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I HAVE AMERICA SURROUNDED PB
Timothy Leary was one of the most controversial figures of the 20th century. A brilliant Harvard psychologist, Leary was sacked because of his research into LSD & other psychedelic drugs. He went on to become the global figurehead of the 1960s drug culture, persuading millions of people to take drugs & explore alternative lifestyles.
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First published July 25, 2013
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July 10, 2025
Timothy Leary wore a lot of hats: Psychedelic Prophet, Stand Up Philosopher, Charming Rake, Rascal, and Scoundrel, International Fugitive, Political Prisoner, FBI Snitch, etc. He was a giant figure in the late 20th century, though whether he was a flash in the pan or a truly important influence in shaping our present culture is still up for debate. John Higgs poses that question this way:
”The question of the extent of Leary’s influence on modern society is a tricky one, and it does not have a short answer. There are so many different threads to follow and their reach is so diverse that you could devote a lifetime to following them. Perhaps a more interesting question to ask is what our culture would be like if there had been no Timothy Leary.”
This is far from an exhaustive biography of Leary. Its concentration is clearly on the most famous and notorious aspects of his life. His launching the psychedelic program at Harvard, and later becoming the LSD guru to the counterculture are where Higgs really starts digging into the story. But the central drama of Higgs book revolves around Leary’s arrest, trial, imprisonment, and dramatic escape from prison (with the assistance of the Weather Underground). His years as a fugitive in Algeria with Eldritch Cleaver and the Black Panthers and in Europe as a pampered ward of a notorious gunrunner continue to build the drama, and his kidnapping in Afghanistan by US agents, and subsequent crazy-ass trial back in America, build the drama to a high note. His re-imprisonment, and then working with the FBI against the counterculture bring the central drama crashing down on a sour note, before Higgs wraps up the last twenty years of his life like a footnote.
Higgs clearly liked Leary, but doesn’t give him the hero treatment. He shows the good, the bad, and the ugly of the man. At some points it felt like he retold some of Leary’s wilder and least believable stories without attaching any skepticism, but hey, they are cool stories, so why not. And he definitely records how many in the counterculture came to despise Leary after he turned snitch to avoid spending most of his life in prison, and shows that they had amble reason for it. But he gave the last word to those who still loved the man in spite of it, as put so well here in the words of Ken Kesey:
”Those who want to gnaw on his bones never knew his heart.”
And Higgs himself summed up this brilliant, quicksilver man like this:
”Timothy Leary clearly was a nut, at least in how the phrase is commonly understood. He did, after all, tell a courtroom that he was from the future. He described shooting a policeman as a holy act, and he declared that a comet would free him from jail. He was a megalomaniac, a bad father, and a shameless publicity seeker. And his attempts to make psychedelic use a permanent part of mainstream life were a failure. But this is not a good reason to dismiss him. Society needs nuts, for it is they that push back the boundaries of what is possible by imagining scenarios that normal people could never conceive of themselves.”
”The question of the extent of Leary’s influence on modern society is a tricky one, and it does not have a short answer. There are so many different threads to follow and their reach is so diverse that you could devote a lifetime to following them. Perhaps a more interesting question to ask is what our culture would be like if there had been no Timothy Leary.”
This is far from an exhaustive biography of Leary. Its concentration is clearly on the most famous and notorious aspects of his life. His launching the psychedelic program at Harvard, and later becoming the LSD guru to the counterculture are where Higgs really starts digging into the story. But the central drama of Higgs book revolves around Leary’s arrest, trial, imprisonment, and dramatic escape from prison (with the assistance of the Weather Underground). His years as a fugitive in Algeria with Eldritch Cleaver and the Black Panthers and in Europe as a pampered ward of a notorious gunrunner continue to build the drama, and his kidnapping in Afghanistan by US agents, and subsequent crazy-ass trial back in America, build the drama to a high note. His re-imprisonment, and then working with the FBI against the counterculture bring the central drama crashing down on a sour note, before Higgs wraps up the last twenty years of his life like a footnote.
Higgs clearly liked Leary, but doesn’t give him the hero treatment. He shows the good, the bad, and the ugly of the man. At some points it felt like he retold some of Leary’s wilder and least believable stories without attaching any skepticism, but hey, they are cool stories, so why not. And he definitely records how many in the counterculture came to despise Leary after he turned snitch to avoid spending most of his life in prison, and shows that they had amble reason for it. But he gave the last word to those who still loved the man in spite of it, as put so well here in the words of Ken Kesey:
”Those who want to gnaw on his bones never knew his heart.”
