And goes through a Psylocybin and Yage initiation explaining his experiences thouroughly just to name a few. They actually pierce the tounge and hit the tribe members in the head with a hammer to 'break open the head' for a 'more psychedelic experience', so to speak. It’s clear that when he wrote this book he could not see the true value of psychedelics, I don’t know if he still does. Deeply and fundamentally bogue if taken on its own terms. Towards the end, the book takes a rather bizarre turn but until then it's a good read. Because of the subject matter, I only hated it (or more precisely, hated the author). this is one of the few books I've ever thrown across a room. It could have. Reading ‘Breaking Open the Head’ completed a cycle of investigation I’d unconsciously started over two years before. An average/down to earth man, with THE american name, Pinchbeck, takes you on a journey of unimaginable delight and excitement. The traveling hippie lost in the world looking for a culture to appropriate in order to satisfy a spiritual void. 1971 - 2000 / Psychedelic Book Review. He also spends time discussing some of the history of well-known writers and icons of the field. Part biography, part history of the major psychedelic compounds. This is an excellent book about altered consciousness. hmmm not a chance Daniel. He's well read on the pop-literature surrounding these drugs. I enjoy books that suggest other authors for me to check out and point back to an author's reading experience and journey as a learner and this book was not short on those suggestions. For psychedelic lovers. But now after this book, my interest in Shamanism and the ways of the Indigionous tribes of Peru, Boliva, and the Amazon have springboarded into something I never imagined I'd be reaching toward. His father was an abstract painter, and his mother, Joyce Johnson, was a member of the Beat Generation and dated Jack Kerouac as On the Road hit the bestseller lists in 1957 (chronicled in Johnsons bestselling book, Minor Characters: A Beat Memoir). It's well written in readable journalistic prose. For such a small book Breaking Open the Head covers a lot of ground. 1 talking about this. This article is within the scope of WikiProject Books.To participate in the project, please visit its page, where you can join the project and discuss matters related to book articles.To use this banner, please refer to the documentation.To improve this article, please refer to the relevant guideline for the type of work. His arrogance and unskeptical embrace of any and all spiritual practices got tiring, though. I also love how the chapters are relatively short, making it well-organized. Fast and free shipping free returns cash on delivery available on eligible purchase. The author also makes haphazard claims. As a person who had previously only taken psychedelics for fun, Pinchbeck's book really made me reconsider the possibilities of these drugs and what other realities could be out there. 7,466 Views . Pinchbeck was lucky enough to be able to go to shamanic retreats and that sort of thing through his work but the majority of people don't have that luxury. Don't get me wrong, it's a good book and Daniels use of language and context often appeals and leaves you wanting more, however, there is alot more I'd personally expect from a book of this nature. For me it was one of those books that sort of changes your whole perspective on things, or better put, it brings yo. If you haven't read it in other books, though, it would serve as a good overview and he references some interesting books that I was not that familiar with. Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2012. Fast and free shipping free returns cash on delivery available on eligible purchase. A first chapter on a particular substance will be historical, anthropologic. I enjoyed some of the commentary on his ventures into shamanic rituals and mind altering substances. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. We’d love your help. It's an intriguing, educating and inspiring read. Find album reviews, stream songs, credits and award information for Break Open the Head - Suit of Lights on AllMusic - 2016 I particularly like the fact that it instills a need for respect and integrity when working with the invisible realms. Refresh and try again. I have read many books on psychedelics, shamanism and the occult and consider myself a true psychonaut, trying every psychedelic that has been put in front of my face, I have to say this is one of my favorite books on the subject matter. This is it. BUY NOW FROM ... KIRKUS REVIEW. But I'm glad I did. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. He also described an experience with DPT, which was enough to convince me not to ever try that drug. If you've ever read or even heard about Don Juan, this book is 100 times better. With a supreme command of the English language, Pinchbeck accounts the history of his and many great minds of the "Beat" generation while venturing into unfamiliar cultures, ritualistic initiations, and transcendent states of being and alteration through a number of organic substances and synthetic, Since November of 2007 to present day August 27, 2009 I have read an estimated 160 books. