The Ego Trip

“A true crime tale spiked with psychedelics. . . . As de Greef demonstrates in this deeply researched history, there was a dark side to the miracle drug—one that led to cults, lies and death.”
—The New York Times

“Reveals how a fabricated origin story, a self-styled guru and a powerful psychedelic combined to launch a global phenomenon. . . . Fascinating. . . . De Greef methodically traces [a] trail of harm. . . . Commodifying the God molecule, whether it be naturally extracted from Sonoran Desert toads or manufactured in a lab, has made it all the more potent—and hazardous.”
—Bloomberg

“Methodical, exacting, well-written and exceptionally reported. . . I challenge any reader not to see this highly enjoyable book as a parable for so much that’s wrong with the current economy. 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.”
—The Guardian

“An engaging study of toad smoking and its psychedelic effects. Readers who are unaware that the secretions from some toads (including the Sonoran Desert toad, also known as the Colorado River toad) can be smoked and may serve as portals to the divine, or at least a psychedelic variation on that theme, are in for some significant revelations.”
—The Wall Street Journal

“The wild, gripping story of the psychedelic secreted by desert toads. . . . Extraordinary. . . . Unexpectedly beautiful. . . . The narrative weaves together history and true crime—but there are also fascinating explorations of the science, from chemists creating the synthetic versions of 5-MeO-DMT, to the ecology of desert toads. . . . The book’s pacing stays sharp, and there are plenty of moments of high tension. . . . Compelling.”
—New Scientist

“A thrilling, bizarre tale that shines a light into the business of medicine and spirituality in our strange cultural moment. . . . De Greef’s clear prose cuts through the hype and fog alike to explain what’s at stake. . . . A disturbing cautionary tale of how easily the truth (and a people’s livelihood and culture) can be twisted in service of commerce and online fame. . . . An entertaining, eye-opening tale”
—The Washington Independent Review of Books

“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 humor and flair, The Ego Trip is itself a trip—and Kimon de Greef is a major talent.”
—Patrick Radden Keefe, #1 New York Times bestselling author of London Falling

“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.”
—Susan Orlean, New York Times bestselling author of The Orchid Thief and Joyride

“A one-of-a-kind book. I loved it. A gripping, meticulous journey through the rise and commercialization 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.”
—William Finnegan, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Barbarian Days

“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!”
—Robert Moor, bestselling author of In Trees: An Exploration

“A wild, twisty, true crime ride that digs into the bizarre story of toads that secrete a substance that can either cure your intractable depression, make you think that you are a god, or perhaps lead to your death. Cults, hucksters, wild animals, and breaking the law: What more can you want from a summer read?”
—The Boston Globe

“Lively. . . . The Ego Trip itself is a marvelous trip. . . . De Greef shows us that the complicating factor in all this frenzied activity is human nature. Once we discovered 5-MeO-DMT, all bets were off.”
—Bookpage (starred review)

“A chilling saga about a former doctor who spearheaded the rise of toad smoking. . . . As de Greef digs into [the] deaths and Rettig’s motives, he takes the narrative on intriguing side quests, including a look at the heaps of corporate money being poured into the development of synthetic toad venom. Propulsive and rigorously reported, this wild work of true crime grips from first page to last.”
—Publishers Weekly

“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.”
—Library Journal

“A sharp-eyed investigation of one of the lesser-known corners of the psychotropic-drug demimonde. . . . Deeply researched on the ground. . . . De Greef’s book is quite a trip—and one well worth taking.”
—Kirkus Reviews