And Higgs himself summed up this brilliant, quicksilver man like this:
”Timothy Leary clearly was a nut, at least in how the phrase is commonly understood. He did, after all, tell a courtroom that he was from the future. He described shooting a policeman as a holy act, and he declared that a comet would free him from jail. He was a megalomaniac, a bad father, and a shameless publicity seeker. And his attempts to make psychedelic use a permanent part of mainstream life were a failure. But this is not a good reason to dismiss him. Society needs nuts, for it is they that push back the boundaries of what is possible by imagining scenarios that normal people could never conceive of themselves.”
July 28, 2011
I was absorbed in the stories about Leary and loved the "voice" of the author, as non-sensational and letting the facts speak for themselves. Leary's development as an influential and ground-breaking psychologist is well presented, and fleshed out the bits and pieces I had previously known from psychology study. The telling of Leary's personal life is astonishing, revealing, and fascinating to me. The media coverage at the time of Leary at Stonybrook dwelled on the counterculture rebellion. Higgs presents that, and other eras, with a more even hand. I laughed with the stories, and sometimes teared up. This is one of the few books that I might read again.
February 8, 2011
I saw this book at the Half Priced Book store and, well, I was intrigued. I've heard about this man and his famous quote, "tune in, turn on and drop out."
I perceived Tim through the filter of pop cultures and stoned hippies. It turns out it was a far more interesting read. All the other individuals that were present in that time, music, political personalities, that he knew back then who have made influences on how we perceive American culture today.
It was well written, funny and fact filled. I enjoyed it!
"A fascinating book about an extraordinary subject" - The Beat
I perceived Tim through the filter of pop cultures and stoned hippies. It turns out it was a far more interesting read. All the other individuals that were present in that time, music, political personalities, that he knew back then who have made influences on how we perceive American culture today.
It was well written, funny and fact filled. I enjoyed it!
"A fascinating book about an extraordinary subject" - The Beat
January 11, 2016
Bardzo ucieszyłem się, gdy zobaczyłem zapowiedź tej książki, wydanej jako część niezwykle ciekawej serii łódzkiego wydawnictwa Officyna. Oto po raz pierwszy w naszym kraju pojawia się pozycja przedstawiająca w wyczerpujący sposób życiorys jednej z najważniejszych, jeśli nie najważniejszej postaci kontrkultury czasów, gdy była ona niezwykle prężna i płodna kulturowo. Jednocześnie radości tej towarzyszyła obawa, że książka ta może powielać dość jednoznacznie pozytywny wizerunek Timothy'ego Leary'ego, pokutujący w naszym kraju za sprawą szeregu dość jednostronnie pozytywnych publikacji wzmiankujących znaczenie tej postaci.
Na szczęście moje obawy nie potwierdziły się i mamy tu do czynienia z rzetelną, w dodatku napisaną z niezwykłą swadą i skrzącą się ironicznym dowcipem publikacją zawodowego dziennikarza. John Higgs jest wyjątkowo dociekliwy i ku mojemu zaskoczeniu bardzo krytyczny wobec opisywanej przez siebie postaci. "Osaczyłem Amerykę" nie tylko nie jest naiwną hagiografią "Papieża hipisów", a wręcz odbrązawia go.
Kolejnym atutem tej biografii jest to, że do lektury może zasiąść osoba zupełnie nieobeznana z historią amerykańskiej kontrkultury lat 60. i 70., a po jej ukończeniu mieć jej całkiem przyzwoitą mapę. Z drugiej strony osoby, które znają już tę postać, jak i formację kulturową za nim odnajdą w lekturze bardzo dużo inspiracji, nawet jeśli wydawało im się, że znają historię rewolucji psychodelicznej od podszewki.
No i wreszcie jeszcze jedno spostrzeżenie co do charakterystycznego rysu tej książki. Higgs nie tyle skupia się na samej postaci Leary'ego, co na osobach i grupach osób, miejscach, wydarzeniach i ideach związanych z Learym. A że była to postać dla wielu przemian kulturowych przełomu lat 60. i 70. kluczowa, dostajemy tym samym ich bardzo udaną kronikę.
Na szczęście moje obawy nie potwierdziły się i mamy tu do czynienia z rzetelną, w dodatku napisaną z niezwykłą swadą i skrzącą się ironicznym dowcipem publikacją zawodowego dziennikarza. John Higgs jest wyjątkowo dociekliwy i ku mojemu zaskoczeniu bardzo krytyczny wobec opisywanej przez siebie postaci. "Osaczyłem Amerykę" nie tylko nie jest naiwną hagiografią "Papieża hipisów", a wręcz odbrązawia go.
Kolejnym atutem tej biografii jest to, że do lektury może zasiąść osoba zupełnie nieobeznana z historią amerykańskiej kontrkultury lat 60. i 70., a po jej ukończeniu mieć jej całkiem przyzwoitą mapę. Z drugiej strony osoby, które znają już tę postać, jak i formację kulturową za nim odnajdą w lekturze bardzo dużo inspiracji, nawet jeśli wydawało im się, że znają historię rewolucji psychodelicznej od podszewki.
