It is an absolute pleasure to do a favorable book review for a change. So many books I read just make me angry and frustrated that for the first chapter of this one, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop and my blood pressure to rise, but it never did.

I really enjoyed Filan's book, "The Hatian Vodou Handbook" as a source from a practicioner about Vodou and posession, which is why I initially picked this book up, along with my interest in ethanobotany and my career as an EMT/Phlebotomist with some cross studies in pharmacology. Here is a book that appealed to all these interests and more. It is well referenced, sources are cited in footnotes throughout the book. Coverage also includes the chemistry, pharmacology, shamanism, history and human usage of this important plant, and I found myself thoroughly absorbed.

I was also impressed to see frank discussion of safe needle and injection practices and sharp criticism I resoundingly agree with on the US government's refusal to fund clean needle exchange even though it would save lives and millions of dollars in emergency health care. Poppy as an ethenogen in the form of a tea is covered, as is the dangers of using it as such. All in all, this was an excellent book, though I would have liked to see some more images of ancient art involving the Poppy and more on the use of Iboga root to counter Heroin addiction. Those are personal areas of interest for me, the latter due to my volunteer work at a clinic that sees several habitual heroin users.

All in all, highly recommended, and I am very impressed. ( )