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E comme ecstasy : MDMA, raves et culture techno
240pages. 24x21x2cm. Broché.
- GenresNonfictionDrugsScience
482 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1993
129 people want to read
About the author
Nicholas Saunders
47 books7 followersGuru of the alternative lifestyle, Nicholas Saunders was primarily responsible for the development of Neal's Yard in London.
Nicholas spent much of the 70's writing alternative guide books, culminating in one for England and Wales. He later spent some time at a large community in Denmark from where he would often travel back to England to buy nuts and beans at considerably cheaper prices. His interest in wholefoods spurred him to move back to England and set up a series of businesses in a disused back street of warehouses into the wholefood and alternative therapy mecca it is today.
He set up a coffee house, a bakery, a dairy, therapy rooms and an apothecary. Throughout his life, his astute business sense and natural charisma ensured the success of just about every project he initiated. The innovative and original businesses set up by him are still thriving and mostly comprise what is now a delightful Bohemian corner of Covent Garden.
He had embarked on many trips researching links between drugs and spirituality and it was during one such expedition to South Africa that he was killed, age 60, in a car accident.
Nicholas spent much of the 70's writing alternative guide books, culminating in one for England and Wales. He later spent some time at a large community in Denmark from where he would often travel back to England to buy nuts and beans at considerably cheaper prices. His interest in wholefoods spurred him to move back to England and set up a series of businesses in a disused back street of warehouses into the wholefood and alternative therapy mecca it is today.
He set up a coffee house, a bakery, a dairy, therapy rooms and an apothecary. Throughout his life, his astute business sense and natural charisma ensured the success of just about every project he initiated. The innovative and original businesses set up by him are still thriving and mostly comprise what is now a delightful Bohemian corner of Covent Garden.
He had embarked on many trips researching links between drugs and spirituality and it was during one such expedition to South Africa that he was killed, age 60, in a car accident.
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December 26, 2024
(English version below)
Il libro è una monografia dedicata all'MDMA, pubblicata nel 1995. All'epoca, l'Ecstasy e la rave culture stavano emergendo dagli ambienti underground, avviandosi rapidamente a diventare fenomeni relativamente mainstream. Questo passaggio li rese visibili anche a chi non aveva esperienza diretta del fenomeno, come chi era distante dagli ambienti di consumo e utilizzo. Tuttavia, le informazioni disponibili per queste persone provenivano principalmente da stampa e TV, che spesso offrivano descrizioni scorrette, parziali e contraddittorie, con un approccio scandalistico e allarmistico. Di conseguenza, l'opinione pubblica si formava su una base di disinformazione. Questo libro si proponeva di fare luce sul fenomeno e, nonostante siano trascorsi quasi 30 anni, rimane un testo estremamente valido.
L'opera combina elementi di saggio e narrazione, con una scelta stilistica interessante: il linguaggio è modulato per essere accessibile a un ampio pubblico, senza risultare semplicistico. I termini tecnici, quando usati, sono appropriati e spiegati con chiarezza. L'autore affronta l'argomento a 360 gradi, adottando prospettive diverse. Viene descritta la molecola dal punto di vista chimico, illustrati gli effetti fisici e psichici attraverso spiegazioni sul meccanismo d'azione e la farmacodinamica. Successivamente, il fenomeno viene contestualizzato nella società, smontando molti luoghi comuni. Ad esempio, contrariamente alla percezione comune dell’epoca, che definiva l'MDMA "la droga del sabato sera", il libro dimostra che il setting della scena club/rave non è l’unico contesto di utilizzo.
Attraverso testimonianze di esperti, si esplora anche l’impiego dell’MDMA in medicina, discutendo le sue potenzialità in ambiti non convenzionali e, talvolta, sorprendenti. Tuttavia, il libro non è un’apologia della sostanza: i rischi associati all’uso e all’abuso sono ben evidenziati, e viene fornito un vademecum per un utilizzo consapevole, nell’ottica della riduzione del danno. Infine, si analizzano gli aspetti legali, illustrando la posizione della sostanza nelle diverse legislazioni, con una visione transnazionale.
Si tratta di un lavoro meticoloso ed esaustivo, che riesce a sintetizzare una grande quantità di informazioni entro le 200 pagine, evitando ridondanze e mantenendo l’opera agile e accessibile. Un testo davvero notevole e ben riuscito.
***ENGLISH VERSION***
The book is a monograph dedicated to MDMA, published in 1995. At the time, Ecstasy and rave culture were emerging from underground circles and quickly becoming relatively mainstream. This transition made them visible even to those without direct experience of the phenomenon, such as people distant from consumption and usage environments. However, the information available to these individuals mostly came from the press and TV, which often provided incorrect, partial, and contradictory descriptions, with a sensationalistic and alarmist approach. As a result, public opinion was shaped by misinformation. This book aimed to shed light on the phenomenon, and despite being nearly 30 years old, it remains an extremely relevant work.
