Synopses & Reviews
A celebration of the life and pioneering work of the eminent mycologist and scholar R. Gordon Wasson.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;A legendary figure in the field of ethnobotany, R. Gordon Wasson's trail-blazing work on hallucinogenic mushrooms with the Mexican curandera Maria Sabina in the 1950s brought increased scholarly attention to the importance of psychoactive plants in the spiritual life of indigenous peoples and had a profound influence well beyond the academic world. His accessible writings helped popularize these discoveries, forming the ground for the social revolution of the following decade. With the growing interest in the role of psychoactive plants in society today, the work of R. Gordon Wasson and the example set by the man himself, so well illustrated here, takes on increasing importance.and#160;
Review
andquot;R. Gordon Wasson's work on hallucinogenic mushrooms sparked the psychedelic movement: this varied collection includes contributions in the field of ethnobotany, comparative religion, and anthropology and offers a tribute to Wasson's research through new contemplations.andquot;
Review
andquot;This work is a remarkable achievement. It successfully captures all aspects of a complex personality. Gordon Wasson was a wonderful mixture: part businessman, part adventurer, part scholar. He achieved more in each of these fields than most do in any one discipline. Sketching a life-size portrait of this intriguing man is no mean feat, but this work achieves that goal.andquot;
Review
"This work is a remarkable achievement. It successfully captures all aspects of a complex personality. Gordon Wasson was a wonderful mixture: part businessman, part adventurer, part scholar. He achieved more in each of these fields than most do in any one discipline. Sketching a life-size portrait of this intriguing man is no mean feat, but this work achieves that goal." < b=""> Dr. Mark J. Plotkin <> , author of < i=""> Tales of a Shaman's Apprentice <>
Review
"R. Gordon Wasson's work on hallucinogenic mushrooms sparked the psychedelic movement: this varied collection includes contributions in the field of ethnobotany, comparative religion, and anthropology and offers a tribute to Wasson's research through new contemplations." < i=""> The Bookwatch <>
Synopsis
A celebration of the life and pioneering work of the eminent mycologist and scholar R. Gordon Wasson.
R. Gordon Wasson's work on hallucinogenic mushrooms with the Mexican curandera Maria Sabina in the '50s brought increased attention to the importance of psychoactive plants in the spiritual life of indigenous peoples, forming the ground for the social revolution of the following decade. Edited by Thomas J. Riedlinger, who lives in Boston and has written extensively on psychedelic plants and psychology, this book includes essays by the most distinguished names in the fields of ethnobotany, comparative religion, and anthropology.
Description
"Bibliography: R. Gordon Wasson and Valentina Pavlovna Wasson": p. 257-263. Includes bibliographical references and index.
About the Author
Edited by Thomas J. Riedlinger, who has written extensively on psychedelic plants and psychology, andlt;Iandgt;The Sacred Mushroom Seekerandlt;/Iandgt; includes essays by the most distinguished names in the fields of ethnobotany, comparative religion, and anthropology.
Table of Contents
andlt;Bandgt;Prefaceandlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Bandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160; Thomas J. Riedlingerandlt;BRandgt;and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Foreword andlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Bandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Richard Evan Schultesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;R. Gordon Wasson: Brief Biography and Personal Appreciationandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; J. Christopher Brownandlt;BRandgt;and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Wasson's Help to a Student of Drug Historyandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Michael R. Aldrichandlt;BRandgt;and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;My Life With Gordon Wassonandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Masha Wasson Brittenandlt;BRandgt;and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;A Vote for Gordon Wassonandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Michael D. Coeandlt;BRandgt;and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;A Bibliophile's View of Gordon Wasson's Books and Bookplatesandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Robert Demarestandlt;BRandgt;and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;'Somatic' Memories of Gordon Wassonandlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Bandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Wendy Donigerandlt;BRandgt;and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;R. Gordon Wasson: The Poet of Ethnomycologyandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; William A. Embodenandlt;BRandgt;and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;'Vistas Beyond the Horizons of this Life': Encounters with R. Gordon Wassonandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Peter T. Furstandlt;BRandgt;and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Wasson and the Development of Mycology in Mexicoandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Gaston Guzmanandlt;BRandgt;and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;The Mushroom Conspiracyandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Joan Halifaxandlt;BRandgt;and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Ride Through the Sierra Mazateca in Search of the Magic Plant 'Ska Maria Pastora'andlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Bandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Albert Hofmannandlt;BRandgt;and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Collecting Wassonandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Michael Horowitzandlt;BRandgt;and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Remembrances of Things Pastandlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Bandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Irmgard Weitlaner Johnsonandlt;BRandgt;and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;The People of Miniss Kitigan Who Were and Are Honor the Spirit of WaussungNaabe Who Was and Isandlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Bandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; KeewaydinoQuayand#160;Et Alandlt;BRandgt;and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;My Friend Gordonandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Weston Le Barreandlt;BRandgt;and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Mixe Concepts and Uses of Entheogenic Mushroomsandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Frank J. Lippandlt;BRandgt;and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;'The Banquet of his Interests'andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Bernard Lowyandlt;BRandgt;and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Wasson's Literary Precursorsandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Terence McKennaandlt;BRandgt;and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;A Posthumous 'Encounter' with R. Gordon Wassonandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Claudio Narjanoandlt;BRandgt;and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;A Twentieth Century Darwinandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Jonathan Ottandlt;BRandgt;and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Recollections of R. Gordon Wasson's: 'Friend and Photographer'andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Allan B. Richardsonandlt;BRandgt;and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;A Latecomer's View of R. Gordon Wassonandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Thomas J. Riedlingerandlt;BRandgt;and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Mr. Wasson and the Greeksandlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Bandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Carl A. P. Ruckandlt;BRandgt;and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Celebrating Gordon Wassonandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Alexander T. Sulginandlt;BRandgt;and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Travels with R. Gordon Wasson in Mexico, 1956-1962andlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Bandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Guy-Stresser-Pand#39022;andlt;BRandgt;and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Appendix I. Gordon Wasson's Account of His Childhoodandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; R. Gordon Wassonandlt;BRandgt;and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Appendix II. Bibliography: R. Gordon Wasson and Valentia Pavlovna Wassonandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; J. Christopher Brownandlt;BRandgt;and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Appendix III. The R. Gordon Wasson Ethnomycological Studies Seriesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Bandgt;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; and#160;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Indexandlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Contributorsand#160; andlt;/Bandgt;