Food of the Gods
by Terence McKenna · first published 1992
75% recommend25% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Speculative but readable account of psychedelics and mushrooms in human evolution and religion; recommended to readers curious about the role of chemicals in culture and consciousness.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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"Food of the Gods" by Terrence McKenna was a revelation and led me to dive into his other books and lectures (and many topics spawned from it). Complete shift in baseline perception. Though not his quote, he said it frequently:…
on “Ask HN: What was the one book that you read and it actually changed your life?” ↗If you're curious about the ties between religion, shamanism and psychedelics theres a great book by Terrence McKenna on this subject called Food of the Gods: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0553371304?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_...
on “Does this medieval fresco show a hallucinogenic mushroom in the Garden of Eden?” ↗Couple of additional great reads around the subject: The Doors of Perception - Aldous Huxley Food of the Gods - Terrence McKenna. And honestly reading Erowid trip report is super interesting/fun (especially DMT! Heh).
on “‘Psychonauts’ by Mike Jay Review” ↗The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test - Tom Wolfe Food of the Gods - Terence McKenna
on “Ask HN: What books changed the way you think about almost everything?” ↗Terrence McKenna explores this hypothesis in his book 'Food of the Gods.' Part speculation, part historical account of the role of chemicals in human culture. Great read if you're interested in this kind of thing.
on “Prehistoric High Times: Early Humans Used Magic Mushrooms, Opium” ↗I would suggest Food of the Gods by Terrence McKenna as it brings an interesting angle over religion related to our consciousness: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51660.Food_of_the_Gods
on “Ask HN: Best books on the psychology of religion?” ↗I recommend “Food of the Gods” https://www.amazon.com/Food-Gods-Original-Knowledge-Evolutio... to anyone that’s interested in what role magic mushrooms may have played in the evolution of humans. It also does an interesting job in…
on “Psychedelic Mushrooms Are Closer to Medicinal Use” ↗Food of the Gods was an amazing read but IMHO the audio lectures of Terence McKenna completely changed the way I look at the world.
on “Ask HN: What books changed the way you think about almost everything?” ↗Food of the Gods by Terrence McKenna (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/111941/food-of-the-...) How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/529343/how-to-chang...) Fellowship…
on “Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same as before?” ↗…because of psychedelics, that our hunter gatherer ancestors had a very intimate relationship with psychedelic mushrooms. Way out there, but very interesting nonetheless. I would recommend his book The food of the Gods
on “Serotonin booster leads to increased functional brain connectivity” ↗The Doors of Perception - Aldous Huxley Food of the Gods - Terence McKenna
on “What Hallucinogens Will Make You See” ↗…because, for one, you were likely raised religious and you've learned how to spite your own "holy temple," not only with deeds but in your minds, your mental habits and cognitive hygiene. Read a book, like Food of the Gods or something about the organic complexity and biodiversity of this world. Understand. Stop fearing Nature, and understand how to become harmonious with it.
on “Successful and Schizophrenic” ↗…http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/718 Because of the name, I classed it among the Pacific adventure books like Mardi and Typee and so on. Apparently it's very different from what I thought. I also enjoyed The Food of the Gods, which takes an interesting and unexpected turn about halfway through. The First Men in the Moon is quite strange but a fun read.
on “HG Wells’s Forgotten Fiction” ↗Definitely do Time Machine first, then his other "classics for a reason" the War of the Worlds, the Invisible Man, the Island of Dr Moreau, and IMO the Food of the Gods. His work tends to have a sort of bipartite structure where the second half diverges quite a bit from the first or there is a major thematic shift partway, usually as a consequence of "committing to the…
on “Henry James and H.G. Wells (1958)” ↗…thought by declaring legitimate what we have denied for so long. Lets us declare Nature to be legitimate. The notion of illegal plants is obnoxious and ridiculous in the first place.” ― Terence McKenna, Food of the Gods: The Search for the Original Tree of Knowledge
on “Is Marijuana as Safe as We Think?” ↗