No i wreszcie jeszcze jedno spostrzeżenie co do charakterystycznego rysu tej książki. Higgs nie tyle skupia się na samej postaci Leary'ego, co na osobach i grupach osób, miejscach, wydarzeniach i ideach związanych z Learym. A że była to postać dla wielu przemian kulturowych przełomu lat 60. i 70. kluczowa, dostajemy tym samym ich bardzo udaną kronikę.
June 7, 2022
This book gives a history of Tim Leary, mainly focusing on the period between 1967 to 1974. It delves into some of his theories and psychological conjectures and explains his thought processes as best possible. This made the book interesting and thought provoking.
Furthermore, the book relates the reader to the structure and evolution of America at that time. The wonderfully thorough and unbiased research on Leary's influence on politics, cultural movements, the gender gap, and his relationships with other prominent people in American history made me realize how big of an influence he had on the modern state of our
country.
I'm not saying this book is for everyone. At times I wondered if the points made would have any meaning for someone who had never tried LSD, or had only tried it once. I was a bit disappointed that so much of the book was like that and wished there was more description of his work with computers. One thing I really liked about the book is it explained everything - I was never left wondering why something happened or how a thought came about.
I would recommend this book if you are looking for some interesting history on LSD and America.
Furthermore, the book relates the reader to the structure and evolution of America at that time. The wonderfully thorough and unbiased research on Leary's influence on politics, cultural movements, the gender gap, and his relationships with other prominent people in American history made me realize how big of an influence he had on the modern state of our
country.
I'm not saying this book is for everyone. At times I wondered if the points made would have any meaning for someone who had never tried LSD, or had only tried it once. I was a bit disappointed that so much of the book was like that and wished there was more description of his work with computers. One thing I really liked about the book is it explained everything - I was never left wondering why something happened or how a thought came about.
I would recommend this book if you are looking for some interesting history on LSD and America.
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January 5, 2024My favourite way of learning about something is through a book by John higgs
September 3, 2018
Timothy Leary is an acid guru. It was him who truly brought LSD to the masses in the psychedelic 1960s as he turned from Harvard professor and dropped out of society to promote the new wave of LSD hippy counterculture. He became public enemy number 1 and was jailed but launched a daring escape and went into exile. He flirted with the Black Panther movement and in exile counted on the support of the masses to lead a crazed party existence, fuelled by drugs. He had a string of lovers and several children. He was an extreme character and a very influential man. His personality was highly intellectual yet fun. He brought out the best in people. This biography delves into Leary's life and examines his close relationships that form the blazing trail of real life fiction as he leads one of the most bizarre lives possible. The book flows and it inspires the imagination as to what it must have been like to form part of this amazing guru's life.
April 20, 2015
Fast-paced biog, and lots of interesting stuff (never knew the Black Panthers had an embassy in Algeria, for example). But I didn't get a very deep impression of what Leary might actually have been like, and crucially, the effect of psychedelics, so central to the book and to Leary, isn't very clearly explained. I mean, that's notoriously difficult to do, but quote some Huxley or something.
January 4, 2020
The old maxim Truth is stranger than fiction applies more here than almost anywhere I can think of. I knew a large part of the middle (1960s) section of this story already but this filled in a lot more weird bizarre and intriguing detail before and after. Like Higg’s great KLF book, this is a hell of a ride. Fascinating. And you really couldn’t make it up!
May 26, 2024
A wild ride through the life of a wild man. The opening story would be a strong start to any book but the pace barely let's up. Very enjoyable from start to finish .
February 13, 2020
What a man. What a book. What an ending.
October 14, 2021
A fairly by the numbers biography. Doesn’t have the same scope as KLF, but might be enjoyable if you’re looking for info on Leary’s life.
November 25, 2017
i bought this, primarily, as i enjoy john higgs' writing, but also with the intention of becoming informed regarding the life of timothy leary, although i had no particular admiration for the man. still don't really, as (to me) the book makes clear what a self-serving glory hunter he was - how dismissive of people he was, and borderline cruel to those closest to him. looks like hunter s. thompson was spot on with his assessment of the man! maybe this was how he had to behave in order to pursue his goals! worthy or not, i don't know how relevant his work and research into mind expanding substances is now, and maybe his legacy is as celebrity academic?
whatever my impression of leary has become, this is exceptionally well written, researched and balanced biography by an author that could write entertainingly about the hardening of faecal matter and make it interesting and valid! contains all we need to know, and set out in a neutral narrative that allows the reader to form opinion and learn. what more? i have thoroughly enjoyed this, 'k.l.f.....' and 'stranger than we can imagine....', now looking forward to a 'trip' down 'watling street'!
whatever my impression of leary has become, this is exceptionally well written, researched and balanced biography by an author that could write entertainingly about the hardening of faecal matter and make it interesting and valid! contains all we need to know, and set out in a neutral narrative that allows the reader to form opinion and learn. what more? i have thoroughly enjoyed this, 'k.l.f.....' and 'stranger than we can imagine....', now looking forward to a 'trip' down 'watling street'!
