The Ego Trip

An enthralling, galling journey into the deeply weird underbelly of the psychedelic renaissance – Susannah Cahalan * New York Times *
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 * Patrick Radden Keefe, author of Empire of Pain *
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 – Oliver Bullough * Guardian *
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, New York Times bestselling author of In Trees and On Trails *
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 – Olivia Goldhill * New Scientist, Book of the Week *
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 * Wall Street Journal *
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, author of The Orchid Thief *
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 * William Finnegan, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Barbarian Days *
Propulsive and rigorously reported, this wild work of true crime grips from first page to last * Publisher’s 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 *
De Greef’s book is quite a trip - and one well worth taking * Kirkus *
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 * The Northern Echo *

Kimon de Greef’s original coverage of Octavio appeared in a March 2022 print edition of The New Yorker. He is the recipient of the inaugural Ferriss-UC Berkeley Psychedelic Journalism Fellowship. Kimon’s work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, Guernica, and National Geographic among others.

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