Share and Bookmark
The latest book that I had a chance to read not only brought me even more out of my comfort zone, but allowed me to learn about and explore a world that I had little knowledge of.
Thanks to the wonderful folks at Harper One of Harper Collins, I was asked to review a book for their book tour, ushering in the newly released book by Don Lattin – The Harvard Psychedelic Club.
I have to tell you, I was a little hesitant at first to take on this book, as due to my limited time for reading these days, I am very discerning with what I read and with this book revolving around psychedelic drugs, I just wasn’t sure if this was something that I would resonate with, much less offer you, the reader, any value here.
After all, the only thing I know about drugs is from teaching a bit to high school teens about staying away from them. But I agreed because something about this book intrigued me. It was the mention of and connection to the famous holistic doctor, and one of my role models – Dr. Andrew Weil.
So I agreed to be part of the book tour and review it, and boy I cannot tell you how happy I am that I did. This book was fascinating to say the least and touched upon many areas dear to my heart like seeking enlightenment and consciousness raising. It taught me more than I could have ever imagined about the world and culture that we had and have today. As well, it connected many, many dots for me about a number of things, some of which I will share with you below.
Book and Author
The Harvard Psychedelic Club – How Timothy Leary, Ram Dass, Huston Smith, and Andrew Weil Killed the Fifties and Ushered in a New Age for America, as mentioned was written by author, Don Lattin. It is a work of non-fiction.
Don is one of America’s leading journalists covering religion in America. He has several other published books, and numerous years of writing experience. He has appeared on many television programs and his work has also appeared in many magazines and newspapers. While that all sets a wonderful foundation for a great book, Don also has a personal tie and reason for writing this book. Without spoiling it for you, it made him perhaps the perfect person to write a book of this caliber.
The Harvard Psychedelic Club was published in January 2010 and is currently available at book stores.
Book Format and Structure
The book begins with a wonderful introduction that sets the tone for the book by giving a quick overview of what this book is really all about. I found this a fantastic and very beneficial touch, especially for someone like me who went into this not knowing much about the underlying history of this book.
The book then includes a short author’s note, just to let the reader know that this is the author’s rendition of the events based on many various interviews, written accounts and research.
It then opens up to 8 wonderful chapters and a conclusion. Each chapter is divided by a few lines telling the reader who (out of the 4 men) they are going to read about, and the main where and when of the events described.
The book finishes with a not to be missed afterword from the author. From cover to cover the estimated book reading time is about 9 hours.
Book Content
So what is this book really all about?
The setting is the 1960’s and it is the story of 4 men – Timothy Leary, Ram Dass (Richard Alpert), Huston Smith and Andrew Weil, and how these four men came together to literally change the face of America through some very extraordinary means.
Timothy Leary, also nicknamed by the author as the “Trickster” was a research psychologist and professor at Harvard. He was a proponent of enlightenment through LSD. Later in his life, he was an author, a speaker, a convict and an exile.
Richard Alpert, later in his life known as Ram Dass, and nicknamed by the author as the “Seeker” was also a professor at Harvard in the area of psychology. Later in his life, upon traveling to India he became Ram Dass, a world famous spiritual teacher, author and speaker.
Huston Smith, nicknamed by the author as the “Teacher“, was an MIT philosophy professor. Later in his life, he became a speaker and published author, as well as a popular figure when it came to teaching about world religions.
Andrew Weil, nicknamed by the author as the “Healer“, was an undergraduate student at Harvard. He later became a Harvard medical school graduate, published author and is currently one of the top and most distinguished doctors of integrative medicine.
The book explains how the lives of these 4 men, along with many, many other personalities perfectly crossed paths in ways to bring about huge transformations in how people viewed life, religion and medicine.
The story begins as T. Leary and R. Alpert begin a project called the “Harvard Psychedelic Project” which they believe can help the world become a better place on many levels, mainly by raising one’s consciousness. What follows is an unexpected and very profound journey into love, compassion and wisdom, as well as lies, betrayal, and death.
Above all it is a story that demonstrates how these 4 ordinary individuals became extraordinary in changing the way we view the mind, body and spirit. During this process as the author states they “turned from intellect to intuition, from mechanistic thinking to mysticism, from the scholarly to the spiritual, from the scientific to the shamanic.”
Personal Commentary
Well, I have to tell you before this book I have never heard of T.Leary, R.Alpert or H.Smith and knew next to nothing about the 60’s. That was all way before my time. I knew a bit about the hippie culture of the 70’s but didn’t have much interest or reason to explore previous decades. As I mentioned to you I was well aware of Andrew Weil, but knew nothing about his personal journey. I vaguely heard of Ram Dass through other teacher’s like Wayne Dyer. So boy, was I in for a surprise on so many levels reading this book!
