The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Substances
Worth buying if: You enjoy reference books that let you follow an interest from one substance to the next.
Skip it if: You’re looking for a personal memoir, narrative history, or novelistic treatment of drugs.
Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9780312263171. The Amazon link uses this ISBN, so the product page should open to the edition shown here.
If this page helped you decide, purchasing through the Amazon button above supports UPB Books at no extra cost to you and helps us continue improving the site. Thanks for visiting today.
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some outbound links are paid links, at no additional cost to you.
Summary
Richard Rudgley’s encyclopedia gathers information on psychoactive substances in a 320-page general-interest reference. It’s a book to consult selectively or read in sections rather than straight through.
Why this book now
Most useful when you want something you can consult, sample, and return to instead of reading straight through once.
30-second preview
Two quick cards, fifteen seconds each.
Card 1 of 2
Best for readers who...
Good fit if you want...
- You enjoy reference books that let you follow an interest from one substance to the next.
- You want a broad, non-specialist introduction to the subject in a manageable volume.
- You’re looking for a personal memoir, narrative history, or novelistic treatment of drugs.
- You prefer tightly focused analysis of one substance or a single period.
- You need the newest edition, freshest examples, or the most current framing.
Decided it fits?
Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9780312263171
Worth buying if: You enjoy reference books that let you follow an interest from one substance to the next.
Skip it if: You’re looking for a personal memoir, narrative history, or novelistic treatment of drugs.
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.
Reader guide
Cues to help you decide faster.
Reading commitment
Light Short sit-downs
At 320 pages, it’s substantial but well suited to short sessions, selective reading, and keeping nearby for consultation.
What stands out here
This book is meant to be used more than once, either for practice or to look up an answer.
Best way to approach it
Treat it as a browseable reference: start with the entries that catch your attention, then read outward rather than forcing a cover-to-cover pass.
Was this page helpful?
Quick thumbs only. No login.
Loading feedback…
Exact edition: ISBN-13 9780312263171
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.