March 20, 2019
A fascinating read. The pacing of the book was good - I particularly liked that side information was introduced just before it was required and was kept to a minimum but was still packed with detail. e.g. details regarding the Black Panthers, Ram Dass, Ash Ra Tempel etc.
I also liked the way the author tries to let the facts speak for themselves. There was plenty negatives said about Leary, but also plenty of positives too. Speaking of the positives, some of his theories are really interesting such as his Seven Levels of Consciousness.
Leary's life was a life lived. Mostly once I read a biography or autobiography it's unlikely that I'd read it again as there usually isn't that much to get out of them on a second read, but this is one I'll likely read again.
I'll also be looking out for more books by Higgs - based on this book alone I think he has a very nice way of writing.
I also liked the way the author tries to let the facts speak for themselves. There was plenty negatives said about Leary, but also plenty of positives too. Speaking of the positives, some of his theories are really interesting such as his Seven Levels of Consciousness.
Leary's life was a life lived. Mostly once I read a biography or autobiography it's unlikely that I'd read it again as there usually isn't that much to get out of them on a second read, but this is one I'll likely read again.
I'll also be looking out for more books by Higgs - based on this book alone I think he has a very nice way of writing.
January 3, 2025
I have not been so enthralled by a person’s life story since I read about Richard Burton. This has to have been chaos to research and collect an objective viewpoint of actual facts, so I appreciate this book being presented in an interesting and informative way accessible to the layman. It could have gotten off track or gone too deep into philosophies really easily. But those are kept precise and relevant, as is any historical and character background information included.
February 14, 2008
Much better than Greenfields book.
January 7, 2024
I Have America Surrounded: A Biography of Timothy Leary by John Higgs is an intriguing and thought-provoking book that delves into the life and times of the controversial figure Timothy Leary. The book offers a comprehensive and engaging account of Leary's life, from his early years to his later years, and provides readers with a deep understanding of his thoughts, ideas, and actions.
One of the strengths of the book is its ability to humanize Leary, presenting him as a complex and multifaceted individual rather than a one-dimensional figure. The author does an excellent job of exploring Leary's motivations, struggles, and personal demons, providing readers with a nuanced understanding of his personality and behavior. For example, the book delves into Leary's early years, exploring his relationship with his parents and how it shaped his worldview. It also examines his time in prison and how it influenced his political and social views.
The book also sheds light on Leary's impact on American culture and society during the tumultuous 1960s. It offers a fascinating account of how Leary's ideas and actions influenced the counterculture movement and how he became a symbol of rebellion and nonconformity. For instance, the book explores Leary's advocacy for the use of LSD, which he believed could be a tool for spiritual exploration and personal growth. The author also highlights Leary's role in shaping the public's perception of drugs and drug use, particularly with regards to LSD. For example, the book examines Leary's famous catchphrase, "Turn on, tune in, drop out," and how it became a rallying cry for the counterculture movement.
One of the most compelling aspects of the book is its examination of Leary's relationship with other prominent figures of the time, including Allen Ginsberg, Aldous Huxley, and Richard Nixon. The author provides insightful accounts of these interactions, offering readers a glimpse into the dynamic relationships between these influential individuals. For instance, the book explores Leary's friendship with Ginsberg and how they bonded over their shared interests in spirituality and poetry. It also examines Leary's controversial meeting with Nixon, which highlighted the stark contrast between the two figures and their respective views on drugs and society.
The book is well-researched, with numerous references and citations that add credibility to the narrative. The author also includes personal anecdotes and interviews with people who knew Leary, providing additional depth and context to the story. For example, the book includes interviews with Leary's friends and family members, offering a more personal and intimate look at his life.
However, some readers may find the book's pacing uneven at times, with some sections feeling slower than others. Additionally, some may disagree with the author's interpretation of Leary's actions or motivations, but this is a minor criticism.
In conclusion, I Have America Surrounded: A Biography of Timothy Leary by John Higgs is a captivating and informative book that offers a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of Timothy Leary and his impact on American culture. It is a must-read for anyone interested in American history, counterculture, and the life and times of this controversial figure.
One of the strengths of the book is its ability to humanize Leary, presenting him as a complex and multifaceted individual rather than a one-dimensional figure. The author does an excellent job of exploring Leary's motivations, struggles, and personal demons, providing readers with a nuanced understanding of his personality and behavior. For example, the book delves into Leary's early years, exploring his relationship with his parents and how it shaped his worldview. It also examines his time in prison and how it influenced his political and social views.
