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Magic Medicine

A Trip Through the Intoxicating History and Modern-Day Use of Psychedelic Plants and Substances

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Pub Date Jun 05 2018 | Archive Date Aug 07 2018


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Description

The history of psychedelic plants and substances is full of colorful, fascinating facts and stories, and intriguing questions.

Did U.S. Army Intelligence really use LSD as an enhanced military interrogation technique? Why does Ayahuasca have such a long history of use in Peru? Science is beginning to research what traditional cultures have told us for years: psychelics have transformative healing properties.

Many psychedelic plants and substances have a long history of being incorporated into various healing traditions -- such as cannabis and opium in Traditional Chinese Medicine. This Magic Medicine explores the fascinating history of psychedelic substances and provides a contemporary update about their growing inclusion modern medicine, science, and culture.  

The history of psychedelic plants and substances is full of colorful, fascinating facts and stories, and intriguing questions.

Did U.S. Army Intelligence really use LSD as an enhanced military...


Advance Praise

Cody Johnson beautifully balances historical knowledge with cutting-edge science to produce a thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening read which paints a holistic picture of the risks and benefits of psychedelic use in modern day medicine and culture. - Rick Doblin, Ph.D., Founder and Executive Director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)


What a good book this is! A rarity among psychedelic publications, it is straightforward, useful, makes complex biochemistry understandable, and will be a reference for years to come. It is a drug-by-drug series of clear, useful descriptions of just what you need to know about both synthetic and plant-based psychedelics. I thought I knew all this stuff, but Johnson weaves in excellent scholarship and some wonderful stories that surprised and delighted me as well. - James Fadiman, Ph.D., microdose researcher and author of The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide


Magic Medicine is a wonderful object as well as a valuable text on this essential subject. Johnson describes a wide range of psychedelic substances - their effects, history and contemporary uses - in a readable style of prose and set amidst an alluring and beautifully presented format. Highly recommended! - Dr. Ben Sessa, psychiatrist, psychedelic researcher, and author of The Psychedelic Renaissance


This is a delightful book that takes the reader on a pleasurable trip through several millennia of use and reflections on humans use of psychedelics. It is beautifully researched and pleasingly produced, with a satisfying balance of science, history and insights. I am sure that everyone interested in this growing field will find something new to intrigue and hopefully inspire them. - Prof. David Nutt, Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, Imperial College London, and author of Drugs Without the Hot Air


Magic Medicine is an entertaining, up-to-date encyclopedia of the ineffable, offering easy-to-digest insight into a dizzying array of psychoactive drugs and sacred plant medicines.  - Don Lattin, author of The Harvard Psychedelic Club and Changing Our Mind


Magic Medicine takes us on a journey into the most controversial and mysterious of medicines: the mind altering plants and chemicals responsible for some of our greatest visionary creativity and also our paranoid delusions. Cody Johnson does a great job at separating fact from fiction in this eye-opening book. - Jason Silva, host of National Geographic's Brain Games and the hit YouTube series, Shots of Awe

Cody Johnson beautifully balances historical knowledge with cutting-edge science to produce a thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening read which paints a holistic picture of the risks and benefits of...


Marketing Plan

Campaign Focus:
An armchair traveler's guide to all substances psychedelic—from properties, use, lore, history—to their growing inclusion in medicine and science
 
Key Selling Points:
Includes fascinating facts, stories, and characters
Covers current research and application as medicine from reducing suicide and stress to treating alcoholism and PTSD
Includes history and lineage of psychedelic plants and substances
Written by an enthusiast and blogger for the enthusiast

Key Campaign Activity
Longlead review pitch to pop culture publications
Review pitch to trade magazines
Review pitch to targeted online pop culture sites
 
Pre-publication:
Pre-order promotion and giveaways via author’s newsblog, psychedelicfrontier.com (10K)
Goodreads giveaway
 
Trade:
Review copies to Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Shelf Awareness

Retail:

Consumer:

Publicity/Media:
Longlead pitch to targeted publications, including Cannabis Culture, High Times, Psychology Today, Rolling Stone, UTNE Reader
Review copy push to top news sites, including About.com, Buzzfeed, HuffPost, Salon, Quora, Thrillist, Yahoo
Review pitch to online pop culture sites, including Alternet, Bustle, cannabisculture.com, The Daily Chronic, InkedMag, Inverse.com, LadyBud, Mashable, Newsweed, Nylon, PopSugar, The Verge, Vice, Weedworthy

Campaign Focus:
An armchair traveler's guide to all substances psychedelic—from properties, use, lore, history—to their growing inclusion in medicine and science
 
Key Selling Points:
Includes...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781592337729
PRICE $25.99 (USD)
PAGES 232

Average rating from 13 members


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