On Drugs
Psychedelics, Philosophy, and the Nature of Reality
Format:Hardback
Publisher:W W Norton & Co Ltd
Published:23rd Sep '25
Currently unavailable, our supplier has not provided us a restock date

In the wake of a personal loss and the upheaval of the pandemic, Justin Smith-Ruiu found himself at a California cannabis dispensary, pondering a profound question: Who am I and how did I get here? On Drugs blends memoir, investigative reporting and philosophical inquiry as Smith-Ruiu explores the impact of psychedelics on the mind and human consciousness. Drawing on a broad range of intellectual history and his personal experiences, he delves into how these substances challenge Western assumptions about reality, the self and existence. Psychedelics offer a path to a radically new way of thinking and a new philosophical lens that could reshape how we understand ourselves and our place in the universe. On Drugs offers an insightful and thought-provoking exploration of mind-altering substances, their impact on modern thought and the very nature of reality.
"[Y]ou don’t even need to take magic mushrooms from some geezer in a Dutch head shop (as Smith-Ruiu did) to melt your mind… you could try reading this extraordinary book, whose riches I can only hint at in this review." -- Stuart Jeffries - The Guardian
"Propelled by lofty ideas, Smith-Ruiu’s book lands with a dignified rustle amid a growing din. Enthusiasm for drug-induced mind expansion has lately reached a fever pitch . . . On Drugs is a searching, philosophical meditation, not a brief for recreational or therapeutic drug use. Its aim is to destabilize certainties, not provide answers." -- Emily Eakin - The New York Times Book Review
"‘On Drugs’ offers a philosophical approach to psychedelic experiences . . . A mind-stretching, almost manically polymathic meditation." -- Mark Dery - The Washington Post
ISBN: 9781324094975
Dimensions: 218mm x 147mm x 28mm
Weight: 366g
288 pages