Erika Dyck, "Psychedelic Prophets: The Letters of Aldous Huxley and Humphry Osmond" (McGill-Queen's UP, 2018)Erika Dyck, "Psychedelic Prophets: The Letters of Aldous Huxley and Humphry Osmond" (McGill-Queen's UP, 2018)
New Books in Drugs, Addiction and Recovery
Erika recounts the special relationship between two intellectual juggernauts, Huxley and Osmond, and their discussions about drugs, addiction, and death and dying...
56:42•29 May 2019
Psychedelic Pioneers: Aldous Huxley and Humphry Osmond's Letters Revealed
“Reading the letters impresses upon me that this is a sort of a manic personality, someone who's incredibly enthusiastic and incredibly energetic, and that this was part of his own way of keeping track of things.”
What happens when two of the 20th century's brightest minds exchange letters for a decade? In this episode of 'New Books in Drugs, Addiction, and Recovery', historian Erika Dyck dives into her book, 'Psychedelic Prophets: The Letters of Aldous Huxley and Humphry Osmond'. Host Marshall Poe guides us through the fascinating world of these two intellectual powerhouses. Their correspondence touches on everything from the nature of the mind to the potential of psychedelics in medicine and palliative care.
Dyck, along with her co-editors, has meticulously curated these letters, revealing the unique bond between Huxley and Osmond. The discussions are as profound as they are varied, exploring themes of addiction, death, and the so-called 'psychedelic renaissance'. Dyck also shares how these letters influenced broader cultural and scientific conversations, including their impact on figures like L. Ron Hubbard. If you're curious about the intersection of drugs, consciousness, and intellectual history, this episode is a must-listen.
It’s a rare glimpse into the minds that shaped modern perspectives on psychedelics.
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