Upon starting this book, I have to tell you it was a bit confusing trying to keep all the names, dates and locations in check. The author definitely chronicled everything in amazing detail and there were so many more people involved in this story than just the 4 main characters. The research the author did to bring this together is in one word admirable. However, once I got into about half of the book it began to flow flawlessly and it hooked me more and more to reach the final conclusion of what this psychedelic drug movement meant for all of us today.
So for starters, as I love to learn, I cannot tell you how much I actually enjoyed learning about the 60’s and connecting the first set of dots as to why the 70’s were what they were, and where all this free love, peace and happiness disappeared to in the 80’s and 90’s.
Secondly, I loved learning about these key figures who had so much impact on shaping generations on so many levels – whether they may seem positive or negative. As well, it was intriguing to see how all the people that they influenced or were influenced by them played a part in the whole story. It made me realize even more how interconnected we really are!
Thirdly, I learned about drugs that I never even knew existed, in terms of their origins, reasons for their current laws, their effects on the human mind and their role in shaping a new way of thinking and looking at the world.
But above all these things, this book really allowed me to go beneath the surface and explore some of the roots where the thirst to raise the human potential and global consciousness came from in the modern Western culture, as well as the shift to connect the Eastern and Western ways of life.
“Now, more than ever, we need to remember the lessons of that idealistic era. It’s time, once again, to find new ways to live together with equality, justice, and compassion.”*
Don Lattin, The Harvard Psychedelic Club
I am not one for drugs of any kind, but having read this book (and even before) I am not one for condemning anyone either. If these drugs helped these men change to become better human beings, or help society evolve for the better in some way, than who is any of us to argue that what they did was wrong?
Yes, as the author explains, to the critics it looked like these men were starting some kind of mystical “drug cult”. But to the men involved, they saw it as nothing more than noble efforts to try to help the world.
We all have our free choice to try whatever we think serves us at a particular moment. Yes, the men in this book can each be criticized for this or that, but ultimately the way I see it, they helped break through many barriers for all of us. They were the pioneers who lead forth so many new ways of thinking and seeing life. They were the voices who were not afraid to speak out against the status quo. I believe there is perfection even in what may be seen today as their “madness”.
Ultimately my stance on this issue is the same as the conclusion reached by 3 of the 4 men in the end. Drugs are obviously not the answer to saving the world. In fact, as they learned drugs need not be used to alter or raise ones consciousness at all. Love is the ultimate substance for anything we seek and it all comes down in the end to how we live our lives on a daily basis.
“In the end, it’s not about the drugs. It’s about remembering all the life-affirming moments along the way – those glimpses of wonder and awe, empathy and interconnectedness – and finding a place for all of that in the rest of our lives.”*
Don Lattin, The Harvard Psychedelic Club
Conclusion
So do I recommend this book?
Well that all depends on what you are seeking and how open minded you are. It is a great book and invokes some emotion cleverly, but nonetheless it is definitely not a book for everyone.
If you are fascinated to learn about some history, politics, conspiracy and culture of the 1960’s and examine the role that the psychedelic drug movement played in shaping our thirst for higher consciousness, than I think you will definitely enjoy this book.
In the end, I applaud the author for bringing this book to light and helping especially those of us, for whom that period was foreign to better understand the nature of the human desire to connect to its higher state of being, no matter through what means.
You can purchase the book from Amazon.com below or your local book store.
by Don Lattin
Price: USD 16.49
66 used & new available from USD 5.63
To learn more about this book, you can read the opinions and viewpoints of some others who reviewed this book as part of the book tour as well, on the following sites:
1. Happy Lotus by Nadia
2. Quest for Balance by Lisis
3. Jane Be Nimble by Lori
4. Holistic Future by Linda
For more great book titles and tours, check out TLC Book Tours
*The quotes in this review were taken from an uncorrected proof. The final quotes may vary slightly.”
About the author:Evita Ochel, B.Sc., B.Ed., CHN - is the main author of EvolvingBeings.com where she writes about spiritual and personal development. She hopes to inspire people, to truly live out the life of their dreams and awaken the highest version of themselves. She is also a nutritional science and holistic health expert for optimal health and longevity. Learn more about Evita Ochel or Follow Evita Ochel on Twitter.
