Search Results: Authors starting with W from Dogtown Books

The 2-volume Mushrooms, Russia and History (Pantheon, 1957) by Gordon and Valentina Wasson is a fantastic deep-dive into the world of mycology that began as a simple mushroom cookbook, and a study in the "gentle art of mushroom-knowing," but grew to an extensive and exhaustive study spread across a pair of large, bound volumes, replete with stunning watercolors by the French naturalist Jean-Henri Fabre. The pair wandered from the world of mycology, deep into the realms of art, history and anthropology, and well beyond the borders of Russia. Indeed, in the later volume, The Wassons encounter María Sabina, a Mazatec shaman who invites them to try ceremonial psilocybin. The retelling of their experiences with this mad mushroom would eventually inspire Timothy Leary to begin his study and experimentation with psychedelics. When initially published in 1957, these books sold for a staggering (at the time) $125, which all but insured that only the wealthiest collectors and universities would own them.… Read More