The book also sheds light on Leary's impact on American culture and society during the tumultuous 1960s. It offers a fascinating account of how Leary's ideas and actions influenced the counterculture movement and how he became a symbol of rebellion and nonconformity. For instance, the book explores Leary's advocacy for the use of LSD, which he believed could be a tool for spiritual exploration and personal growth. The author also highlights Leary's role in shaping the public's perception of drugs and drug use, particularly with regards to LSD. For example, the book examines Leary's famous catchphrase, "Turn on, tune in, drop out," and how it became a rallying cry for the counterculture movement.
One of the most compelling aspects of the book is its examination of Leary's relationship with other prominent figures of the time, including Allen Ginsberg, Aldous Huxley, and Richard Nixon. The author provides insightful accounts of these interactions, offering readers a glimpse into the dynamic relationships between these influential individuals. For instance, the book explores Leary's friendship with Ginsberg and how they bonded over their shared interests in spirituality and poetry. It also examines Leary's controversial meeting with Nixon, which highlighted the stark contrast between the two figures and their respective views on drugs and society.
The book is well-researched, with numerous references and citations that add credibility to the narrative. The author also includes personal anecdotes and interviews with people who knew Leary, providing additional depth and context to the story. For example, the book includes interviews with Leary's friends and family members, offering a more personal and intimate look at his life.
However, some readers may find the book's pacing uneven at times, with some sections feeling slower than others. Additionally, some may disagree with the author's interpretation of Leary's actions or motivations, but this is a minor criticism.
In conclusion, I Have America Surrounded: A Biography of Timothy Leary by John Higgs is a captivating and informative book that offers a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of Timothy Leary and his impact on American culture. It is a must-read for anyone interested in American history, counterculture, and the life and times of this controversial figure.
November 11, 2020
Because I have a rather strong personal interest in psychology and psychedelics I have come across the character of Timothy Leary numerous times in different books and films about the subjects. My main points of contact have been "The Harvard Psychedelic Club" by Don Lattin and "Outside Looking In" by T.C. Boyle. In both of these works he plays an important role but is only one of the protagonists and it is hard to get a better understanding for the certainly intriguing character that is Timothy Leary.
I was curious if this biography of Timothy Leary could provide a little glimpse into the person behind the public image of T.L. and also shine light onto some of his contributions to the world of science, understanding of the mind and philosophy. While I think the book does a great job of providing an thrilling account of the life of T.L. it falls a bit short on conveying the contents and implications of his work. But that is admittedly an extremely hard challenge for a biography.
The biography part reads very easy and covers a lot of ground of the excessive life ot T.L. I got to experience a lot of the stories and key characters I had already known about from yet another perspective, filling in some gaps and contextualizing important events. In the end I felt like there was at least the tiniest bit of a understanding for the person behind the image, even though this is a very far stretch for a person so far from my frame of reference.
While the life story of T.L. alone is worth multiple books and often reads more like a fictional story then something that could possibly have happened, coverage of the actual work of T.L. was a bit of a disappointment for me. At least in parts of his career he (seems to have) contributed majorly to the advancement of the field of consciousness science and was a controversial but respected member of the scientific community. The book does not go further into these contributions then mentioning a few high level sentences about key ideas. So to actually 'get' Timothy Leary it will be necessary to dive into some of his actual work and try to develop an understanding for the context and relevance of this work (maybe guided by the references in this biography)
Nevertheless I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anybody interested in larger-than-life biographies, the emerging of the counterculture of the 60s/70s and psychedelic substances
I was curious if this biography of Timothy Leary could provide a little glimpse into the person behind the public image of T.L. and also shine light onto some of his contributions to the world of science, understanding of the mind and philosophy. While I think the book does a great job of providing an thrilling account of the life of T.L. it falls a bit short on conveying the contents and implications of his work. But that is admittedly an extremely hard challenge for a biography.
The biography part reads very easy and covers a lot of ground of the excessive life ot T.L. I got to experience a lot of the stories and key characters I had already known about from yet another perspective, filling in some gaps and contextualizing important events. In the end I felt like there was at least the tiniest bit of a understanding for the person behind the image, even though this is a very far stretch for a person so far from my frame of reference.
While the life story of T.L. alone is worth multiple books and often reads more like a fictional story then something that could possibly have happened, coverage of the actual work of T.L. was a bit of a disappointment for me. At least in parts of his career he (seems to have) contributed majorly to the advancement of the field of consciousness science and was a controversial but respected member of the scientific community. The book does not go further into these contributions then mentioning a few high level sentences about key ideas. So to actually 'get' Timothy Leary it will be necessary to dive into some of his actual work and try to develop an understanding for the context and relevance of this work (maybe guided by the references in this biography)
Nevertheless I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anybody interested in larger-than-life biographies, the emerging of the counterculture of the 60s/70s and psychedelic substances
February 2, 2025
Anybody familiar with the work of John Higgs from the kaleidoscopic chaos of his book on The KLF might expect his biography of Timothy Leary - that pied piper of 1960s psychedelia - to be similarly manic. But “I Have America Surrounded” is a surprisingly straightforward treatment (by Higgs’s standards, at least) of a freewheeling figure who could legitimately claim to have done more than any other person to have popularised the use of psychedelic drugs (without the influence of which, much of the popular culture of the last six decades would be unrecognisable).
