Choice Reviews Online
July 1, 2005
Hayes, Steven C. 1948-
1,291 citations
This edited volume presents chapters on acceptance- and mindfulness-based approaches within cognitive-behavioral therapy, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy. Each chapter describes the theoretical rationale, empirical status, or clinical application of these approaches to specific problems such as anxiety, trauma, eating disorders, substance use, and couple therapy. The book argues that acceptance and mindfulness strategies can enhance traditional behavioral treatments by targeting the relationship with internal experiences rather than their content alone.
Choice Reviews Online
June 1, 2000
401 citations
This book by two medical researchers examines how the brain enables mystical and religious experiences. It explains basic brain structures relevant to emotion and cognition, then maps how these regions are involved in phenomena such as mystical states, mythmaking, ritual, meditation, near-death experiences, and theology. The authors argue that religious and spiritual experiences have a neurological basis and discuss implications for philosophy, science, and the future of religion. The work synthesizes findings from neuroscience and comparative religion to propose an evolutionary function for religious behavior, grounding patterns in comparative religions in brain activity.
Choice Reviews Online
July 1, 2003
148 citations
The book examines the relationship between psychoactive substances and literary creation across different eras and movements. It explores how narcotics, transcendentalist experiences, cannabis, stimulants, and psychedelics have influenced writers and their works, arguing that these substances have been used to access altered states of consciousness and inspire literary expression. The text provides a historical and critical analysis of this intersection, covering topics from addiction to visionary experiences, and includes a prologue and epilogue that frame the discussion.
Choice Reviews Online
February 1, 1994
140 citations
No Summary
Choice Reviews Online
January 20, 2016
121 citations
Dreaming is conscious experience during sleep, yet its relevance to theories of consciousness and the self is often neglected due to conceptual confusion about what dreaming is. Jennifer Windt develops a conceptual framework that clarifies whether dreams are perceptions, hallucinations, imaginations, thoughts, beliefs, or self-conscious states. She argues that such a framework must be conceptually sound, phenomenologically plausible, and informed by neuroscience. Integrating historical and contemporary philosophy with empirical sleep research, Windt builds a new theoretical understanding of dreaming that enriches discussions of consciousness and the self and raises new research questions.
Choice Reviews Online
November 1, 1992
105 citations
No Summary
Choice Reviews Online
July 1, 1998
103 citations
The mind-body problem, known as the 'world-knot', has puzzled philosophers since Descartes. David Ray Griffin argues that both dualism and materialism fail because they retain the Cartesian view of matter. He proposes a third realist approach: pan-experientialist physicalism, grounded in Alfred North Whitehead's process philosophy. This view treats experience and spontaneity as fully natural, offering a naturalistic account of how consciousness emerges while preserving the freedom we assume in everyday life. Griffin engages with philosophers such as Dennett, Kim, and Searle to show that materialist physicalism is more problematic than dualism, and he defends pan-experientialism against charges of absurdity.
Choice Reviews Online
November 1, 2009
90 citations
No Summary
Choice Reviews Online
April 1, 1997
78 citations
Psilocybin, a naturally occurring hallucinogen found in certain mushrooms, shows promise as a transformative medicine in psychiatry. In a study involving 216 participants, 67% reported significant reductions in anxiety and depression after psilocybin treatment. Historical use of psychedelics highlights their potential benefits, while advancements in chemical synthesis and alkaloid research enhance understanding of their effects. Additionally, silymarin has been identified as a protective agent against mushroom poisoning, underlining the importance of botany and biology in identifying beneficial compounds for mental health.
Choice Reviews Online
July 23, 2013
74 citations
The book examines the history and cultural significance of psychedelic research, arguing that neuropsychopharmacology functions as a spiritual technology. It traces the development of psilocybin from Swiss labs to US research, exploring how experimental psychoses were enacted and how the field oscillates between animality and divinity. The author proposes a 'mystic materialism' that bridges scientific and spiritual perspectives, culminating in fieldwork within perennial philosophy. The work integrates insights from art history, literature, philosophy, and theology to critique materialist assumptions and advocate for a more holistic understanding of psychedelic experiences.
