Culture - Ketamine: Dreams and Realities by Karl Jansen

[Beltane]

This is THE book to read if you're really interested in Ketamine.

First, let me say that I've also read _The Little Book Of Ketamine_ by Kit Kelly. I consider this a good, down and dirty, short and sweet book about the basics of the drug. It's fine if that's all you're after.

Jansen's book is a journey reminiscent of what I'm told the Ketamine trip is like itself. The book is, IMHO, as objective as a book of this nature can be. Jansen neither advocates or demonizes the drug.

The facts are there-- history, uses, benefits, risks and thoughts on the future of this drug-- as one would expect, but the story interwoven in which these facts are ensconced makes the book a masterpiece. It's technical where necessary, but never overly so.

His prose is beautiful as well. As I read the book I was drawn in deeply and taken on a wonderful journey.

One of the comparisons Jansen makes in describing the effects of the drug is to the Near Death Experience (or as he also calls it, Near Birth Experience.)

While I won't advocate the use of Ketamine, I will say that for anyone interested in this drug this book is an absolute MUST READ. Further, I don't say this because the use of the drug is dangerous or complicated and requires extensive knowledge, but rather because this is book is a joyous story of just about everything one might want to know about the drug. I've even been told, by people who have used the drug, that reading this book has further enhanced their experiences with Ketamine.

I've also talked with at least one person who, when he found himself with questions after reading the book, traded emails with Jansen himself who took the time to personally answer the questions.

Finally, Jansen donates 100% of the profits from this book to further Ketamine psychotherapy research. This makes him, in the eyes of this reader, almost a saint-- To have taken the time to collect, organize and then masterfully convey such a huge volume of facts and figures related to this substance, he then turns around and gives away the profits from his endeavor to ensure that this substance and its potential benefits to mankind, will continue to be studied in the furture.

In short, this is a great book. If you use Ketamine, or are considering doing so, you're cheating yourself by not reading this book.

- Beltane

[enquirewithin]

This is a superb well-researched book. As Beltane says, Jansen writes very well and must know more about ketamine than almost anyone else. Its essential reading for anyone interetested in Special K.

The book has breadth and depth. He dicusses the the luminaries of ketamine experimenting, Maricia Moore and John Lilly, psychedelic theory such as Timothy Leary's 8 Circuits, the neurochemistry of ketamine and more.

He is not advocating its use, and does highlight the dangers of addiction and accidents which happen under its influence. He gives a very balanced picture of the drug.

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