In “I Have America Surrounded”, Higgs largely leaves the flights of fancy to the Harvard professor-turned-LSD Guru Timothy Leary, depicting him as a Zelig-like presence at every significant countercultural event in America during the 1960s and early 1970s. Higgs does his subject the service of taking his ideas seriously, tracing how Leary’s concepts of freedom-via-Acid were rooted in eastern mysticism and radical psychology rather than mere mindless hedonism (although in the case of Leary – the old goat – there’s copious amounts of the latter as well).
Less the Socrates or Kant-style philosophical giant that Leary perceived himself to be, Higgs locates him in a long line of great American hucksters; part-shaman, but also a showman bordering on a charlatan. This is a largely sympathetic treatment of Timothy Leary. Even as Higgs describes Leary as “a nut”, he counters that “society needs nuts”, and he is also fair-minded when writing about Leary’s ‘collaboration’ with the FBI.
“I Have America Surrounded” is a 3.5-level book that I have rounded up largely because of its superlative chapter titles (my personal favourites being ‘Naked Apart from a Pair of White Gloves and a Shotgun’ and ‘Jesus Christ, do I have to fuck every girl who comes to this place?’).
In “I Have America Surrounded”, Higgs largely leaves the flights of fancy to the Harvard professor-turned-LSD Guru Timothy Leary, depicting him as a Zelig-like presence at every significant countercultural event in America during the 1960s and early 1970s. Higgs does his subject the service of taking his ideas seriously, tracing how Leary’s concepts of freedom-via-Acid were rooted in eastern mysticism and radical psychology rather than mere mindless hedonism (although in the case of Leary – the old goat – there’s copious amounts of the latter as well).
Less the Socrates or Kant-style philosophical giant that Leary perceived himself to be, Higgs locates him in a long line of great American hucksters; part-shaman, but also a showman bordering on a charlatan. This is a largely sympathetic treatment of Timothy Leary. Even as Higgs describes Leary as “a nut”, he counters that “society needs nuts”, and he is also fair-minded when writing about Leary’s ‘collaboration’ with the FBI.
“I Have America Surrounded” is a 3.5-level book that I have rounded up largely because of its superlative chapter titles (my personal favourites being ‘Naked Apart from a Pair of White Gloves and a Shotgun’ and ‘Jesus Christ, do I have to fuck every girl who comes to this place?’).
April 27, 2022
Bad trip.
I’ve always been vaguely aware of Timothy Leary through my years of Beatles, Stones, and Dylan obsession but was interested to see just why he was held in such esteem. Despite being a mediocre academic, Leary seemed to be gifted for being in the right place at the right time and led a life worthy of a biography. The events of his life are fascinating to the point of being unbelievable.
But that was not enough to elevate this spectacularly bad biography. The tone was fawning and blinkered. Higgs never failing to make illogical connections and conclusions to justify every aspect of Leary’s clearly conceited personality. Overall, Leary’s Wikipedia is more reliable, at least it is more strictly edited.
Of course, it wouldn’t be possible to write about Leary without unpacking the psychedelic mysticism that he championed, but Higgs lengthy proselytizations are a bridge too far. The chapter and a half spent attempting to explain Leary’s “seven levels” was both pure torture and completely unnecessary for a historic biography. It felt like being stuck next to someone on ecstasy at a party as they dribble on about vibes and cosmic connections.
The nail in the coffin is that this was straight up poorly written. Full of hackneyed expressions and predictable turns of phrase. Even the footnoting was inconsistent. Perhaps even Higgs’ editor has sipped the spiked punch.
Or perhaps Leary’s disciples are right: us squares just don’t get it.
Tune in, turn on, and read something else.
I’ve always been vaguely aware of Timothy Leary through my years of Beatles, Stones, and Dylan obsession but was interested to see just why he was held in such esteem. Despite being a mediocre academic, Leary seemed to be gifted for being in the right place at the right time and led a life worthy of a biography. The events of his life are fascinating to the point of being unbelievable.
But that was not enough to elevate this spectacularly bad biography. The tone was fawning and blinkered. Higgs never failing to make illogical connections and conclusions to justify every aspect of Leary’s clearly conceited personality. Overall, Leary’s Wikipedia is more reliable, at least it is more strictly edited.
