The Harvard Psilocybin Project 1960-1963. An Archival History of Timothy Leary, Richard Alpert, and Harvard's Psychedelic Pioneers. Second Edition

About this book

Psilocybin changed the world-but first, it shook Harvard. The Harvard Psilocybin Project, 1960-1963 reveals how a daring research initiative at the heart of academia challenged postwar cultural norms and set in motion a revolution in psychology, medicine, law, and spirituality that still echoes today. "The Harvard Psilocybin Project, 1960-1963 is, in my view, one of the most thoughtful and even-handed accounts of that turbulent and groundbreaking era. Ed Reither brings to life a period that's often been reduced to caricature - too easily dismissed as either na ve idealism or psychedelic fueled anarchy. What he's done instead is dig deep into the Harvard archives - uncovering letters, memos, and long-forgotten accounts from Harvard University's multiple libraries as well as jounalistic accounts from that period and weave them together with insight, balance, and empathy. Ed Reither's willingness to correct the record against the usual version can be trusted throughout these pages...He went back inot the personal and professional correspondence, the institutional historical records, and let the story tell itself with impartiality... Its account rings true - not just to the facts, but to the authentic spirit behind the work. I am grateful that Ed Reither finally told it with the care it deserves. The book accurately captures what we, the core team, truly believed we were doing: exploring the leading, sometimes bleeding edge of consciousness through a disciplined yet open minded inquiry that was at once both scientific and psycho-spiritual." Gunther M. Weil, PhD, Member of the original Harvard Psilocybin Project. "It is fitting and natural that the Harvard intellectual community be the first to grapple with this new philosophic and practical issue and that the University of Willam James be given the first chance to accept or reject the educational potentialities of consciousness expanding drugs."

Details

Format

Paperback

ISBN-13

9781848905290

Publisher

College Publications

Published

October 12, 2026

Pages

126

Weight

6.6 oz

Subject

Psychology