Dive into the world of psychedelics with Michael Pollan’s No. 1 New York Times best-selling book. The former food journalist takes readers on a very approachable journey through the old and new science of psychedelics. The book also covers the rich – and widely unknown – history of psychedelic research starting in the 1930s.

James Fadiman is one of the old school psychedelic researches, so he gets deep respect from us. The Psychedelic Explorers Guide is exactly what it sounds like – a guide to safe, therapeutic and sacred journeys with psychedelics. Fadiman covers microdoses (aka creativity/productivity doses), moderate doses (aka therapeutic doses), and high doses (aka spiritual/transcendent doses). The book dispels myths about psychedelics through both reviews of old and new research and “civilian science” case studies.

If you are just entering the psychedelic space, Terence McKenna is probably a name you’ve come across. Described as “a radical history of food, drugs, and plants,” Food of the Gods is an exploration of many substances (not just psychedelics). McKenna takes a philosophical approach to answering the question of why people have historically been so fascinated with altered states of consciousness. Can some of these substances change the world? Can some destroy it? Pick up this book to hear McKenna’s thoughts, supported by his own research as an ethnobotanist.

Finally, the field has a comprehensive book about the science behind microdosing psychedelics. Torsten Passie, MD, is a professor of psychotherapy and psychiatry affiliated with Hannover Medical School. In The Science of Microdosing Psychedelics, Passie gives a thorough overview of scientific data on the topic of microdosing. He covers both psychedelic literacy and the pharmacology of psychedelics. From a scientific perspective, he breaks down studies for readers. This is a mandatory read for any microdosers who want to know more about why and how it works.

Connect with the nature of psilocybin mushrooms. Powell teaches us about the neurochemistry behind this psychedelic class of mushrooms, and provides an overview of the research – particularity on the effectiveness of psilocybin therapy in reducing end of life anxiety and managing OCD. In addition, the shamanic and sacred history of the psilocybin mushroom is covered, providing readers with a well-rounded education on the medicine.