Terence McKenna (1946–2000)

Good history of drug use and McKenna's theories of how it shaped human evolution in fundamental ways -- essentially that mushroom or psychedelic drugs were part of cooperative culture (found among hunter gatherers, initially in Africa), and that grain, fermentation, and alcohol (and sugar) were the tools of a competing "dominator culture" which out-competed and destroyed them, while also being self-destructive and possibly unsustainable. He is making a case for a return to the earlier way of being.

This would have been an easy 5-star audiobook if Terence McKenna had narrated it himself. Sadly he passed away a few years ago, so this isn't possible, but I have some mp3s of earlier books/speeches of his which wonderful (and often end up set to music).… (mer)