Food of the Gods Audiobook By Terence McKenna cover art

Food of the Gods

The Search for the Original Tree of Knowledge : A Radical History of Plants, Drugs, and Human Evolution

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Food of the Gods

By: Terence McKenna
Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $15.47

Buy for $15.47

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

Terence McKenna hypothesizes that as the North African jungles receded, giving way to savannas and grasslands near the end of the most recent ice age, a branch of our arboreal primate ancestors left the forest canopy and began living in the open areas beyond. There they experimented with new varieties of foods as they adapted, physically and mentally, to the environment. Among the new foods found in this environment were psilocybin-containing mushrooms growing near dung of ungulate herds occupying the savannas and grasslands.

Referencing the research of Roland L. Fisher, McKenna claims the enhancement of visual acuity was an effect of psilocybin at low doses and suggests this would confer adaptive advantage. He argues that the effects of slightly larger doses, including sexual arousal, and in larger doses, ecstatic hallucinations & glossolalia - gave selective evolutionary advantages to members of those tribes who partook of it. There were many changes caused by the introduction of this psychoactive to primate diets. He hypothesizes, for instance, that synesthesia (the blurring of sensory boundaries) caused by psilocybin led to the development of spoken language: the ability to form pictures in another person's mind through the use of vocal sounds.

About 12,000 years ago, further climate changes removed psilocybin-containing mushrooms from human diets. He argues that this event resulted in a new set of profound changes in our species as we reverted to the previous brutal primate social structures that had been modified and/or repressed by frequent consumption of psilocybin.

©1992 Terrence McKenna (P)2012 Tantor
Addiction & Recovery Environment Mental Health Psychology Sociology Thought-Provoking Inspiring Food Truck Plant Evolution
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

"Deserves to be a modern classic on mind-altering drugs and hallucinogens." ( The Washington Post)

Featured Article: The Best Audiobooks About Psychedelics to Take You on a Trip


In recent years, the use of psychedelics and hallucinogens has been objectively researched and even included in talk therapy and guided meditation. After all, inducing a different state of consciousness can expand our understanding of ourselves. Learn more about the use of these drugs throughout history and explore the potential health benefits with the best audiobooks about psychedelics to take you on a fascinating listening trip.

What listeners say about Food of the Gods

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3,210
  • 4 Stars
    669
  • 3 Stars
    270
  • 2 Stars
    72
  • 1 Stars
    80
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,430
  • 4 Stars
    782
  • 3 Stars
    341
  • 2 Stars
    104
  • 1 Stars
    76
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,852
  • 4 Stars
    550
  • 3 Stars
    177
  • 2 Stars
    81
  • 1 Stars
    71

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Psychedelic Manifesto

Interesting theories. A lot of heady anthropology and background mixed with a new vision for cultural use of psychoactive plants and substances.

The narrator talks quickly. This made digesting some of the new (to me) vocabulary and names of indigenous people groups difficult.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

26 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

This is by far the most profound book on psychedelics that I have ever come across. Worthy of your time and money.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I have to re-listen

Where does Food of the Gods rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I really enjoyed it, but I must read/listen to it again to get the most of all the historical data contained within.

Any additional comments?

buy it

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

cubensis rules

listen and awaken. Explains our reality and how to fix it. back to Eden and beyond

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Ahhhh truth in the midst of Falseworld

One of the most important books of our time. Without a doubt. Especially now currently amidst the most uncertain times on Earth.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it.

Terence has a way with words unlike any other. The only downside was having to hear it through another man's voice and cadence.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Must read

Must read book for anyone willing. This profound and sober look at humans & culture is very compelling.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

more unknown details

the depth of this book is amazing. in such a short book, it covered everything from evolution, religion, and finance. all relatable to the plant based drugs

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Eye opening

Very informative and detailed. I will buy a hard copy for future use and reference.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

extraordinary content

I enjoyed this book deeply. I respect how much research and facts were stated. will re-listen and present to friends. thank you.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!