Of course, it wouldn’t be possible to write about Leary without unpacking the psychedelic mysticism that he championed, but Higgs lengthy proselytizations are a bridge too far. The chapter and a half spent attempting to explain Leary’s “seven levels” was both pure torture and completely unnecessary for a historic biography. It felt like being stuck next to someone on ecstasy at a party as they dribble on about vibes and cosmic connections.
The nail in the coffin is that this was straight up poorly written. Full of hackneyed expressions and predictable turns of phrase. Even the footnoting was inconsistent. Perhaps even Higgs’ editor has sipped the spiked punch.
Or perhaps Leary’s disciples are right: us squares just don’t get it.
Tune in, turn on, and read something else.
March 9, 2023
A delightfully deviant adventure story told with sympathy and insight.
One can’t understand the American 60’s without Timothy Leary, the “High Priest,” and I would trust none better than John Higgs—who resurrected William Blake for me—to tell the story. Leary was many things: an accomplished Harvard psychology academic, a prophet who inspired millions to try LSD and “go out of their minds,” a bad father, womanizer, narcissist, shameless publicity seeker, and figurehead of a failed movement for mainstreaming psychedelic use. He was also sexy, witty, awakened, adored, and a prolific evangelist who guided untold masses of psychonauts towards enlightenment. He was an enthusiastic, humorous mad scientist to his god-daughter Winona Ryder. He was a hero who sacrificed for his ideals, at least in his own reality tunnel. The song of his 60’s “script” still rings clearly to us sixty years later as psychedelic research begins anew. This book is a timely, deliciously detailed, and well-balanced account of Leary’s life, complete with wisdom, orgies, jailbreaks, scandal, humiliation, and the immortal smile of a stubbornly happy man. Every modern hippy should be familiar with Leary’s message and where he went wrong. Higgs beautifully illustrates both.
“From that day I have never lost the sense that I am an actor, surrounded by characters, props, and sets for the comic drama being written in my brain.” - Timothy Leary, after his first trip on LSD
“Take control of your own brain and choose your own reality.”
“The only way out is in.”
One can’t understand the American 60’s without Timothy Leary, the “High Priest,” and I would trust none better than John Higgs—who resurrected William Blake for me—to tell the story. Leary was many things: an accomplished Harvard psychology academic, a prophet who inspired millions to try LSD and “go out of their minds,” a bad father, womanizer, narcissist, shameless publicity seeker, and figurehead of a failed movement for mainstreaming psychedelic use. He was also sexy, witty, awakened, adored, and a prolific evangelist who guided untold masses of psychonauts towards enlightenment. He was an enthusiastic, humorous mad scientist to his god-daughter Winona Ryder. He was a hero who sacrificed for his ideals, at least in his own reality tunnel. The song of his 60’s “script” still rings clearly to us sixty years later as psychedelic research begins anew. This book is a timely, deliciously detailed, and well-balanced account of Leary’s life, complete with wisdom, orgies, jailbreaks, scandal, humiliation, and the immortal smile of a stubbornly happy man. Every modern hippy should be familiar with Leary’s message and where he went wrong. Higgs beautifully illustrates both.
“From that day I have never lost the sense that I am an actor, surrounded by characters, props, and sets for the comic drama being written in my brain.” - Timothy Leary, after his first trip on LSD
“Take control of your own brain and choose your own reality.”
“The only way out is in.”
January 5, 2020
I heard about this book in the podcast that Ezra Klein did with the author, John Higgs. In the interview, they talk about The KLF, Alan Moore, metamodernism, discordianism, the history of the 20th century and, of course, Timothy Leary.
The book is great and weird and, as you read it, it only gets weirder (in this sense it reminded me of the very different, but also recommended, Bad Blood). Having such a controversial person as its subject, it's hard to give a more or less complete picture of his life. I think the author manages to do it in a very balanced way: on one hand, it's clear he admires the genius of Leary and recognizes his influence; on the other hand, it doesn't skip the ugly parts: how he was a terrible father and a manipulative partner.
Random quote I highlighted:
The book is great and weird and, as you read it, it only gets weirder (in this sense it reminded me of the very different, but also recommended, Bad Blood). Having such a controversial person as its subject, it's hard to give a more or less complete picture of his life. I think the author manages to do it in a very balanced way: on one hand, it's clear he admires the genius of Leary and recognizes his influence; on the other hand, it doesn't skip the ugly parts: how he was a terrible father and a manipulative partner.
Random quote I highlighted:
Tim's notes about the event are somewhat vague. "Tuesday," he wrote in his diary, "orgy."
August 13, 2025
Interesting at times, excruciating at others (name dropping of counterculture nobodies), this biography of Timothy Leary starts with his jailbreak from a San Obispo prison, and it is quite a harrowing depiction. His rise to fame is quite fascinating, but the 70s and beyond are marred with tales of some of the worst of the Left's residue from the 1960s. The rapist and activist Eldridge Cleaver, the Weather Underground etc. And Leary's dark legacy, sending unknowing kids to LSD related deaths.
