Nothing beats a good book and a blunt (or a joint we are not elitist here). There’s something euphoric about becoming engrossed in the pages of a good book and letting the cannabis do its thing; letting your mind relax and allowing the words to flow over you to the point where it becomes a vivid projector, creating strong images of every page you read. Or you get too high, put the book down, and stare at the ceiling repeating the last words you read until you fall asleep. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times….” Either way, stoners read. In fact, stoners read so much they have a list of commonly read stoner books (it’s a shame, however, that there isn’t a stoner section in Barnes And Nobles) so how about we talk about some of the best Stoner reads literature has to offer? Some things on this list might surprise you. Some things might outright delight you. So turn on your reading light bright, and let’s crack open some books!
Jack Herrer:The Emperor Wears No Clothes. One of the first meticulously researched books on the uses of cannabis, and by extension, hemp, the Emperor Wears No Clothes is still cited and revered to this day, with a twelfth edition being released as recently as 2010 (even though it’s been eleven years, it still doesn’t feel like that long ago). For a book that originally came out in 1985, it’s got some real staying power and really opened readers’ eyes all over the world to the many uses of hemp.
Tom Wolfe: The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. A prime example of new journalism which is “characterized by a subjective perspective, a literary style reminiscent of long-form non-fiction and emphasizing ‘truth’ over ‘’facts’ and intensive reportage in which reporters immersed themselves in the stories as they reported and wrote them.” For this book, Tom Wolfe hung out with Ken Kesey and his merry pranksters as they traveled across the U.S. on their big bus, tripping balls and messing with people. Is this hard-hitting reporting? No. Did it show that reporting can be fun and come off like a big dumb adventure that’s a blast to read, especially when you have Mary Jane over (don’t tell Spider-Man he gets very jealous)? Absolutely!
David Dodd: The Complete Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics. Have you come to the realization that even though you are a Dead Head, you never fully grasped the lyrics of many of their songs, especially those written by Robert Hunter? (It’s ok, they are a band with a lot to unpack. It’s easy to get lost in the sonics and forget about the lyrics). Well, with The Complete Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics, you can brag to all your friends about how you’ve always appreciated the music as well as the lyrics the whole time.
Aldous Huxley: The Doors of Perception. A lot of people think taking psychedelics is just to trip balls, and sure, that can definitely be one part of it, but put psychedelics in the hands of someone like Aldous Huxley, and they become a means for a philosophical journey or the means to open doors you never thought existed.
Bong Appétit: Mastering the Art of Cooking with Weed. Everyone and their brother thinks they’re Wolfgang Puck when it comes to cooking with weed (NEWS BULLETIN: THIS JUST IN, YOU’RE NOT!) Read this book, then maybe you can talk me into eating your special stir fry. Maybe.
Martin Booth: Cannabis: A History. Have you ever wished “Man, I sure wish there was a 449-page comprehensive history of marijuana covering everything from its origins to its many implications”? Well, boy are you in for a good read!
The Cannabis Grow Bible: The Definitive Guide to Growing Marijuana for Recreational and Medicinal Use. Growing marijuana—or anything for that matter—is no picnic. There’s a lot that goes into it, things I have no clue about (so I should probably educate myself and read this book). But if you want to educate yourself before I do and know how to grow some quality bud in your own backyard, go for it!
Shirley Halperin & Steve Bloom: Pot Culture: The A-Z Guide to Stoner Language and Life. Trekkies have Klingon, Lord of the Rings fans have Elvish among others, and drunks have gibberish, but stoners have a deeply personal language as well. And it goes beyond the surfer bro standard of “wow”, “dude” and “totally”. Find out all the ins and outs of Stoner lingo with this guide.
Martin A. Lee: Smoke Signals: A Social History of Marijuana – Medical, Recreational and Scientific. Cannabis and science, believe it or not, they’ve been bedfellows for a very long time. Find out the discoveries as well as the people and personalities that found them, which helped us understand and cultivate that great herb we all know and love.
Stoner Coloring Book: A Trippy Psychedelic Stoner Coloring Book for Adults. Who said coloring books are just for kids? (I’m a grown man, and I must say I find this much more enjoyable now that I have a blunt in hand and I don’t have my 2nd-grade art teacher badgering me to stay in between the lines). Coloring is relaxing. Coloring a marijuana plant orange while smoking is very relaxing. Need I say more?
You awake? Good, that means your mind projector was working and I wasn’t talking to someone in a weed coma. I hope you enjoyed the book selection and maybe got introduced or reintroduced to some stuff you want to explore or has been sitting on your shelf for the last ten years. Either way, keep reading and try not to fall asleep, you’re missing out on an excellent experience.
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