The book combines elements of essay and narrative, with an interesting stylistic choice: the language is adapted to be accessible to a wide audience without being simplistic. Technical terms, when used, are appropriate and clearly explained. The author approaches the topic comprehensively, adopting multiple perspectives. The molecule is described from a chemical standpoint, and its physical and psychological effects are illustrated through explanations of its mechanism of action and pharmacodynamics. Subsequently, the phenomenon is contextualized within society, debunking many common myths. For example, contrary to the prevalent perception at the time that labeled MDMA as the "Saturday night drug," the book demonstrates that the club/rave scene is not the sole context for its use.
Through expert testimonies, the book also explores MDMA's medical applications, discussing its potential in unconventional and sometimes surprising areas. However, it is not an endorsement of the substance: the risks associated with its use and abuse are clearly outlined, and a guide for responsible use is provided, in line with harm reduction strategies. Lastly, the book examines legal aspects, illustrating the substance's position within various legislative frameworks, with a transnational perspective.
This is a meticulous and exhaustive work that manages to synthesize a significant amount of information within 200 pages, avoiding redundancies and keeping the text concise and accessible. A truly remarkable and well-executed piece of work.
Il libro è una monografia dedicata all'MDMA, pubblicata nel 1995. All'epoca, l'Ecstasy e la rave culture stavano emergendo dagli ambienti underground, avviandosi rapidamente a diventare fenomeni relativamente mainstream. Questo passaggio li rese visibili anche a chi non aveva esperienza diretta del fenomeno, come chi era distante dagli ambienti di consumo e utilizzo. Tuttavia, le informazioni disponibili per queste persone provenivano principalmente da stampa e TV, che spesso offrivano descrizioni scorrette, parziali e contraddittorie, con un approccio scandalistico e allarmistico. Di conseguenza, l'opinione pubblica si formava su una base di disinformazione. Questo libro si proponeva di fare luce sul fenomeno e, nonostante siano trascorsi quasi 30 anni, rimane un testo estremamente valido.
L'opera combina elementi di saggio e narrazione, con una scelta stilistica interessante: il linguaggio è modulato per essere accessibile a un ampio pubblico, senza risultare semplicistico. I termini tecnici, quando usati, sono appropriati e spiegati con chiarezza. L'autore affronta l'argomento a 360 gradi, adottando prospettive diverse. Viene descritta la molecola dal punto di vista chimico, illustrati gli effetti fisici e psichici attraverso spiegazioni sul meccanismo d'azione e la farmacodinamica. Successivamente, il fenomeno viene contestualizzato nella società, smontando molti luoghi comuni. Ad esempio, contrariamente alla percezione comune dell’epoca, che definiva l'MDMA "la droga del sabato sera", il libro dimostra che il setting della scena club/rave non è l’unico contesto di utilizzo.
Attraverso testimonianze di esperti, si esplora anche l’impiego dell’MDMA in medicina, discutendo le sue potenzialità in ambiti non convenzionali e, talvolta, sorprendenti. Tuttavia, il libro non è un’apologia della sostanza: i rischi associati all’uso e all’abuso sono ben evidenziati, e viene fornito un vademecum per un utilizzo consapevole, nell’ottica della riduzione del danno. Infine, si analizzano gli aspetti legali, illustrando la posizione della sostanza nelle diverse legislazioni, con una visione transnazionale.
Si tratta di un lavoro meticoloso ed esaustivo, che riesce a sintetizzare una grande quantità di informazioni entro le 200 pagine, evitando ridondanze e mantenendo l’opera agile e accessibile. Un testo davvero notevole e ben riuscito.
***ENGLISH VERSION***
The book is a monograph dedicated to MDMA, published in 1995. At the time, Ecstasy and rave culture were emerging from underground circles and quickly becoming relatively mainstream. This transition made them visible even to those without direct experience of the phenomenon, such as people distant from consumption and usage environments. However, the information available to these individuals mostly came from the press and TV, which often provided incorrect, partial, and contradictory descriptions, with a sensationalistic and alarmist approach. As a result, public opinion was shaped by misinformation. This book aimed to shed light on the phenomenon, and despite being nearly 30 years old, it remains an extremely relevant work.
The book combines elements of essay and narrative, with an interesting stylistic choice: the language is adapted to be accessible to a wide audience without being simplistic. Technical terms, when used, are appropriate and clearly explained. The author approaches the topic comprehensively, adopting multiple perspectives. The molecule is described from a chemical standpoint, and its physical and psychological effects are illustrated through explanations of its mechanism of action and pharmacodynamics. Subsequently, the phenomenon is contextualized within society, debunking many common myths. For example, contrary to the prevalent perception at the time that labeled MDMA as the "Saturday night drug," the book demonstrates that the club/rave scene is not the sole context for its use.
Through expert testimonies, the book also explores MDMA's medical applications, discussing its potential in unconventional and sometimes surprising areas. However, it is not an endorsement of the substance: the risks associated with its use and abuse are clearly outlined, and a guide for responsible use is provided, in line with harm reduction strategies. Lastly, the book examines legal aspects, illustrating the substance's position within various legislative frameworks, with a transnational perspective.
This is a meticulous and exhaustive work that manages to synthesize a significant amount of information within 200 pages, avoiding redundancies and keeping the text concise and accessible. A truly remarkable and well-executed piece of work.
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