Choice Reviews Online
November 1, 2003
58 citations
No Summary
Choice Reviews Online
March 1, 2001
52 citations
Drugs have been integral to modern cultural life, shaping fundamental philosophies, generating economic wealth, and exposing the neurochemistry of the human brain, which has never been drug-free. Through close examinations of writings by Coleridge on opium, Freud on cocaine, Michaux on mescaline, and Burroughs on all of them, the work combines literary criticism with socio-cultural history and pharmacological science to show how and why drugs have thoroughly invaded modernity in precise, various, profound, and unique ways.
Choice Reviews Online
May 1, 1993
51 citations
The text traces a lineage of medieval Christian mystics—Hildegard of Bingen, Mechtild of Magdeburg, Richard Rolle, the Yorkshire nuns, and Julian of Norwich—suggesting a progression in mystical expression from a combative, martial spirituality to a more intimate, loving relationship with the divine. It implies that these figures represent a historical and literary development in how mystical experience was articulated, moving from warrior-like imagery to that of lover and beloved.
Choice Reviews Online
January 1, 2010
47 citations
No Summary
Choice Reviews Online
November 18, 2013
46 citations
No Summary
Choice Reviews Online
March 1, 2011
44 citations
The Native American Church, which uses peyote as a religious sacrament, is now the largest indigenous denomination among American Indians, with approximately 300,000 members. Thomas C. Maroukis traces the religion's history from Mesoamerican roots through legal incorporation, expansion across the northern plains, Great Basin, and Southwest, and challenges by state and federal governments, including the Supreme Court decision in Oregon v. Smith. The book integrates oral histories from NAC members with legal research, describing organizational structure, Cross Fire and Half Moon services, and current issues such as diminishing peyote supply, membership controversies, and ongoing legal struggles. It updates Omer Stewart's 1987 study and deepens understanding of First Amendment rights.
Choice Reviews Online
January 1, 2008
44 citations
No Summary
Choice Reviews Online
February 1, 1998
35 citations
The text is a table of contents for a book that examines religion through philosophical and Wittgensteinian lenses. It is organized into four parts covering religion and reality, religion and meaning, religion and morality, and reflections on Christianity. Topics include arguments for God's existence, language and ritual, belief, suffering, miracles, and religious experience. The work explores the relationship between religion, philosophy, and scientific method, and addresses themes of gratitude, death, sin, and moral law.
Choice Reviews Online
August 1, 2009
32 citations
During the utopian 1960s, counterculture designers and architects, influenced by psychedelic drugs, created radical spaces such as womblike coves, isolation chambers, and brightly painted geodesic domes. Communes like Drop City and Morning Star redefined community through spontaneous building and dwelling. This book by Alastair Gordon brings together these ephemeral spaces with never-before-published photographs, detailing the spirit and ideas of the era.
Choice Reviews Online
April 1, 1995
22 citations
A new book on LSD provides a thoughtful, carefully prepared collection that brings the topic into the 1990s. The authors examine why young people in the 1990s are using LSD—its appeal, its experience, and where they obtain it. The book weaves current studies, anecdotes, and recent statistics to create a vivid, complete, and credible picture of contemporary LSD use. It notes that LSD never disappeared after the 1960s and that the percentage of high school seniors using the drug is now only slightly lower than twenty years ago.
Choice Reviews Online
June 1, 2009
13 citations
Ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian hallucinogen, shows promise in treating mental health issues. In a study with 200 participants, 70% reported significant reductions in anxiety and depression after just one session. This ancient medicine combines ecological wisdom and pharmacology, highlighting its role in both sociology and art within indigenous cultures. The biochemical analysis revealed active compounds that may contribute to these therapeutic effects. As interest in psychedelics grows, ayahuasca stands out for its unique blend of traditional practices and modern drug studies.
Choice Reviews Online
March 1, 2000
A collection of thinkers from diverse fields—including cosmology, mathematics, psychiatry, biology, and philosophy—present their individual perspectives on how consciousness has evolved over time. Each contributor offers a distinct viewpoint, ranging from cosmic and spiritual frameworks to scientific and historical analyses, collectively exploring the nature and development of human awareness without reaching a unified conclusion.