Listen free for 30 days

1 credit a month, good for any title to download and keep.
The Plus Catalogue—listen all you want to thousands of Audible Originals, podcasts, and audiobooks.
$14.95 a month plus applicable taxes after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
The Psychedelic Experience cover art

The Psychedelic Experience

Written by: Timothy Leary,Ralph Metzner,Richard Alpert,Daniel Pinchbeck - introduction
Narrated by: Paul Heitsch
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $18.47

Buy Now for $18.47

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

We are in the midst of a powerful psychedelic renaissance. After four decades of hibernation, the promise of the psychoactive 60s - that deeper self-awareness, achieved through reality-bending substances and practices, will lead to greater external harmony - is again gaining a major following. The signs are everywhere, from the influence of today's preeminent psychedelic thinker Daniel Pinchbeck, to the renewed interest in the legacy of Terence McKenna, and to the upsurge of collective, inclusive (and overtly tripped-out) cultural phenomena like the spectacle of Burning Man.

The Psychedelic Experience, created in the movement's early years by the prophetic shaman-professors Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzner, and Richard Alpert (Ram Dass), is a foundational text that serves as a model and a guide for all subsequent mind-expanding inquiries. In this wholly unique book, the authors provide an interpretation of an ancient sacred manuscript, The Tibetan Book of the Dead, from a psychedelic perspective. The Psychedelic Experience describes their discoveries in broadening spiritual consciousness through a combination of Tibetan meditation techniques and psychotropic substances.

As sacred as the text it reflects, The Psychedelic Experience is a guidebook to the wilderness of mind and an indispensable resource from the founding fathers of psychedelia.

©1964, 1992 Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzner, Richard Alpert (P)2017 Vibrance Press

What the critics say

"It is a book for the living as well as for the dying." (Lama Govinda)

What listeners say about The Psychedelic Experience

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    27
  • 4 Stars
    12
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    19
  • 4 Stars
    12
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    23
  • 4 Stars
    9
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

boring

just take the drugs and let what happens happen... this is boring and ridiculous advice

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very impactful read!

One year ago I had a very challenging experience with psilocybin and since then I have been troubled with trying to reconcile and make sense of the that experience. This book was greatly instrumental in helping me liberate and make sense of what that trip was trying to show me. So on a very personal level I feel that this book greatly contributed to my process of moving on and integrating the lessons presented to me that day. For anyone looking for a meaningful account of the psychedelic experience and how to approach it, this is defiently one of several essential reads.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars

great book I really enjoyed it. I can relate

great book I really enjoyed it, I can relate to this alot. knowledge everyone should know.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Holds up

The book itself is good - insightful and interesting. Probably not for someone with only a passing interest or no experience with psychedelics. The scripts at the end are nice. The introduction, however, is bewildering. It’s like Pinchbeck either didn’t read the book before writing his intro, or really didn’t understand it or the authors at all. He makes several points that are just false. I couldn’t help wonder why they would pick him to write an intro that is largely critical of the book and movement. Skip the intro, the book is worth a listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Kuzia
  • Kuzia
  • 2017-10-20

A must have in the toolkit..

If you are planning your first trip or curious about exploring the psychedelic realms, you need some sort of guide or reference. This could be in the form of a sitter or a shaman, or through teachings of psychedelic elders. (No scientific knowledge will prepare you.)
This book is a perfect companion if you have no other. It’s not meant to be taken literally as no person’s trip is the same. Instead it will help put you in the right state of mind to have a rewarding experience and give you plenty to watch out for!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Dean Blades
  • Dean Blades
  • 2017-09-22

Not a book about psychedelics

This book barely mentions any psychedelics at all. It would be a great book for those looking to meditate. It is also highly repetitive.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for 11Bravo11
  • 11Bravo11
  • 2019-12-17

listen when your ears are open and ready.

rinse repeat. great for anyone who needs a bit of guidance. dont tell me how many words I have to write

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Tomas
  • Tomas
  • 2019-07-03

This book is an experience on it's own!

Absolutely loved it. Narrator was nothing but amazing. By the end I was fully immersed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for CaptainKarma
  • CaptainKarma
  • 2019-04-07

Text book?

I have always thought of this book as the textbook for a class in doing sessions. The Leary psychedelic Prayer Book the lab manual to accompany the Psychedelic Experience. The prayers are perfect for reaching enlightenment during a session.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Nerms
  • Nerms
  • 2019-02-13

This is a good tool to have.

Listening to this is good but having the book to reference is a good thing to have on hand. That is if you intend to do or attempt things mentioned in this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for T. Mcleod
  • T. Mcleod
  • 2020-07-27

this book sucks.

this book sucks the only good thing about this book is the preface I do not recommend this book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Noah Smith
  • Noah Smith
  • 2019-08-08

very enlightening

I enjoyed it dearly. As a psychonaut myself, already knowing a lot about the psychedelic realms, it still managed to teach me a lot of things and made me reflect of some of the things i already knew. 10/10 deffinitly recommend.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Jacob Good
  • Jacob Good
  • 2020-10-10

Must read for any psychonaut !

Amazing information based on studies and experience.
The Narrator is awesome.

Will help obtain ego death and enlightenment

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for sars
  • sars
  • 2018-12-23

A ascinating interpretation of the Tibetan Book of the Dying. This is a must read..

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful