Trippy: The Peril and Promise of Medicinal Psychedelics

Ernesto's personal story is captivating and a must read for anyone interested in finding a cure for for PTSD and other mental problems. Ernesto shared his story: a successful, and brave journalist at the top if his career he suffered a serious depression. And he finds a cure in the retreat in the Amazon jungle.In the book he presents his findings on how psychedelics are being used in diverse setting to cure veterans with PTSD and his findings are fascinating! A must read for psychiatrist, legislators, and any person who can influence the health and the cure for millions of people who could find in psychedelics the cure that traditional medicine does not provide

A most excellent book. If you want to know the history behind why various medicinally effective plant drugs never got the research or use they should have, this gives a good explanation. Written in a profoundly personal way, easy to understand with current examples, I highly recommend it. Whether you have PTSD, know someone who does or are a care giver for those with mental health problems, the new information and how these ancient medicinal plants work is presented beautifully in this book.

Mr. Londono wrote a compelling first-person account, mostly of the monetization of ceremonies involving ayahuasca, sold as modern approximations of ancient South American traditions. The story is told from a gay man's perspective. I found the book both engrossing and lacking. As a forensic and clinical psychologist, I found the stories of sexual predation informative, deeply concerning, and consistent with accounts I have heard in the office. The information is very current. To most Americans and Europeans, however, LSD and psilocybin are the most familiar and traditional psychedelics, topics this book skims over, to my disappointment. Mr. Londono's perspective on this field as a gay man is valuable; this book had to be written. The intersection of intoxicants and sex is protean, ingrained, and unavoidable. Still, I was unprepared for that perspective and, at times found it distracted from the story of psychedelic medicine.

I devoured this book in a couple of days and found it both deeply moving and insightful. It’s partly a compelling narrative and partly a journalistic exploration of the Wild West of psychedelic medicine. Anyone who has struggled with mental health challenges will find solace and hope in this book. But it also provides necessary red flags about this emerging field, in which people can be harmed if they trust the wrong people and fail to do due diligence. This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time and I highly recommend the audio version, which includes music from ceremonies.

It's hard to put this book down! Highly entertaining, moving and informative. It offers a nuanced, balanced view of the fascinating renaissance of psychedelics in mental health. With in-depth journalistic rigor readers can expect healthy doses of both hope and caution. You'll finish this book with an open mind and appreciation of the potential power of psychedelics as well as the risks of embarking into the highly unregulated wild west of medicinal plants. Highly recommend it!

Through the lens of his own battle with depression, Londoño explores the potential promises and perils of using psychedelics to treat mental health conditions. This is a must read for anyone interested in this burgeoning field of research.

As a New York Times journalist, I expected Ernesto Londoño's "Trippy" to be a journalistic exploration of psychedelics. However, only the last chapter touches on psychedelics, and even then, it offers a limited perspective without the depth of research and sources one would expect from a journalistic work.The book primarily delves into Londoño's personal life, detailing his struggles with a psychiatric disorder that led him to make decisions to avoid falling in love. This avoidance hurt those who opened up to him, ultimately sabotaging his own desire for love and companionship. Londoño shares his experiences with depression and how, in a desperate attempt to find relief, he turned to ayahuasca. What he initially hoped would be a one-time healing experience evolved into a near-addiction to a substance that lacks substantial research."Trippy" reads as a cry for help, reflecting the suffering Londoño has endured. Writing this book seems to be his way of making peace with his past and the ways he has distanced himself from and sometimes hurt his loved ones. As the book progresses, Londoño appears to grow more compassionate towards those close to him, though there are moments of resentment where he calls out individuals by name and shares personal details about their lives. These instances sometimes felt like attempts to settle scores from his youth.In the end, Londoño shares how he has finally found love and, unlike his previous failed relationships, demonstrates a commitment to making it work. "Trippy" is a life journey of dealing with hardship, loneliness, and depression, culminating in a happy ending of love and compassion.

Thanks so much Celadon Books & NetGalley for the arc.I really enjoyed this book. It was quite the trip! 😉It felt like reading a VICE style documentary and was very informative about the good and bad of psychedelics.I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in mental wellness but also anyone who wants to read about an interesting subject by a very talented writer!*There is description of abuse, trauma and PTSD, so that could potentially be triggering for some people.