Divine Rascal: On the Trail of LSD's Cosmic Courier, Michael Hollingshead (Strange Attractor Press)

Engaging biography of one of the most enigmatic and controversial figures in the Sixties Psychedelic Revolution. Englishman Michael Hollingshead was the man who first supplied Timothy Leary with LSD, and went on to become something of a entheogenic Zelig, popping up at the center of action at such loci of Sixties madness as New York State's Millbrook estate, London's World Psychedelic Centre, California's Brotherhood of Eternal Love ranch, the Kathmandu hippie scene, and other sites of *Accelerated Consciousness Expansion*. Author Andy Roberts sifts through the many complex and contradictory stories about this character and his antics, and presents a fascinating story of a brilliant, disturbed man who was part guru and part con-artist. Recommended to anyone interested in the LSD/psychedelic world, Sixties and Seventies British and American counterculture, or biographies of eccentric cultural-influencers.

Roberts has done an incredible job of bringing to life an elusive yet influential character, perhaps even more so than Hollingshead's own autobiography. As the author notes, Hollingshead was something of a cheat and a conman, and one must take his own admissions with a grain of salt (or maybe a sugar cube). However, while not candy coating any of the subject's transgressions, Roberts' treatment leaves one with the sense that many of Hollingshead's negative traits were merely survival mechanisms learned from more than one set of difficult circumstances. At heart, one suspects, Hollingshead was a really an explorer of consciousness, clearly able to navigate aspects of the psychedelic experience which might overwhelm even a seasoned psychonaut. But, he was also a vicious survivor, and he would oftentimes go to nefarious ends to obtain whatever it was he may have desired at a given time. Thankfully, some of those desires were positive and grand in scope, benefiting more than only himself in the process.I highly recommend the book to anyone interested in the history of LSD and of psychedelics in general. I literally procrastinated finishing the book because it is so enjoyable I did not want it to end. An instant classic.

The source of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds is this album by Robin Williamson and Mike Heron. The Incredible String Band. They were at Woodstock, but weren’t in the film. The counter cultural side of LSD, seeing colors that don’t exist, perceiving the aura of objects. Gazing in your own gaze. This book is indispensable for understanding what happened at the intersection of Height and Ashbury in San Francisco, and why you had to wear flowers in your hair.

I thought I knew about LSD from personal and historic angles but this study of a truly fascinating individual really brought something new to the table. I recommend. Very well written and the research was obviously very intense.

This book is a romper stomper through the the world of the nascent psychedelic subculture. Its creates a coherent narrative around the chaotic life of one of the key, although shadowy figures of this era..Anyone one who has read Timothy Learys " High Priest" will know the significance of his meeting with Micheal Hollingshead, the enigmatic English man. This book is a perfect follow up to those who want to know more!!!! Hope you enjoy as much as I did

Who'd a thunk it! Mickey Hollingsheed was from Darlington!A clever Northeastern crafty whit, get's a bunch of Sandoz and uses it to full advantage!If you know, buy it. Immediately.

This book was incredibly well researched. I believe the author worked on it for seven years. It appears that no stone was left unturned in his quest to give us a comprehensive view of Michael Hollingshead. An extremely complex character and one who, I feel, will never be fully understood, Andy Roberts wrote about him objectively, sympathetically, but warts and all. A fascinating read that transported me back to those most amazing times when we thought we could change the world so easily.

It's a really gripping read, even if you are not particularly interested in the psychedelic scene - the events come a mile a minute, with twists and turns all the way. Very well researched.