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. He's well read on the pop-literature surrounding these drugs. After reading it I was impressed by Daniels knowledge about psychedelics, clearly a subject he has frequented from a young age and his indoctrination into intellectual studies has no doubt enhanced his awareness of the subjects mentioned in the book. Daniel Pinchbeck's "Breaking Open the Head" is a rare find, not only in the "genre" but in all of contemporary literature: a truly sophisticated yet very readable, beautifully wrought, intellectual treatise on a complex and deeply important subject. Daniel Pinchbeck is a voice that speaks to me more than any I've encountered along my self-developmental path. Free delivery on qualified orders. This darkly fantastical... To see what your friends thought of this book, Breaking Open the Head: A Psychedelic Journey Into the Heart of Contemporary Shamanism. I would recommend this to anyone interested in psychedelics or anyone who wants to further their knowledge on the subject(s). The author has a frank honesty about the rationale for his drug use and seeks out spiritual experiences throughout this novel for his own personal fulfillment. He takes you through Gabon, where he participates in a thirty hour Ibogaine initiation. He makes comparisons between cultures that highlight a few similarities and brush a myriad of differences under the rug. I appreciate books that change the way I think to a degree, and this book did in the fact that I do look at plant life differently. I also love how the chapters are relatively short, Pinchbeck was a founder of the 1990s literary magazine Open City with fellow writers Thomas Beller and Robert Bingham. Daniel Pinchbeck's writing and stories illustrate and emphasize this reality very clearly. Hes a very concise writer, and makes great effort to remain as objective as possible. Breaking Open the Head: A Psychedelic Journey Into the Heart of Contemporary Shamanism: Pinchbeck, Professor Daniel: Amazon.nl It's a fun book. However, this book *does* contain some very interesting material on psychedelics in contemporary society. After reading it I was impressed by Daniels knowledge about psychedelics, clearly a subject he has frequented from a young age and his indoctrination into intellectual studies has no doubt enhanced his awareness of the subjects mentioned in the book. At times his tone seems like it pushing too hard to open one's mind to a psychadelic journey, but in the end, most people that open and read a book on contemporary shamanism are probably already open to it. The author also makes haphazard claims. You can still see all customer reviews for the product. Interesting trip that leads the reader down a fascinating path of contemplation. Recommended if you're interested in the exploration of consciousness. The least insulting thing I can say about this book is maybe that Pinchbeck was too young to write this when he did. The ending is too perfect, I can't spoil it. His personal anecdotes all seem too recent, and too egotistical. He advocates for respecting psychedelics while casually ingesting, snorting, etc like it’s no big deal.The hypocrisy of the book is mind bending. This is one of the most important (not to mention eminently readable) books I've ever read. But I'm glad I did. Now you know.". The way the journey is weaved keeps the reader buckled up throughout the ride waiting to find out where the road ends or what is around the bend. by Crown Publishing Group (NY), Breaking Open the Head: A Psychedelic Journey into the Heart of Contemporary Shamanism. I actually thought this was a bit of a weakness of the book, as I have personally read much of that material previously and found myself skimming past it. I also like how the book is broken down into paired chapters. I enjoy books that suggest other authors for me to check out and point back to an author's reading experience and journey as a learner and this book was not short on those suggestions. Daniel Pinchbeck's writing and stories illustrate and emphasize this reality very clearly. Pinchbeck details his initiation with the Bwiti and their use of iboga. A plant from equatorial Africa the archaic birthplace of humanity that cured addiction the modern scourge of African Americans in the inner cities of the United States by sending addicts on a long psychedelic trip a voyage into an archaic spiritual di- mension whose existence is dismissed by modern “rationality”. He has an engaging journalistic style. Perhaps, at least for me, the book felt like it. They describe God as a mighty emperor. Breaking Open The Head. Breaking Open the Head is a passionate, multilayered, and sometimes rashly personal inquiry into this deep division. Daniel Pinchbeck is a voice that speaks to me more than any I've encountered along my self-developmental path. For me it was one of those books that sort of changes your whole perspective on things, or better put, it brings you back to ways of thinking and feeling that you've experienced before but get lost as you ride the waves of everyday life. Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2017. Compre online Breaking Open the Head: A Psychedelic Journey into the Heart of Contemporary Shamanism, de Pinchbeck, Daniel na Amazon. Honest to goodness great book. Encontre diversos livros escritos por Pinchbeck, Daniel com ótimos preços. August 22, 2009. Breaking Open the Head is a passionate inquiry into this deep division. What an amazing book. While I have no experience whatsoever with hallucinogens, I have had similar experiences, albeit not quite as intense as he describes, as a practicing mystic. