The Seven Sisters of Sleep Kindle Edition

This book was written in 1860 and gives a sense of what was known and not known about various mind altering substances at that time. The first half of the book is devoted to tobacco, which was quite interesting, although not exactly the most mind altering of substances. It also discusses opium and datura. Hemp is discussed at length and some mention of the red capped Amanita muscaria mushroom, which likely influenced Lewis Carrol's "Alice in Wonderland," (Perhaps not just for what is written). There are better current books discussing better natural and man made substances, and I don't think the Amanita mushroom is a good idea, but this book gives a very good account of what was happening and the attitudes about these substances at that time and is worthwhile read.

Amazingly interesting view of something that is looked at as a major social problem today