18 Comments to “Book Review: The Harvard Psychedelic Club”
I heard a piece on the radio about this book and it sounded very interesting. I have read a few books about drug therapy of this kind too where patients are guided by psychotherapists to travel into the past or into their dreams to face their problems and dissolve them. I believe that if someone is attracted to something, then they should explore it, because one’s feelings never lie. The lie comes from ignoring one’s feelings.
From what I have seen, psychedelic drugs can be useful initally to teach people of the existance of altered states of consciousness. These sorts of drugs dispels the entrapment of the literal mind. One can learn to follow energy and to feel foreign vibrations by disassociating with the physical realm. They have often been used ritually by indiginous cultures to initiate the young as a rite of passage or to ask for guidance from a tribes ancestors or spirit helpers.
As with anything, something can be addictive if we get lost in perpetual routines and habits. Nothing is inherently bad; there are only consequences to any actions. Its just a matter of respecting any energy or vibration that we introduce into our being, no matter what kind of form it takes on.
@ BERN – Great point about ignoring one’s feelings. I think so many in our society today have suppressed them for so long, it is no wonder that they bodies are literally spilling out with suppressed feelings and emotions. We are all too often taught to follow the “logical” path and forget to listen to our heart.
And yes, you are right in the sense that many a Shaman have used various Psychedelics. See if we come down to this point, I have to say I am much more open to people taking these “drugs” straight from nature like in a plant or fungi form. Where I do frown a bit (just a bit ;) is when the chemical drug companies get a hold of these and start synthesizing chemical versions. It seems whatever was chemically altered puts a person even more out of balance, etc…
Finally those are my thoughts too about “good” and “bad” or “right” and “wrong” – it really all depends on the context in which we choose to use it, or look at it. There is nothing wrong with a gun for example, until it is used and how… The same can be said about drugs or literally anything for that matter.
Hi Evita .. yes looking at you – it is way before your time! I’m just glad I never got hooked into it – thank goodness. My best friend did .. I’m not sure how far, but quite for a while .. she went to India, Morocco and New York .. in a lot of ways I admire her – she was entreprenurial at a young age. Sadly she got hepatitis C in India .. and in due course it killed her in her fifties, when she couldn’t recover from pneumonia.
Interesting to know about & perhaps understand that era, if you haven’t had any experience of it – watching and seeing others through it.
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
@ HILARY – Thank you for sharing about your friend. Her life may make some want to feel sorry for her, but I feel that her presence and the choices she made were exactly what her soul was yearning to experience, or perhaps the gift she left to all those whose life hers touched.
Yes, this book was awesome in that sense of allowing me to go into an era I had no experience with. And I am so grateful for that as I always say, the more we learn, the more we expand our view of people and the world. In comes more tolerance, love, peace and compassion. Well, at least I’d like to think so. I know it can work the opposite way for some too.
Hi Evita,
Great review! I enjoyed reading your thoughts on the book. And thank you so much for putting a link to my review of the book.
I so loved reading this book because it solved a mystery for me. I have always admired what the hippies stood for but could never figure out how drugs factored in. I have spent a lot of time in ashrams and convents and drug use is never tolerated in such environments. This book answered that question for me and also made me realize how so many people long for meaning and to know that there is more to life than what we can see with our eyes.
This book also helped me to have more compassion for those that use drugs because they obviously are looking for a way to ease their pain and find meaning.
@ NADIA – Hi Nadia – thank you! And you are welcome, I loved reading what you had to say too! I always love seeing others’ opinions on the same matters. It expands our awareness and shows us how many ways there are to look at something.
And yes, indeed I agree with the idea of seeing the people who use drugs with compassion. It is too easy to label and judge. Our real being shines when we see these beings in just as beautiful of a light as anyone else.
Evita thanks for the review! I’ve heard of all the men and remember hearing bits and pieces about them, Harvard and the projects while growing up. Woodstock happened when I was in high school and my now hubby and I saw it at the Drive In theater…is that funny or what.
Anyway I appreciate your review, I think even if you’re closed minded you can learn something from the book. I also like how Nadia states it gave her compassion for those who use drugs. I used to work with addicts and she’s exactly right they are looking for meaning, purpose and love. That’s a scary thought when I think of the unemployed…
@ TESS – You are welcome :) That is quite the experience to see Woodstock like that!
And absolutely, in our society there is a strong tendency to judge and label people. It does not get any easier for those on drugs. But the way I see it today is that whether they are illegal drugs, or simple anti-depressants, the story is still the same. These people are reaching out for some love and meaning and not finding it for whatever reason. This is why again, I don’t condemn the professors who ran these tests, nor the youth or others who took them. It was what it was. One thing it did for sure, is allow all of us today to learn and grow from what experiences like that can offer.
