The Harvard Psychedelic Club : how Timothy Leary, Ram Dass, Huston Smith, and Andrew Weil killed the fifties and ushered in a new age for America

This book is the story of how three brilliant scholars and one ambitious freshman crossed paths in the early sixties at a Harvard-sponsored psychedelic-drug research project, transforming their lives and American culture and launching the mind/body/spirit movement that inspired the explosion of yoga classes, organic produce, and alternative medicine. The four men came together in a time of upheaval and experimentation, and their exploration of an expanded consciousness set the stage for the social, spiritual, sexual, and psychological revolution of the 1960s. Timothy Leary would be the rebellious trickster, the premier proponent of the therapeutic and spiritual benefits of LSD, advising a generation to "turn on, tune in, and drop out." Richard Alpert would be the seeker, traveling to India and returning to America as Ram Dass, reborn as a spiritual leader with his "Be Here Now" mantra, inspiring a restless army of spiritual pilgrims. Huston Smith would be the teacher, practicing every world religion, introducing the Dalai Lama to the West, and educating generations of Americans to adopt a more tolerant, inclusive attitude toward other cultures' beliefs. And young Andrew Weil would be the healer, becoming the undisputed leader of alternative medicine, devoting his life to the holistic reformation of the American health care system. It was meant to be a time of joy, of peace, and of love, but behind the scenes there lurked backstabbing, jealousy, and outright betrayal. In spite of their personal conflicts, the members of the Harvard Psychedelic Club would forever change the way Americans view religion and practice medicine, and the very way we look at body and soul.

this Book Is The Story Of How Three Brilliant Scholars And One Ambitious Freshman Crossed Paths In The Early Sixties At A Harvard-sponsored Psychedelic-drug Research Project, Transforming Their Lives And American Culture And Launching The Mind/body/spirit Movement That Inspired The Explosion Of Yoga Classes, Organic Produce, And Alternative Medicine.

the Four Men Came Together In A Time Of Upheaval And Experimentation, And Their Exploration Of An Expanded Consciousness Set The Stage For The Social, Spiritual, Sexual, And Psychological Revolution Of The 1960s. Timothy Leary Would Be The Rebellious Trickster, The Premier Proponent Of The Therapeutic And Spiritual Benefits Of Lsd, Advising A Generation To Turn On, Tune In, And Drop Out. Richard Alpert Would Be The Seeker, Traveling To India And Returning To America As Ram Dass, Reborn As A Spiritual Leader With His Be Here Now Mantra, Inspiring A Restless Army Of Spiritual Pilgrims. Huston Smith Would Be The Teacher, Practicing Every World Religion, Introducing The Dalai Lama To The West, And Educating Generations Of Americans To Adopt A More Tolerant, Inclusive Attitude Toward Other Cultures' Beliefs. And Young Andrew Weil Would Be The Healer, Becoming The Undisputed Leader Of Alternative Medicine, Devoting His Life To The Holistic Reformation Of The American Health Care System.

it Was Meant To Be A Time Of Joy, Of Peace, And Of Love, But Behind The Scenes Lurked Backstabbing, Jealousy, And Outright Betrayal. In Spite Of Their Personal Conflicts, The Members Of The Harvard Psychedelic Club Would Forever Change The Way Americans View Religion And Practice Medicine, And The Very Way We Look At Body And Soul.

the New York Times - Dwight Garner

in This Rollicking If Lightweight Group Biography, Mr. Lattin Does A Lovely, Gently Humorous Job Of Setting This Scene And Bringing These Men Together…this Slim Book Has More Than Its Share Of Faults… I'd Be Lying, Though, If I Said I Didn't Enjoy Just About Every Page Of the Harvard Psychedelic Club. This Groovy Story Unfurls—chronicling The Lives Of Men Who Were Brilliant But Damaged, Soulful But Vengeful, Zonked-out But Optimistic And Wry—like A Ready-made Treatment For A Sprawling, Elegiac And Crisply Comic Movie, Let's Say Robert Altman By Way Of Wes Anderson.

“[Don Lattin] has created a stimulating and thoroughly engrossing read.” —Dennis McNally, author of A Long Strange Trip: The Inside History of the Grateful Dead, and Desolate Angel: Jack Kerouac, the Beat Generation, and America It is impossible to overstate the cultural significance of the four men described in Don Lattin's The Harvard Psychedelic Club. Huston Smith, tirelessly working to promote cross-cultural religious and spiritual tolerance. Richard Alpert, a.k.a. Ram Dass, inspiring generations with his mantra, “be here now.” Andrew Weil, undisputed leader of the holistic medicine revolution. And, of course, Timothy Leary, the charismatic, rebellious counter-culture icon and LSD guru. Journalist Don Lattin provides the funny, moving inside story of the “Cambridge Quartet,” who crossed paths with the infamous Harvard Psilocybin Project in the early 60's, and went on to pioneer the Mind/Body/Spirit movement that would popularize yoga, vegetarianism, and Eastern mysticism in the Western world. Lattin Examines The Lives And Times Of Four Men--timothy Leary, Richard Alpert (aka Ram Dass), Andrew Weil, And Huston Smith--whose Paths Crossed In The 1960s At Harvard, And Who Consequently Launched The Mind, Body, Spirit Movement. Four Roads To Cambridge -- Turn On -- Sinners And Saints -- Crimson Tide -- Trouble In Paradise -- If You Come To San Francisco ... -- Pilgrimage And Exile -- After The Ecstasy ... Four Lives -- Healer, Teacher, Trickster, Seeker. Don Lattin. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [231]-241) And Index. Lattin examines the lives and times of four men--Timothy Leary, Richard Alpert (aka Ram Dass), Andrew Weil, and Huston Smith--whose paths crossed in the 1960s at Harvard, and who consequently launched the mind, body, spirit movement. Abstract: Lattin examines the lives and times of four men--Timothy Leary, Richard Alpert (aka Ram Dass), Andrew Weil, and Huston Smith--whose paths crossed in the 1960s at Harvard, and who consequently launched the mind, body, spirit movement Tells the story of how three brilliant scholars and one ambitious freshman crossed paths in the early sixties at a Harvard-sponsored psychedelic-drug research project, transforming their lives and American culture and launching the mind/body/spirit movement that inspired the explosion of yoga classes, organic produce, and alternative medicine.