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High Weirdness

Drugs, Esoterica, and Visionary Experience in the Seventies

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High Weirdness

By: Erik Davis
Narrated by: Erik Davis
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About this listen

An exploration of the emergence of a new psychedelic spirituality in the work of Philip K. Dick, Terence McKenna, and Robert Anton Wilson.

A study of the spiritual provocations to be found in the work of Philip K. Dick, Terence McKenna, and Robert Anton Wilson, High Weirdness charts the emergence of a new psychedelic spirituality that arose from the American counterculture of the 1970s. These three authors changed the way millions of readers thought, dreamed, and experienced reality - but how did their writings reflect, as well as shape, the seismic cultural shifts taking place in America?

In High Weirdness, Erik Davis - America's leading scholar of high strangeness - examines the published and unpublished writings of these vital, iconoclastic thinkers, as well as their own life-changing mystical experiences. Davis explores the complex lattice of the strange that flowed through America's West Coast at a time of radical technological, political, and social upheaval to present a new theory of the weird as a viable mode for a renewed engagement with reality.

©2019 Erik Davis (P)2020 Tantor Movements Philosophy Religious Studies Science Fiction Fiction

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This was a very deep and engaging work that drill to the depths of countercultural thought. Davis is a master wordsmith and his extensive knowledge on this fascinating topic is a continually source on intrigue and entertainment.

My vocabulary has grown tremendously and hearing the words in Erik’s own voice was a pleasure. His emphasis and cunning shine through in this audiobook, but I will need to relisten to it many times in order to absorb the finesse and nuance that it exudes.

Spellbinding and detailed account of a very squirrely time

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The book is very focused on Philip K Dick and his works. Great research and storytelling.

Excellent background on the history of psychedelics and how they affected Psychonaut pioneers like Anton and Dick.

It's all connected.

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A ‘MASTERPIECE’ that is Awesome beyond words. You will have to read it to understand. I would like to add, that in addition to the books content, this is undoubtedly the best author-narrated audio book I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. Fans of, and listeners to, Erik Davies’s podcast ‘Expanding Mind’ you are in for really weird and mind-blowing guided tour of the 70’s. Enjoy!

AWESOME! AWESOME! AWESOME!

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An amazingly well researched and intelligently presented analysis - easy and enjoyable to listen to. This is a must read book

Superb - an excellent work

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It was difficult to listen for the first two hours (+-). It was like a long winded, endless essay. Almost gave it up. After that it gets better and more interesting. Many interesting kaleidoscopic points of view.

Weirdnesses

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As I have an interest in all three of the personalities in this book and having heard interviews with Davis before, I was delighted to find it on the plus catalogue.

It was well researched, interesting and thought provoking. I learned different sides to RAW, Mckenna and Dick through this work akd I'm sure I'll return to it.

One thing I'd say, which is not the author's fault, is that this is an academic book with many intellectual points and considerations made, which means it lends itself better to being read in the paper format to allow points and ideas to churn in the mind, something you dont get from an audiobook as it moves to the next sentence. Yes, you can pause it but it's a pain to keep doing that.

On a frivolous point, I found it funny that Davis attempted different accents when reading quotes from different people.

All in all, well recommended.

Well researched and intriguing

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Amazing narration!

Absolutely amazing!

This audio book unified my understanding over the subjects, I will definitely listen to it again after some more reading and exploration.

Amazed 👏

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