Braden, William

The Private Sea: LSD & the Search for God

Chicago, IL: Quadrangle Books, 1967. Second printing. Hardcover. “LSD is dangerous,” writes William Braden (1930-2008), “but its greatest danger may not be what we commonly suppose. There may be fear and peril in a ‘bad trip,’ but a ‘good trip’ may possess features which fundamentally challenge our religion and our God. This is the first book to make the connection between the LSD experience and some of the main currents in the New Theology—and especially in the ultra-radical Death of God theology. Together, LSD and radical theology form a powerful movement within a still larger trend….Is orthodox religion withering as new religious experiences arise? Whatever the final answer, this intriguing, fascinating book explains the conflict. The stakes are high: control of man itself” (abridged quotation from interior front flap). Braden himself is credited on the work’s interior back flap as “a reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times who was given an unusual assignment by his editors: find out who killed God. A serious student of philosophy and theology, he nevertheless did not rely on library research to write ‘The Private Sea.’ Instead, he utilized newspaper techniques—taking with key persons in the drug movement…and participating in a psychedelic experience.” “The Private Sea: LSD & the Search for God” is a book of its time, to be sure, but it asks questions that even contemporary users of psychedelic drugs still ask. There is a thus a “recurrent newness” that hangs about the work, recognizable to all new, recent, or legacy users of psychedelic drugs. Braden’s work, then is the beneficiary of this effect; and, despite dating back to the heady heyday of the psychedelic revolution, is in possession of a clear and definite utility, today. While a “Hardcover in unclipped dust-jacket: First Edition,” (albeit without reference to its status as a First Edition, nor to the existence of preceding editions or printings), the work’s previous owner overlaid a Second Issue/Second Printing dust-jacket over the First Edition/First Issue dust-jacket, as the latter jacket is more pronouncedly weathered than the second issue jacket overlaid atop it. Book in very fine condition with only slight shelf-wear, light bumping to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine. Previous owner's inscription reading "Earl Finbar Murphy March 1967" on title page. Exterior dust-jacket (the “2nd Printing” dust-jacket) in near fine condition with only moderate-to-pronounced shelf-wear, horizontal creasing-crinkling, bumping to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine; moderate-to-enunciated rubbing to same. Interior dust-jacket (the “1st Printing” dust-jacket) in good condition with pronounced-to-significant shelf-wear, bumping, creasing, crinkling & chipping to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers; gouge at/above bottommost fine-edge of front cover (see photos); moderate-to-enunciated rubbing throughout. Very Fine / Good-Near Fine. [Item #5309]

Price: $35.00