Books on Psilocybin, Psychedelics and Entactogens: Comprehensive & Essential Reads

  • Sacred Knowledge – William A. Richards
    A foundational text on the therapeutic and spiritual use of psychedelics, drawing from clinical research and decades of experience with psilocybin-assisted therapy. Explores how mystical experiences induced by psychedelics can facilitate healing, insight, and personal transformation.

  • Psychedelic Justice – Bia Labate & Clancy Cavnar (Eds.)
    A vital and timely collection advocating for equity, inclusion, and cultural awareness within the rapidly growing psychedelic space. Highlights the need to honor Indigenous traditions and dismantle systemic barriers.

  • Allies for Awakening – Ralph Metzner
    A concise, thoughtful guide to safely and meaningfully engaging with entheogens. Offers practical wisdom for navigating non-ordinary states with reverence and intention.

  • The Shaman and Ayahuasca – Don José Campos
    A first-person journey into Amazonian shamanism and the world of ayahuasca, exploring the sacred through the eyes of a respected Peruvian healer. A poetic and vivid reflection on plant medicine wisdom.

  • Moksha – Aldous Huxley
    A classic collection of Huxley’s writings on psychedelics, spiritual experience, and human potential. Offers philosophical insight from one of the 20th century’s greatest minds.

  • Braiding Sweetgrass – Robin Wall Kimmerer
    A beautiful blend of Indigenous wisdom, botany, and storytelling. While not directly about psychedelics, it lays a deep foundation for understanding the sacred relationship between humans and the plant world.

  • Cannabis and Spirituality: An Explorer's Guide to an Ancient Plant Spirit All – Stephen Gray
    Explores how cannabis can be used intentionally as a sacred tool for spiritual awakening, healing, and personal insight, featuring insights from a diverse group of teachers, shamans, and practitioners.

  • The Unfolding Self – Ralph Metzner
    Explores personal transformation through dreams, altered states, and inner journeys. A rich map for anyone experiencing deep change or spiritual awakening.

  • Sacred Mushroom of Visions: Teonanácatl – Ralph Metzner & Dennis McKenna
    A historical and cross-cultural anthology on psilocybin mushrooms, including Indigenous perspectives, scientific insights, and ceremonial context.

  • Beyond the Narrow Life – Kyle Ortigo
    A therapeutic guide for integrating psychedelic experiences with existential psychology. Grounded, accessible, and deeply insightful.

  • Cleansing the Doors of Perception – Huston Smith
    A philosophical and spiritual look at the religious significance of entheogens by one of the world’s leading scholars of comparative religion.

  • The Secret Chief Revealed – Myron Stolaroff
    A revealing and respectful portrait of a pioneering underground psychedelic therapist known only as "The Secret Chief." Illuminates the quiet history of healing behind the scenes.

  • The Joyous Cosmology – Alan Watts
    Watts’ lyrical reflections on LSD and mescaline experiences. Philosophical, poetic, and drenched in awe — a celebration of consciousness expansion.

  • Advances in Psychedelic Medicine – Michael Winkelman & Ben Sessa
    An in-depth, multidisciplinary volume covering the current state of clinical psychedelic research, therapeutic practices, and policy implications.

  • Food of the Gods – Terence McKenna
    A provocative and influential theory about psychedelics shaping human evolution.

  • How to Change Your Mind – Michael Pollan
    A foundational book that blends personal journey with neuroscience, history, and research.

  • The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide – James Fadiman, PhD
    Includes detailed notes on safety, science, therapeutic frameworks, and integration.

  • The Immortality Key – Brian C. Muraresku
    Investigates the roots of Western spirituality and its connections to psychedelic sacraments.

  • "The Way of the Psychonaut – Stanislav Grof
    A deeper dive into non-ordinary states of consciousness and their role in healing and spiritual awakening.

  • LSD and the Mind of the Universe – Christopher M. Bache
    Though focused on LSD, the themes of transformation and higher consciousness are deeply relevant to psilocybin work.

  • Entangled Life – Merlin Sheldrake
    A poetic, scientific, and spiritual look at fungi and the interconnectedness of life.

  • Being True: What Matters Most in Work, Life, and Love – Tami Simon
    Insightful for integration and aligning psychedelic experiences with personal growth.

  • The Rose of Paracelsus: On Secrets & Sacraments – William Leonard Pickard
    A poetic, semi-fictional epic written by one of the most enigmatic figures in psychedelic history.

Academic Articles, Studies & Scientific Resources

Clinical Studies & Scientific Papers

  • Griffiths, R. et al. (2006). Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance.
    Johns Hopkins study

  • Carhart-Harris, R. et al. (2012). Neural correlates of the psychedelic state as determined by fMRI studies with psilocybin.
    Nature Neuroscience

  • Ross, S. et al. (2016). Rapid and sustained symptom reduction in anxiety and depression with psilocybin treatment for patients with life-threatening cancer.
    Journal of Psychopharmacology

  • Davis, A. et al. (2021). Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder.
    JAMA Psychiatry

  • Gukasyan, N. et al. (2022). Psilocybin treatment for major depression: A randomized clinical trial.
    Journal of the American Medical Association

  • Ziff, A. et al. (2022). Analysis of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy in Medicine: A Narrative Review. Reviews clinical use cases and emphasizes low-dose frequency benefits.

    PubMed.

  • Frontiers Meta-analysis (2024). Neuroplasticity and Psychedelics: Comprehensive review of classic & non‑classic compounds. A preclinical-to-clinical examination showing how psychedelics like psilocybin enhance brain plasticity—a core mechanism behind long-lasting therapeutic effects.

  • NYU Cancer Study (2025). Sunstone Therapies – Psilocybin-assisted therapy for psychological distress in cancer patients. American Cancer Society Journal. A 28-participant trial where a 25 mg dose plus psychotherapy significantly reduced depression and anxiety symptoms.

  • Castro Santos, S. & Gama Marques, J. (2021). What is the clinical evidence on psilocybin for the treatment of psychiatric disorders? A systematic review. Comprehensive summary of trials on depression, OCD, and addiction.

    Frontiers in Psychiatry

  • Tagliazucchi, E., Carhart-Harris, R. et al. (2014). Enhanced repertoire of brain dynamical states during the psychedelic experience. Findings from fMRI studies linking brain signal complexity with altered states of consciousness.

    Frontiers in Human Neuroscience

Other Resources & Research Hubs

  • MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) – maps.org
    Extensive archive of psychedelic research and therapy initiatives.

  • The Beckley Foundation – beckleyfoundation.org
    UK-based psychedelic science and policy nonprofit with a strong psilocybin research record.

  • Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research – hopkinspsychedelic.org
    Leading institution in clinical psilocybin research.

  • Psychedelic Science Review – psychedelicreview.com
    Updated summaries of research and articles.

  • Erowid Psilocybin Vault – erowid.org
    Anecdotal reports, safety information, and experience archives.

  • Imperial College London – Centre for Psychedelic Research – imperial.ac.uk
    Major hub for neuroscience, fMRI studies, and clinical psilocybin trials; led by Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris, founder of the REBUS theory.

  • Heffter Research Institute – heffter.org
    Supports rigorous research on psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression, addiction, and anxiety in life-threatening illness.