True Hallucinations

Being an Account of the Author's Extraordinary Adventures in the Devil's Paradise

By: Terence McKenna

Narrated by: Al Kessel

This mesmerizing, surreal account of the bizarre adventures of Terence McKenna, his brother Dennis, and a small band of their friends, is a wild ride of exotic experience and scientific inquiry. Exploring the Amazon Basin in search of mythical shamanic hallucinogens, they encounter a host of unusual characters - including a mushroom, a flying saucer, pirate Mantids from outer space, an appearance by James and Nora Joyce in the guise of poultry, and translinguistic matter - and discover the missing link in the development of human consciousness and language.

©1993 Terence McKenna (P)2019 Tantor

One of its kind!

Terence McKenna knows how to set up the story for you. Instead of jumping right into his accounts, the book sets up the entire setting, and relationships between the group very well. This makes for a more intimate listen and feel for the author. I respect Terence McKenna's work since he had less conventional approach to his studies and research. His and the group's accounts of the strange things happening between them are very revealing. I wish there were of his books on here. Must read!

incredibly funny and captivating story!

incredibly funny and captivating story! there's a 15 word minimum. I'm not quite there yet

my new favorite of the month

really wish McKenna was still here on earth
insightful , funny informative , lots of new information and some still not proven and undoubtedly true....

Great book. A must Reading

Great book!! I did have to skim back on a couple of chapters to grasp the scientific explanations of Dennis Mckenna.

Is a must read if you have not seen the Movie about the Book, played by Jim Carrey.

great man great story

was interesting to hear of his antics at the beginning of his stardom. Dennis appears today as a gentle man with somewhat far flung ideas. who knew he used to get way higher than his brother, the author

Great Listen!

Honestly fantastic all around, definitely worth checking out if you are interested in psychedelics at or even just a really good true story.

Great Narration, brilliant storytelling

I have always found Terence McKenna's voice to be off-putting. there are all these YouTube videos of him talking at great length, and I have a really hard time listening to him. kind of nasally & whiny, and his tone tends to come off as glib or arrogant, as if no one could possibly challenge any of his ideas. I don't know if that's true of his character; it's probably not. but that's how his style and voice strike me, and that makes it really hard to listen to him.

Al Kessel has a very even tone and pleasant voice, which makes it easier to consider and digest the information instead of feeling almost imposed upon as I do by TM's style.

having state that, Terance McKenna IS a brilliant writer. he truly has a way with words. i'm inclined to also pick up a copy of the book as well.

A Good background of Terence’s life

I enjoyed this story, it went into depths of their voyage in la churera that I had never heard. I can’t give the narrator 5 stars because I’m so used to hearing Terence talk and no one can really fill his shoes.

great stuff, gets a little lost in the time wave

Really enjoyed the traveling stories and mushroom adventures. got very bored with the deep end of the time wave theory which is maybe 20 percent of the book. so 80 percent great. well worth it.

Mind Blowing!!

His journey was inspiring and crazy detailed. I will listen to it again. I would recommend this book to all who has an expanding mind. Who wants to hear about sphycedelics on a whole new level. My favorite book under sphycedelics!!