What do you think?
Rate this book
The Agony of Ecstasy
The Agony of Ecstasy explores the quest of a godless generation to find meaning in a materialistic world. For this ‘chemical generation' drugs are becoming a religion; the basis of their moral code. Olivia found herself questioning the ideals of ecstasy culture - ideals of drug induced love, happiness, unity and beauty.
This is Olivia's harrowing story of her eighteen-month recovery from an ecstasy-induced depression, during which time she started to rediscover meaning in her life.>
This is Olivia's harrowing story of her eighteen-month recovery from an ecstasy-induced depression, during which time she started to rediscover meaning in her life.>
232 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2004
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 26, 2022
"We ended up in the Cape Sun hotel bar, drinking vodka and orange. We talked about our searches for the meaning of life. We wanted to get lost in music. It was a world away from Oxford."
"His world was as intense as mine. He understood the pain of existence and he led the group in many joyful escapades."
"His life was romantic and dedicated to escaping the 'system', and he was depressed most of the time because it was impossible. The tyrannical voices of rule-makers and the media crush the spirit. I had never encountered anything so radical outside poetry. His philosophy was mysterious, terrifying. It seems to open my eyes to something immense."
"Never close your mind and live a bland life."
"Love is letting go...you go your way and I'll go mine, and if by some chance we find each other, that's wonderful. I thought this was rubbish: love was passionate and would bind itself to its object. Yet if I could just pretend I had no interest in him, he might fall back in love with me."
"I was finally living in the existence I had always wanted. All those years of dreaming of breaking free, somehow, being myself, somehow, were over. I was authentic at last. Everything was now. My body could do whatever it wanted. No inhibitions."
"All of us are drifters on a cosmic ocean of life and death."
This book explores the quest of a godless generation to find meaning in a materialistic world. The protagonist Olivia finds herself questioning the ideals of ecstasy culture: ideals of drug-induced love, happiness, unity and beauty.
"His world was as intense as mine. He understood the pain of existence and he led the group in many joyful escapades."
"His life was romantic and dedicated to escaping the 'system', and he was depressed most of the time because it was impossible. The tyrannical voices of rule-makers and the media crush the spirit. I had never encountered anything so radical outside poetry. His philosophy was mysterious, terrifying. It seems to open my eyes to something immense."
"Never close your mind and live a bland life."
"Love is letting go...you go your way and I'll go mine, and if by some chance we find each other, that's wonderful. I thought this was rubbish: love was passionate and would bind itself to its object. Yet if I could just pretend I had no interest in him, he might fall back in love with me."
"I was finally living in the existence I had always wanted. All those years of dreaming of breaking free, somehow, being myself, somehow, were over. I was authentic at last. Everything was now. My body could do whatever it wanted. No inhibitions."
"All of us are drifters on a cosmic ocean of life and death."
This book explores the quest of a godless generation to find meaning in a materialistic world. The protagonist Olivia finds herself questioning the ideals of ecstasy culture: ideals of drug-induced love, happiness, unity and beauty.
March 8, 2013
Reviewed for my student paper.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews