The Peyote Effect

From the Inquisition to the War on Drugs

By: Alexander S. Dawson

Narrated by: Paul Brion

The hallucinogenic and medicinal effects of peyote have a storied history that begins well before Europeans arrived in the Americas. While some have attempted to explain the cultural and religious significance of this cactus and drug, Alexander S. Dawson offers a completely new way of understanding the place of peyote in history.

In this provocative new audiobook, Dawson argues peyote has marked the boundary between the Indian and the West since the Spanish Inquisition outlawed it in 1620. For nearly four centuries, ecclesiastical, legal, scientific, and scholarly authorities have tried (unsuccessfully) to police that boundary to ensure that while indigenous subjects might consume peyote, others could not.

Moving back and forth across the US-Mexico border, The Peyote Effect explores how battles over who might enjoy a right to consume peyote have unfolded in both countries and how these conflicts have produced the racially exclusionary systems that characterizes modern drug regimes. Through this approach, we see a surprising history of the racial thinking that binds these two countries more closely than we might otherwise imagine.

©2018 The Regents of the University of California (P)2018 Tantor

Excellent book

This book is broad and in depth. Excellent objective resource in many areas regarding peyote.

Discussion from both sides.

Very thorough history and told from many perspectives. There didn't seem to be any attempt to sway the reader toward or against the use of peyote.

kind of boring but very good nonetheless

this was a very informative book. a little boring but very good. I enjoyed it

Love SingSong Voices? Then you will love this one

Narration: Drives me crazy: DaDadada; DaDadada, DaDadada, DaDadada....... Get my meaning?



Content: I am fascinated by this topic and the content of the first two hours indicates it is an important read for those of us wanting to know more about drugs.