A separate reality

In this book, Castaneda continues his apprenticeship with don Juan Matus, delving into the world of shamanism and the use of hallucinogenic substances like peyote to alter perception.

Don Juan's teachings focus on the distinction between 'looking' and 'seeing,' and the need to shed Western worldviews to truly perceive the world.

The book describes Castaneda's struggles to adopt this new way of seeing and his experiences with various psychotropic plants, which challenge his understanding of reality and his role as an anthropologist.