A cross-cultural history of how humanity's use of intoxicants has affected societies across the centuries and how attitudes towards these substances have been shaped. Fly agaric mushrooms used by Siberian shamans, peyote in the Americas, qat in Africa, to hallucinogens like marijuana and stimulants like cocoa, coffee and tea are all subjects discussed. Key archaeological finds are also used to confirm ancient use of opium and cannabis which the author links to art forms such as cave paintings.
- ISBN10 1568360754
- ISBN13 9781568360751
- Publish Date 1 August 1995 (first published 1 January 1994)
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 6 November 2003
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Kodansha America, Inc
- Format Paperback
- Pages 208
- Language English