Birth of a Psychedelic Culture: Conversations about Leary, the Harvard Experiments, Millbrook, and the Sixties
Introduction by John Perry Barlow
A finalist in the Next Generation Independent Book Awards, Birth of a Psychedelic Culture offers a compelling, firsthand account of the early psychedelic movement through the voices of Ralph Metzner and Ram Dass (formerly Richard Alpert). With never-before-seen photographs and vivid recollections, the book chronicles the groundbreaking experiments at Harvard, the rise of Millbrook, and the cultural revolution that followed.
Featuring candid conversations with cultural icons like Aldous Huxley, Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs, and Charles Mingus, this essential volume captures the spirit of a transformative era. A must-read for anyone seeking to understand the roots of modern consciousness exploration.
Conversations about Leary, the Harvard Experiments, Millbrook and the Sixties
Introduction by John Perry Barlow
No understanding of the history of the sixties could ever be complete without a grasp of the work of Leary, Alpert, and Metzner, the cultural resistance to their experiments, and the way in which psychoactive drug use became a part of contemporary society. Next Generation Independent Book Awards Finalist, Birth of a Psychedelic Culture shines a bright light on these experiments and their cultural milieu through never before seen photographs and the personal accounts of authors Ralph Metzner and Ram Dass, who vividly recall descriptions of particular “trips” as well as conversations with luminaries such as Aldous Huxley, Charles Mingus, Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs and others that appeared on the scene.
Ram Dass (formerly Dr. Richard Alpert) is a world famous spiritual teacher and author of the best-seller Be Here Now. Ralph Metzner is Professor Emeritus at the California Institute of Integral Studies and co-founder of the Green Earth Foundation. Gary Bravo is Chief Psychiatrist for Sonoma County Mental Health.
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Why this book matters
- A firsthand account of the Harvard psychedelic experiments — the origin story of modern consciousness research — told by two of its central figures
- Features never-before-seen photographs and vivid personal recollections from Ram Dass and Ralph Metzner
- Documents conversations with Aldous Huxley, Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs, and other luminaries of the era
- A Next Generation Independent Book Awards Finalist — recognized for its historical depth and cultural significance
- Essential reading for anyone seeking to understand how psychedelics shaped the sixties and the trajectory of modern psychotherapy