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published I learned a lot throughout the course of the book, and I plan on reading it many times later on. Towards the end, the book takes a rather bizarre turn but until then it's a good read. Daniel Pinchbeck started out as a rationalist, materialist, Neo-Freudian New Yorker, a classic intellectual - disconnected from his body, and pessimistic about the possibilities of culture. BREAKING OPEN THE HEAD: A Psychedelic Journey into the Heart of Contemporary Shamanism Daniel Pinchbeck, Author . The topics covered are interesting and relevant if the reader can “let go” and think about what if the author is through a door that most have never opened. He's just that good at getting it all down on paper. Strassman, Mckenna, Stamets, and Arora. This page works best with JavaScript. Daniel Pinchbeck's "Breaking Open the Head" is a rare find, not only in the "genre" but in all of contemporary literature: a truly sophisticated yet very readable, beautifully wrought, intellectual treatise on a complex and deeply important subject. download 1 file . Breaking Open the Head is brave participatory journalism at its best, a vivid account of psychic and intellectual experiences that opened doors in the wall of Western rationalism and completed Daniel Pinchbeck’s personal transformation from a jaded Manhattan journalist to shamanic initiate and grateful citizen of the cosmos. Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. Also true, not a phony fairy tail like Lord Of The Rings. Engaging writing, paradigm engendering conclusion, Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2012. Breaking Open the Head By Daniel Pinchbeck. But I believe the book started as a series of articles, so perhaps there is where the didactic tone comes from. Buy Breaking Open the Head by Pinchbeck, Daniel online on Amazon.ae at best prices. It reminded me that this life is an adventure, and that every step counts. I picked up the book after watching the 2 hour Manifesting the Mind video; I found his thoughts there most curiosity piquing, and, along with this book, I am driven to research much more deeply on the subject. A first chapter on a particular substance will be historical, anthropological and reference information. He's just that good at getting it all down on paper. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. BREAKING OPEN THE HEAD. ‘I much admire “Breaking Open the Head” for being the account of an authentic quest for enlightenment in jungles, up rivers, in deserts, and hardest of all to access, the human mind and heart via the one of the oldest thoroughfares on earth, mind-expanding drugs. It's a fun book. Perhaps, at least for me, the book felt like it was a play on words, an ensemble on poetics and intellectualism rather than on the bare foundations of psychedelic experience. Be the first to ask a question about Breaking Open the Head. Mindful encounters with the drugs iboga, ayahausca, psilocybin mushrooms, DMT (dimethyltryptamine), and DPT (dipropyltryptamine) among others lift the veil from this remarkable author's eyes as he hears, "This is it. On the one hand, I tell the story of the encounters between the modern consciousness of the West and these visionary sacraments – by thinkers and self-proclaimed avatars such as Antonin Artaud, Walter Benjamin, Allen Ginsberg, and Terence McKenna. Reading through Pinchbeck's incredibly well-documented experiences with various plant substances such as iboga and ayahuasca, along with his quest for knowledge in understanding the dwindling shamanic culture of the rainforests was a thrilling way to live vicariously through someone's most intimate and trippiest moments. I've always had a fascination with altered consciousness, particularly with a more spiritual slant to it, as though the hallucinations represent a different world altogether. Review: Breaking Open the Head by Daniel Pinchbeck | Books | The Guardian Still anybody’s uead, I think. . I felt like Daniel may have chosen to maintain his identity within this book to a degree that his personal experiences took center stage, I wouldn't say it's an egotistical piece of work but it feels like he is selling his own cultural, social and intellectual heritage as apposed to selling the shamanic journey. It almost reads like a memoir or novel at some points. “In shamanic cultures, sychronicities are recognized as signs that you are on the right path.”, “The plants that produce visions can function- for those of us who have inherited the New World Order of barren materialism, cut off from our spiritual heritage by a spiteful culture that gives us nothing but ashes- as the talismans of recognition that awaken our minds to reality.”, August / September 2012 - Breaking Open the Head, Melissa Albert Recommends YA Tales Where the Real World Gets Real Magical. But the best part of this book is the message that really gets driven home to the heart of who we are, the potential of what. "Plants are revered because of their potential to awaken the mind to other levels of awareness and to act as gateways to other dimensions - bringing about a holographic vision of the universe." The t. The book could have been shorter. It's a complicated topic and he deserves some credit for addressing its intrigue. See all details for Breaking Open the Head : A Psychedelic Journey into the Heart of... © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. For such a small book Breaking Open the Head covers a lot of ground. I came across this randomly in a bookstore and was intrigued, partly by the hallucinatory cover. Alright, I’ve gotta call it quits on this one. I recommend this to anyone on the spiritual, psychonaut, shamanic or ethnobotanical journey of deeper understanding. I LOVE this book! The participants were myself and Carlos, a young Mexican of Spanish descent from Mexico City who looked like a club kid but was a student of alternative heal- … Author Daniel Pinchbeck has deep personal roots in the New York counterculture of the 1950s and 1960s. Too many people approach drug use, getting drunk and getting "high," casually. 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