#1769 - Jordan Peterson

Henri Ellenberger's "The Discovery of the Unconscious" is a monumental historical survey of the development of ideas about the unconscious mind. The book traces the evolution of these concepts from ancient times through the 19th and early 20th centuries, highlighting the contributions of numerous thinkers and clinicians. Ellenberger meticulously documents the intellectual and clinical contexts that shaped the emergence of psychoanalysis and related schools of thought. His work provides a rich and nuanced understanding of the historical forces that influenced the development of modern psychology. The book is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of psychology and the evolution of ideas about the human mind.

The book is a firsthand account of the experiences of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters, a group of psychedelic enthusiasts who traveled across the United States in a painted school bus called Furthur. The narrative, written in the New Journalism style, later referred to as Gonzo Journalism, details their use of LSD and other psychedelic drugs, their 'Acid Tests' parties, and interactions with notable figures of the 1960s counterculture, including the Grateful Dead, Hells Angels, and Allen Ginsberg. The book also explores Kesey's exile to Mexico, his arrests, and his impact on the counterculture movement of the 1960s.

Rick Strassman's "DMT: The Spirit Molecule" details a groundbreaking clinical study on the effects of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a powerful psychedelic compound. The book explores the profound experiences reported by participants, including encounters with non-ordinary realities and entities. Strassman's research challenges conventional understandings of consciousness and the nature of reality, suggesting DMT may play a significant role in near-death experiences and spiritual awakening. The book has become a cornerstone text in psychedelic research and has influenced many discussions on consciousness and altered states. Its findings continue to inspire further investigation into the potential therapeutic and spiritual applications of DMT.

In 'The Immortality Key', Brian Muraresku reconstructs the suppressed history of psychedelics in ancient Greek and early Christian rituals. Through a 12-year investigation, Muraresku connects the lost psychedelic sacrament of Greek religion to early Christianity, exposing the true origins of Western Civilization. He accesses hidden archives of the Louvre and the Vatican, and collaborates with archaeochemists to unveil the first scientific evidence of psychedelic drug use in classical antiquity. The book challenges traditional views of Christianity and Western history, suggesting that psychedelics were integral to the development of these cultures[1][2][4].