PIHKAL

A Chemical Love Story

De: Alexander Shulgin, Ann Shulgin

Narrado por: Fred Sanders, Petrea Burchard

Alexander (better known as “Sasha”) and Ann Shulgin’s PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story has become a foundational work in the genre and was the first book to fully impart the how-to chemistry, and convey the effects, of many of the entheogenic drugs that are currently being studied and used to heal trauma and deal with death.

An acronym for “Phenethylamines I Have Known and Loved”, the book spans autobiography, organic chemistry, politics, ethnobotany, and psychopharmacology, and the cultural impact is likely to be profound for decades to come, as it has already. PiHKAL is divided into two parts, the first of which is a fictionalized autobiographical "novel" - the main fiction is that it is fiction. This first half of the book is The Love Story, about two people named Shura and Alice who fall in love, though one of them is already in love with someone else. This love triangle is a painful ordeal they must go through, and that process unfolds before the listener with grace and great insight into human nature. Shura is a brilliant chemist who has dedicated his career to making psychoactive drugs. In the story, they go through many experiences with the psychedelic compounds that Shura has discovered and has made in his lab, all of which have been bioassayed himself. The listener will find themselves going on this journey with them, experiencing what they experienced, both in their hearts and in the psychedelic journeys they have.

The second half of PiHKAL is called The Chemical Story, and it contains detailed instructions for, and effects of, the synthesis of 179 psychedelic phenethylamines which were mostly discovered by Shulgin himself. For each substance there is information on its synthesis, suggested effective dosage, duration, and detailed commentary on the subjective effects that were experienced. This book appeals to adults of all ages and cultures, and to the psychedelically experienced and inexperienced alike.

©2021 Alexander and Ann Shulgin (P)2021 Transform Press

very informative

Covers a variety of topics from chemistry to love and loss. A must for any budding chemist.

Beautiful

No words needed other then a true love story life’s not perfect at a quick glance but when we zoom out it is

A timeless account of exactly the salve needed for the humans of the world

The choice of readers for this book was fantastic. Their performances felt intentional, and as someone scientifically inclined, I was pleased by the proper pronunciation of a variety of words often stumbled over in books of this nature. I’ve been wanting to read this book for over a decade, and when made aware of its presence on audible, and that I could fit it into my busy schedule where typically my only reprieve is on frequent hour-long drives, I was elated. It feels serendipitous to have finally read/listened to this at this point of my life, and I’m full of gratitude for audible making this possible for me.

Brilliant

Written 32 years ago yet is critically important to revisit or - as I did - visit it for the first time. Especially the final chapter.

The last chapter sums it all up!

Shura's politically charged rant is deserving of a listen to all those who oppose the progression of psychopharmacology and the beneficial personal use and therapeutic use of psychedelics. Ann's and Shura's journeys were fascinating and so intriguing to hear their history. Well worth your tkme

Great book, wrong narrator

PIHKAL is a delightful book—as much a love story between two people as with the chemistry of psychedelic substances.

Audiobooks are all about the narrators and sadly they got the narrator for Sasha (“Shura”) completely wrong. He’s a competent enough reader, but completely wrong for the part. Listen to any interview with Sasha and you’ll understand. Sasha’s voice is high and feisty whereas this guy’s is lowish and calm. You don’t need a perfect impersonation, but you do need to capture the character and this reader doesn’t at all. (And I knew it even before I heard Sasha’s actual voice.) The reader for Ann (“Alice”) is better, though again she does better with Ann’s voice than with Sasha’s (in conversation).

This book should be required reading…

for everyone working in scientific research, mental health, politics, social services, and/or law enforcement

One of a kind, most important!

By far one of the most crucial books for anybody interested in the freedom to explore one’s own consciousness, and the history of pioneers of consciousness exploration. A fascinating and entertaining story of psychedelic substance examinations.

Wow

This is an amazing book about a lot of fascinating topics. Highly recommended. Must read.

Perfect!

Loved how they tell their story of love along with the challenges they faced. The love story is pretty wonderful and all you’d ever want to be able to achieve as a couple. So I loved that part of the book. I found Ann’s perspective to be quite enjoyable and I think her parts were my favorite. Perhaps it was the narrator but when she came on, I seemed even more intrigued. Maybe it’s the difference in language, but I liked it.

I learned quite a bit from the book as well! I don’t know a ton of chemistry, but the way he would explain it, even I could understand what he meant. Very impressive his articulation of the subject.

The book really takes you through all the stages his life and how his work affected it. How incredible his/her experiences were! They really took a good approach to investigating the unknown.

I think the secret psychedelic group that would meet up to test new ones is pretty neat. It’s cool to think of a group of highly intelligent minds partaking in these “drugs”. The conversations had to be deep. I bet it was a wonderful time.

Oddly enough this book reminds me at how far most of us are from the simplest of things in life. Throughout the book he enjoys learning instruments and playing music. Also reading and going on hikes often. Exploring new territories where ever he could! Reminds me that we are so absorbed into new technology that we forget how enjoyable life can be at a different pace. A pace set outside of profit. I digress. The life of Alex and Ann(or at least their book characters) was a perfect read/listen and I look forward to reading their second book!