About the author
Terence Kemp McKenna (November 16, 1946 – April 3, 2000) was an American philosopher, ethnobotanist, lecturer, and author who advocated for the responsible use of naturally occurring psychedelic plants and mushrooms. He spoke and wrote about a variety of subjects, including psychedelic drugs, plant-based entheogens, shamanism, metaphysics, alchemy, language, philosophy, culture, technology, ethnomycology, environmentalism, and the theoretical origins of human consciousness. He was called the "Timothy Leary of the '90s", "one of the leading authorities on the ontological foundations of shamanism", and the "intellectual voice of rave culture". Critical reception of Terence McKenna’s work was deeply polarized, with critics accusing him of promoting dangerous ideas and questioning his sanity, while others praised his writing as groundbreaking, humorous, and intellectually provocative. Born in Colorado, he developed a fascination with nature, psychology, and visionary experiences at a young age.
📖 Where to start with Terence McKenna
💬 What our editors say about Terence McKenna's books
“McKenna’s visionary approach transforms the I Ching from a simple fortune-telling tool into a sophisticated map for navigating consciousness. While intellectually stimulating for those familiar with both shamanic traditions and…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on The Invisible Landscape: Mind, Hallucinogens, and the I Ching
“This text is a bold, radical hypothesis that demands an open mind regarding entheogenic experiences and UFO phenomena. McKenna’s writing is dense and speculative, weaving together Amazonian shamanism with virtual reality…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on The Archaic Revival: Speculations on Psychedelic Mushrooms, the Amazon, Virtual Reality, Ufos, Evolut
“McKenna’s work is a bold synthesis of ethnobotany and esoteric history, yet it demands an open mind. Readers expecting rigid academic citations or dry historical facts may find the speculative nature disorienting. The text…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Food of the Gods: The Search for the Original Tree of Knowledge a Radical History of Plants, Drugs, and Human Evolution
📋 Editions by Terence McKenna in the catalog
| Edition | Year | Publisher | Pages | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Invisible Landscape: Mind, Hallucinogens, and the I Ching | — | HarperOne | 256 | 9780062506351 |
| The Archaic Revival: Speculations on Psychedelic Mushrooms, the | 1992 | HarperOne | 288 | 9780062506139 |
| Food of the Gods: The Search for the Original Tree of Knowledge | 1993 | Bantam | 336 | 9780553371307 |
