Review of 'The psychedelic experience' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
Interesting in concept, arrogant and anglocentric in actuality. Timothy Leary presents important techniques and ideas for attaining meaningful experiences on psychedelics and the psychedelic experience, but has the audacity to claim that psychedelics are some kind "cheat code" that bypasses years of spiritual study and practice. His tone towards eastern cultures and their spiritual practices carries a condescending tone throughout the reading, and his attitude comes of as blinded excitement at best, patronizing appropriation at worst.
However, I do think that this text is important as a piece of historical documentation as to the spiritual awakening that was happening in much of Western society at the time, and as an introduction to the concept of set and setting. Keeping that in mind, I would recommend reading this book.
