud, Dickens, Yeats, and Huxley. Intended for a wide audience of general readers seeking unbiased information, the book gives an accessible explanation of drug-receptor interaction and organic chemical structures, as well as descriptions of the discovery, isolation, and syntheses of the chemical substances responsible for drug activity. Written by an experienced chemist, the book nevertheless keeps technical information to a minimum.
Review
"An appropriate alternative title for this fascinating, modestly priced volume might be 'Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Drugs.' The author . . . has left no stone unturned in making this vade mecum of drugs, for specialist or layperson alike, as complete as possible . . . Clearly a labor of love. . . . I heartily recommend this interesting and informative study not only to chemists and pharmacologists but also to professionals, students and educators in the health sciences as well as to science-conscious citizens concerned with the social and ethical implications of the use of mind-altering drugs in our society." --George B. Kauffman in American Scientist
"This book will provide a pleasant surprise for many readers! . . . I enthusiastically recommend it to anyone with basic science literacy who wants a good general overview of psychoactive substances, how they were discovered, and the roles they play in medicine and in our present culture." --David E. Nichols in Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
"Mind-altering substances have captivated human beings through the ages and have certainly been in the forefront of local, national, and international politics for more than a century . . . Because this subject holds the interest of such a disparate group of individuals, it is not an easy task to write a book on this subject that would appeal to a diverse audience. Perrine has made a serious attempt to write such a book . . . Very readable and chocked with information . . . providing rich descriptions of the psychological and behavioral effects of mind-altering drugs." --Journal of the American Chemical Society
Table of Contents
Preface
1. Mind and Molecule: Neurotransmission in Context
2. Opium and the Opiods
3. Depressants: Alcohol, Benzodiazepines, Barbiturates
4. Stimulants: Nicotine, Caffeine, Cocaine, Amphetamines
5. Antipsychotics and Antidepressants
6. Psychedelics: LSD to XTC
7. Dissociatives and Cannabinoids: PCP, THC, ETCs
8. HONC: The Four Key Elements
9. Return to the Second Dimension
10. How Shall I Bond Thee? Let Me Count the Ways
11. Through the Looking-Glass
Index