This groundbreaking guide, published in 1964, parallels the Tibetan Book of the Dead – the sacred text that deals with the guidance of the soul in the afterlife – with the subjective realm one experiences during a psychedelic session.

The psychedelic experience constitutes "a journey into new spheres of consciousness," and it is these multifaceted new realities of psychedelic tripping that this particular book explores, posing profound existential and consciousness-related questions.

Timothy Leary (1920-1996) was an American psychologist, writer, "on-stage philosopher" (as he famously characterized himself), and a fervent advocate for the use of psychedelics. He was recognized for his work as a professor and researcher at Harvard University. In 1963, he was dismissed due to his controversial practices regarding the study of effects and promotion of LSD.

He was a controversial figure: Poet Allen Ginsberg referred to him as "a hero of American consciousness," while on the other hand, President Nixon labeled him "the most dangerous man in America."