Wizard of the Upper Amazon

The Story of Manuel Córdova-Rios

By: F. Bruce Lamb

Narrated by: Kirk Magoon

A richly-detailed real-life account of ancient tribal life and the fascinating role of Ayahuasca in the heart of the Amazon.

Wizard of the Upper Amazon provides an insightful depiction of a South American tribal society at the turn of the 20th century. It delves into the captivating world of the Huni Kui tribe and their deep-seated connection with Ayahuasca, a powerful hallucinogenic plant. With the resurging interest in Ayahuasca today, this account offers a valuable and historical perspective, unveiling its traditional uses in day-to-day tribal life.

Our narrator, Manuel Córdova-Rios, takes the reader along on his extraordinary journey from a young boy taken in by the tribe to a respected healer. His accounts illustrate a unique societal fabric where plant medicine is a teacher, telepathy a communication mode, and clairvoyance a revered skill. In comparison to the modern ceremonial use of Ayahuasca, Córdova-Rios paints an enlightening picture of how this substance is entwined with various aspects of tribal life, from hunting practices to dispute resolution.

Wizard of the Upper Amazon is a rare look into a world that remains largely unexplored and elusive. According to reader reviews, the book delivers engaging insights into tribal life and Ayahuasca's role within it. This real-life tale invites readers to immerse themselves in the tribal world's intricate dynamics and to appreciate the deep wisdom and traditional practices of the Amazonian people. A classic read for those interested in indigenous cultures, shamanism, or plant medicine, this book offers a robust exploration into a time and place far removed from our own.

Critic reviews

"This is one of the three or four best books I have ever encountered."—Peter Warshall, The CoEvolution Quarterly"A rare glimpse of the private life of a Peruvian healer."—Andrew Weil, M.D., author of the The Natural Mind

total immersion into an incredible story

it is an amazing true story that fascinated us from start to finish, highly recommend

Shamanism Wayback When!

This book was irresistibly interesting. In depth cultural study of a tribe along with its religious practices including the use of ayahuasca in the early 1900s.

captivating story

what a captivating story! Although there are questions to the validity of this story, it seems clear that some must be true. This book is marketed heavily on Ayahuasca, but that is not the core theme of the book.
I would recommend this book as it is a fascinating story with a lot of interesting facts on life in the Amazon forest

Moving Exciting Story from the Amazon Forest

This wonderful story, which I believe to be true as can be, gave me so much more than I expected. I recommend it heartily.

details of the jungle

The story of his time with the indians is compelling, but the narration is bland.