A psychedelic guru, a magical toad and the dark side of the modern quest for transcendence.
‘Entirely mesmerising . . . The Ego Trip is itself a trip’ PATRICK RADDEN KEEFE
‘A one-of-a-kind book. I loved it’ WILLIAM FINNEGAN
‘Strange and wonderful’ SUSAN ORLEAN
In 2012, physician Octavio Rettig claimed he had revived a forgotten indigenous ritual: smoking the secretions of the Sonoran Desert toad, which releases a potent psychedelic substance known as ‘the God molecule’. The experience promised ego death, communion with the divine and extraordinary relief for those suffering from PTSD, depression and drug addiction. As word spread, Octavio became the face of a global psychedelic movement, drawing seekers from around the world.
Yet as his fame grew, so did troubling reports of extreme dosing, abusive behaviour and a disturbing cult-like following. what began as a spiritual revival evolved into something far more dangerous.
In this gripping and deeply reported book, Kimon de Greef explores the promise and the peril of ‘toad medicine’. Part true crime, part cult story, part investigative journalism, The Ego Trip chronicles the rise and fall of a self-made messianic figure while probing our relentless search for cosmic understanding.
‘Entirely mesmerising . . . The Ego Trip is itself a trip’ PATRICK RADDEN KEEFE
‘A one-of-a-kind book. I loved it’ WILLIAM FINNEGAN
‘Strange and wonderful’ SUSAN ORLEAN
In 2012, physician Octavio Rettig claimed he had revived a forgotten indigenous ritual: smoking the secretions of the Sonoran Desert toad, which releases a potent psychedelic substance known as ‘the God molecule’. The experience promised ego death, communion with the divine and extraordinary relief for those suffering from PTSD, depression and drug addiction. As word spread, Octavio became the face of a global psychedelic movement, drawing seekers from around the world.
Yet as his fame grew, so did troubling reports of extreme dosing, abusive behaviour and a disturbing cult-like following. what began as a spiritual revival evolved into something far more dangerous.
In this gripping and deeply reported book, Kimon de Greef explores the promise and the peril of ‘toad medicine’. Part true crime, part cult story, part investigative journalism, The Ego Trip chronicles the rise and fall of a self-made messianic figure while probing our relentless search for cosmic understanding.
Reviews
An enthralling, galling journey into the deeply weird underbelly of the psychedelic renaissance
De Greef's book is quite a trip - and one well worth taking
Told with verve and built on deep reporting, The Ego Trip is strange and wonderful. De Greef is a great storyteller and he guides the reader beautifully around this story's crazy curves
Rettig is just one piece of this puzzle, which involves an indigenous tribe, Mexican cartels and the impact of the practice on the local toad population, as well as efforts to synthesise what is sometimes called 'the god molecule' for medical use . . . [de Greef] uncovers a murky underworld . . . He weaves a compelling tale
A one-of-a-kind book. I loved it. A gripping, meticulous journey through the rise and commercialisation of a ferocious new psychedelic. Kimon de Greef is indefatigable. At his story's heart is a charismatic doctor from Guadalajara, who becomes an addled villain on the order of Raskolnikov or Walter White - a character for the ages
Propulsive and rigorously reported, this wild work of true crime grips from first page to last
An unusually clear-eyed view . . . As methodical, exacting, well-written and exceptionally reported as you'd expect . . . Highly enjoyable . . . Everything from the undeserved authority of charlatans, to the rampant exploitation of the natural world, to the hiding of hyper-capitalism behind a shield of cod-mystical woo-woo: it's all in there
Entirely mesmerizing, a tale of psychedelic tourists, shamanistic grift, chemistry, chicanery, tribal history, a chemical gold rush in the Sonoran desert and, above all, the enduring human quest for transcendence. Richly reported and written with humour and flair, The Ego Trip is itself a trip and Kimon de Greef is a major talent
Elegant and electrifying, this sweeping tale of would-be shamans, corporate cowboys, and faithful acolytes of the God Molecule is one of the sharpest works of long-form journalism I've read in years. It somehow manages to unveil new worlds, expose frauds, and tell a throat-gripping good yarn all at once. Don't hesitate-take the trip!
Those seeking a less arduous route to illumination may find guidance in The Ego Trip, an engaging study of toad smoking and its psychedelic effects
A wild story . . . Weaves together history and true crime . . . Though the subject is often dark, the writing itself has unexpectedly beautiful lines throughout . . . The book's pacing stays sharp, and there are plenty of moments of high tension . . . Fascinating and compelling
A gripping exploration . . . de Greef offers an intricate, layered narrative that asks why people seek out these forms of therapy and what impact they have. De Greef's unsettling true-crime account challenges readers to consider how easily hope, belief, and authority can become entangled, leaving lasting impacts on both individuals and communities