I love what you said here, “But above all these things, this book really allowed me to go beneath the surface and explore some of the roots where the thirst to raise the human potential and global consciousness came from in the modern Western culture, as well as the shift to connect the Eastern and Western ways of life.” I think learning about how recents shifts came about is fascinating, because I wonder if we’ll have something just as profound in the 21st century.
Thanks for being on this tour! You wrote a very thoughtful and interesting review!
@ TRISH – Hi Trish, you welcome and it was my pleasure! Thank you for the feedback.
As for this century, I think we will have something as profound, in fact I think we are already in it. There are massive changes going on in people’s ways of life today. More and more of us are seeing deeper into things than we ever did before, and we are speaking out about it, or changing our ways. Whether it be the spiritual movement or the environmental movement, there is a shift on the planet today.
I loved the honest review. I agree we don’t need drugs to reach a higher level of thinking. If anything they distort our perspective. We need to think as clearly as possible.
We do need to look past old habits and reconnect with each other in new ways. Everything we do affects each other. We have to be more aware of this connection and be more compassionate with each other. We need to expand our love to larger groups of people and treat everyone as if they are a friend.
@ KARL – Yes, great points Karl. As I said I have nothing against people who take them, etc, but choose not to personally if not for the simple reason that I don’t want my mind distorted by some unnecessary in my opinion, chemicals. God knows, the media distorts our minds enough, if we let it…
Hi Evita! I’m am positively THRILLED that this book is out and so many, like yourself, are talking about it! I haven’t read it – but I lived it. Not the drug part – I thought they messed up any clarity – but I was so a part of that era! There was a LOT more to the “hippie” movement than drugs and free love – the “establishment” bristled at us! Of course they would. The consciousness movement meant change and putting love on the FRONT burner. Unfortunately the open drug use and sex was all anyone wanted to call attention to and the bible bangers thrived on their condemnations of the entire movement based on that. Like – hello – not everyone who looked like a hippie (myself included) was the same! But these were the same people who hated blacks then, all blacks, didn’t matter if you were educated – you were black, period.
If you haven’t seen the movie “Easy Rider” try that too. It’s the best example of what those days were like across the country.
Hugs from an old Hippie
suZen
@ SUZEN – Hi Suzen, I am so fascinated now so much more to learn firsthand from people who lived it, and your account sounds great, and it also puts on a spin of reality how it was portrayed, etc…
Ooo I get so excited when I hear the word “change” – yes I salute a lot of the people’s efforts who went out of their way to not just fall in line with the status quo. It is not about rebelling, but about moving things forward for the betterment of people, for our collective evolution. And as we know, major corps and govt’s are rarely keen on stuff like that. I imagine, no scratch that I know that if I lived then, I too would have been a “hippie” like you describe yourself.
Thanks for the movie heads up too, will look forward to checking it out.
Thanks for this Evita — I was actually thinking recently about how the non-drug-related methods of consciousness expansion that I’ve explored were probably inspired by the work of Leary, Alpert, Stan Grof, and other pioneers of that era. Someone once even told me that Grof developed his holotropic breathwork method, which I’ve done, to simulate the effects of LSD once it became illegal.
Hi Chris – you are so very welcome!
That is interesting to hear. I have heard a bit about the holotropic breathwork and heard some amazing stories of how much it changed people’s lives and outlook and all.
I have been reading more and more about breathwork and actually today am conscious almost on a daily basis to do some kind of a conscious breathing exercise. When I go to my yoga class, it is integrated the best :)
For me the book shows that we have to be careful with judgment and opinions until we hear the full story. That also counts for hippies and drugs and what they tried to achieve.
The world was ready for a move as it is now, a lot of people might have an opinion about the law of attraction without knowing the whole story behind that as well.
What I love is that their conclusion still stands; “Love is the ultimate substance for anything we seek and it all comes down in the end to how we live our lives on a daily basis.”
By how many more means do we need to hear this until we live it.
Drugs and hippies, spirituality and healers, in the end we are still seeking aren’t we, while the message will actually always end up the same.
Love is so powerful and we will finally have science prove it in a way we finally can accept it.
Love Wilma
Hi Wilma
Oh yes, this book and so many other things in life are always abundant in making sure, we literally “don’t judge a book by its cover”.
And yes, I so agree with you, what more is it going to take to really get us to live out of love. I guess the awakening that is taking place today is a great sign though even if it does not encompass everyone…perhaps yet…
Thank you for sharing your beautiful and wise thoughts here!