True Hallucinations

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

By: Terence McKenna

Narrated by: Al Kessel

Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

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

I didn't like the narrator.

It is a shame Terence could not have recorded the audio himself. It's an interesting story, let down by the wrong voice.

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.

Eloquent Pseudo science

For skeptics, this book will only affirm your suspicions that psychedelic enthusiasts are grown children who believe in elves, UFOs, and the power of crystals. For believers, this book will provide more fuel to justify your belief in tarot cards and magic... “How to Change Your Mind” is a much more sane examination of the science behind psychedelics and how they may help the human mind.

McKenna was a crazy person.

Now I know die hards won’t like my assessment, while I rate the book highly, I’m rating the book. Not Terence. This book is a roadmap to what happens when crunchy hippies eat mushrooms in the jungle for several months. After reading I have no choice but to view certain aspects of psychedelic culture with a really large grain of salt.

Great book, initially annoying narrator

The narrator was hard to listen to at first because he seemed to be trying too hard, having a clearly perceptible pattern of tones in his speech, but after a few chapters, he settles into a more natural pattern. Terence Mckenna, of course, was a brilliant guy whose words are always a delight

not appreciable unless on shrooms

it's a hippie recall of young adults trying to justify altered perceptions via pot, shrooms, acid, hash or heroine.. trying to make valid science while note taking high... not even sure why it's a book. nothing to learn here.

Incredible

Terence McKenna has lived such an amazing, contemplative roller coaster of a life (as told in this book) that it'd be a sin to not write about it. On top of the fun exciting and entertaining main storyline and all the other little storys and life experiences that were told along side it, there's the main idea Terence is trying to share with the world that's intriguing and interesting if nothing else. I'd be completely lying if i said I myself have never heard that inner dialog and guiding voice while experiencing a Psilocybin induced trip, never to the extent he speaks of but i understand completely what he speaks of. Regardless of your views on such matters or if you believe in the Alien theory or not, it has to be said that its a damn fascinating and interesting idea that is definitely in the realm of possibility. Thanks for sharing your story i hope there's more to come to audible✌

This is the way

I have listened for many many years the Legend of Terrence he has born a part of my journey in good and bad. I think this book has found me they are with me 👽🛸 they always have been . I too have a purpose will all do remember me I will show you the way....

Pseudoscientific Word-Salad

The part of the book that recounts the author's adventures is fine, but most of the book is filled with scientific-sounding word-salad. McKenna tries to weave psychopharmacology, quantum mechanics, music theory into some grand theory of everything that lacks even the slightest hint of evidence. I had to give up half-way because it was a total waste of time.

Unbelievable! and yet...

Um. Wow. Gotta say I totally recommend listening to this book... Is it a description of possibility, cutting through a few too many veils, ethnobotany, anthropology of consciousness, a view of the close past and future, an adventure tale, partial eclipse of madness returned with gifts...I don't know how many people could get through a written version of this...I listened with my mouth frequently hanging open or saying whaaaaatttt even though I am familiar with most of the key words in here. Uhhhh. Wow. If anything, Terrence McKenna is a frontiersman in Western culture. Jingies!!!!

Read by a newsreader?

Difficult to take in, due to the totally inappropriate narrator. I’m sure the story would be way more interesting if it wasn’t read so unnaturally. What were they thinking?! Incredibly frustrating. Don’t bother...

Loved it

I really enjoyed this and the only negative I can give is on the narrator, though please do not let this stop you. The story of how it all began was awesome.

Didn’t like the narrator and the story

The story starts great and there’s a real sense of adventure,,...however around 15pc in the book becomes a bore fest. The last 5pc was the most interesting part. I wouldn’t bother purchasing. I expected great things from this book and will now be returning it. Also the narrator is a bit drone-like.

Insightful

I could not have read the physical book but listening to the audio book was interesting, unsettling and insightful

bloody crazy

if you have taken large doses of magic mushrooms you will probably be able to relate to some parts of these spectacular stories, rest in piece Terrance, a true pioneer

Brilliant very funny

A very interesting listen very funny makes me want to embark on a similar journey the narrator is also very good I don't understand what some people are saying about him I enjoyed listening to him thank you

McKenna rocks but the reader sounds like AI

I love McKenna's talks, and this book is even better than expected!

So disappointed with the performance, however - the reader is flat and shows no understanding of simple punctuation, pausing in odd places and with odd inflections in the sentences. And clearly no understanding or insight into the meaning of the text - it was hard to stay awake. It is testament to McKenna's storytelling that I'm still listening.

Terrible Narration

Terrence is a difficult storyteller to beat. This book would clearly be better narrated by him. In his absence though, please make a version with a proper narrator. I struggled to even see the humanity in such a robotic voice.

Listened after a long ponder

long time fan of McKenna, never read this and was put off by the narrator, but it's worth perseverance and the tale wins out in the end.

Good book but narrator not my cup of tea

Really enjoyed the story and content, found the voice of the narrator a bit monotone and took away from my enjoyment