Best adjective to describe Leary comes late in the book, "megalomaniac" is just perfect. Always seeking the spotlight, with delusions of greatness. The author uses the Left's favourite bogeymen Hoover, Reagan and Nixon to contrast him with, but it's a worn out narrative. Leary comparing LSD to the personal computer was bang on, he sort of predicted smartphones. The mind numbing addiction to them may not be what he had in mind, since he was no fan of "addictive" drugs.
Best adjective to describe Leary comes late in the book, "megalomaniac" is just perfect. Always seeking the spotlight, with delusions of greatness. The author uses the Left's favourite bogeymen Hoover, Reagan and Nixon to contrast him with, but it's a worn out narrative. Leary comparing LSD to the personal computer was bang on, he sort of predicted smartphones. The mind numbing addiction to them may not be what he had in mind, since he was no fan of "addictive" drugs.
February 18, 2021
This was certainly interesting to read. Although I have never had much interest in LSD or Timothy Leary - someone bought this book for me when I was about 17 and at the time I was really into The Beatles - particularly the post LSD records. It’s nice to think that after all these years it’s finally been read.
The story was fascinating and I learned a lot more about the influence LSD has had (more than I thought) - I kind of thought Leary himself was a bit of a cunt? I was expecting to be amazed by him after the Winona Ryder forward but nah. The whole thing about him brainwashing his wife so that she would worship him has not aged well at all. I felt a lot of sympathy for his family.
The story was fascinating and I learned a lot more about the influence LSD has had (more than I thought) - I kind of thought Leary himself was a bit of a cunt? I was expecting to be amazed by him after the Winona Ryder forward but nah. The whole thing about him brainwashing his wife so that she would worship him has not aged well at all. I felt a lot of sympathy for his family.
November 12, 2024
As always an excellent book by John Higgs. I hesitated over 5 stars because it’s not my favourite of his, and throwing stars around like they’re entropying out of existence would devalue them.
Very balanced view of a complicated person. I think the tragedy of the hippy generation may be that it was them that discovered LSD. Their self entitled individualism may have wasted its power and they could not be trusted with the freedom it offered. I came away wondering if any power to the people revolutionary movements can succeed, since people are the problem. We are all fallible so we ruin everything.
Very balanced view of a complicated person. I think the tragedy of the hippy generation may be that it was them that discovered LSD. Their self entitled individualism may have wasted its power and they could not be trusted with the freedom it offered. I came away wondering if any power to the people revolutionary movements can succeed, since people are the problem. We are all fallible so we ruin everything.
June 11, 2020
This book contained a lot of interesting information, but had at least two misleading statements and six typographical errors.
Also, while I appreciate that all biographers have an understandable bias towards their subjects, I like that bias to be a little less obvious.
I would have appreciated this book at lot more if it had either been a straight report of the facts (as far as they can be discerned) or an all-out psychedelic love letter rather than the uncanny valley between the two that it seems to inhabit.
Also, while I appreciate that all biographers have an understandable bias towards their subjects, I like that bias to be a little less obvious.
I would have appreciated this book at lot more if it had either been a straight report of the facts (as far as they can be discerned) or an all-out psychedelic love letter rather than the uncanny valley between the two that it seems to inhabit.
February 26, 2023
I learned quite a bit about Mr. Leary with the section comparing him to Charles Manson being the most interesting. He was complex certainly, an egomaniac with a benevolent bent, who caused immense amounts of destruction to those closest to him and ultimately succumbed to his own set and setting. There is more than a trace of irony for a man who came up with the idea of reality tunnels being so completely blinded by his own.
July 22, 2024
Timothy Leary has to be one of the most interesting people to ever live. Love or loathe psychedelia, this man had a defining impact on music, art and philosophy, 'turning on' some of the greatest thinkers of the late 20th century. I knew the broad outlines of his Harvard career, but his life subsequently on the run and his final years were completely new. That a man could be so inspiring and so awful simultaneously speaks to the influence of power and LSD.
August 10, 2018
Interesting, inquiring biography. Neither hagiographic nor unnecessarily cynical, it presents an informed and opinionated summary of Leary without forcing the reader to embrace the author’s point of view. A bit longer than it needed to be; nonetheless, captures the significance of Leary in the emergence of the 1960s counterculture movement quite well.
May 9, 2019
I loved Higgs' KLF and Stranger than we can Imagine so I bought this even though Leary did not really interest me. The book is great. More about society than this one crispy.
Higgs gives the impression that almost everyone around Leary was odder than he was. Particularly those on the right side of the law.
Higgs gives the impression that almost everyone around Leary was odder than he was. Particularly those on the right side of the law.
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