A Journey Into Psychedelia: Reviewing Tripped: Nazi Germany, the CIA, and the Dawn of the Psy…
As someone who’s always found the intersections between history, science, and culture utterly fascinating, Tripped: Nazi Germany, the CIA, and the Dawn of the Psy… by Norman Ohler caught my eye instantly. Having thoroughly enjoyed his previous work, Blitzed: Drugs in Nazi Germany, I dove into this exploration with high hopes. Alas, while the book offers a wealth of intriguing information, it didn’t quite reach the dizzying heights of its predecessor.
Ohler opens the narrative with a gripping introduction, revealing the astonishing anecdote of Leonard Pickard’s LSD lab hidden within a former nuclear missile silo in Kansas. This vivid image is not only a symbol of the Cold War but also serves as the perfect backdrop for discussions on the profound and often tumultuous history of psychedelics. Ohler’s curiosity was piqued after a conversation with his father about LSD’s potential benefits for treating Alzheimer’s, and this familial connection adds a personal touch to the exploration of a subject often viewed through foggy legal and ethical lenses.
The book delves into key themes such as the early history of LSD, the CIA’s MKUltra project, and the cultural repercussions of drug policy in the U.S. Ohler creatively traces the lineage of psychedelics from Nazi Germany’s experiments with mind control to America’s obsession with them during the Cold War. He highlights how fears of brainwashing led to brutal experiments, a troubling legacy that reverberates through modern drug policy. Yet, it’s the shadowy relationships—like that of a Swiss pharmaceutical CEO and a Third Reich biochemist—that truly capture the complexities of drug history.
Despite these fascinating themes, I found the writing style not as engaging as in Blitzed. The prose often felt straightforward and lacked the lyrical quality that had drawn me into Ohler’s world previously. The pacing, while generally brisk, could sometimes leave crucial historical context unpolished. For instance, the intriguing case of Frank Olson and the CIA’s covert experiments, while presented with necessary levity, often felt rushed.
One quote that resonated with me was Ohler’s assertion about understanding our current drug regulations by examining their roots. This notion struck a chord, as many of us are navigating personal and societal conversations about drug policy and mental health today. The author’s exposition of his own experience microdosing his mother to treat Alzheimer’s adds a poignant layer of humanity to the broader historical narrative.
All that said, Tripped was still a worthwhile read for anyone unfamiliar with the intricacies of this complex history. I can’t help but feel that John D. Marks’ The Search for the Manchurian Candidate: The CIA & Mind Control may present these themes more compellingly, but Ohler’s book serves as a solid primer on the subject matter.
In conclusion, I’d recommend Tripped to history buffs and those curious about the impact of psychedelics on culture and policy. Although it may not eclipse Blitzed in mastery, it offers a valuable lens through which to view the past and present of psychedelia. Reading it reminded me of the importance of understanding history—not just as a collection of forgotten anecdotes, but as a living tapestry interwoven with our current reality. 🌌
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