Ayahuasca Reading List

A comprehensive resource guide to the most important books on ayahuasca & plant medicine.

by
Tatiana

Tatiana’s Ultimate Guide to Ayahuasca Reading: Essential Reading for Education & Practice

It is not necessary to read anything to gain a firm understanding of the medicine, your personal experience will far outweigh any knowledge your mind gains from reading, and for those that love to read (we do), this list will not disappoint.

Top 10 Amazing Ayahuasca Books

1. The Cosmic Serpent: DNA and the Origins of Knowledge

Author: Jeremy Narby
Published: 1998

Anthropologist Jeremy Narby presents a groundbreaking hypothesis connecting shamanic visions with molecular biology. Through his work with indigenous peoples of the Peruvian Amazon, Narby explores how shamans may access biological information at the molecular level through ayahuasca-induced states. This book bridges Western science and indigenous wisdom, proposing that the serpent imagery common in ayahuasca visions relates to the double helix structure of DNA.

The book profiles Maestro Juan Flores Salazar and his center, Mayantuyacu, where Tatiana began her studies of ayahuasca over a decade ago under Maestro Juan's guidance. Jeremy Narby is a personal friend of Tatiana's.

Why it matters: Essential reading for anyone interested in the intersection of shamanism, biology, and consciousness. Challenges conventional scientific paradigms while respecting indigenous knowledge.

⭐ Tatiana's Favorite

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Author's Website


2. The Fellowship of the River: A Medical Doctor's Exploration into Traditional Amazonian Plant Medicine

Author: Joe Tafur, MD
Published: 2017

Dr. Tafur's first book chronicles his personal journey from conventional medicine to integrative healing with Amazonian plant medicines. Through patient stories and his own transformation, Tafur explores how traditional healing addresses the emotional and spiritual dimensions of illness often overlooked by Western medicine. Includes scientific explanations for ayahuasca's therapeutic effects.

Joe Tafur is a close friend and colleague of Tatiana's. He co-founded Nihue Rao located near Iquitos, Peru and spent 5+ years full-time learning curanderismo under the guidance of Ricardo Amaringo who still runs the center. He also created the first church to receive federal acceptance in the USA in almost 20 years to import and serve Ayahuasca. The Church of the Eagle and Condor is located in Arizona.

Why it matters: Compelling narrative that makes traditional healing accessible to Western audiences. Particularly valuable for medical professionals exploring integrative approaches to chronic conditions like PTSD, addiction, and depression.

⭐ Tatiana's Favorite

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Author's Website


3. Listening to Ayahuasca: New Hope for Depression, Addiction, PTSD, and Anxiety

Author: Rachel Harris, PhD
Published: 2017

Clinical psychologist Rachel Harris conducted the largest study of ayahuasca use in North America, interviewing 81 participants about their experiences. She explores ayahuasca's therapeutic potential for mental health conditions while addressing integration, preparation, and the importance of set and setting. Harris writes from both researcher and participant perspectives, having experienced ayahuasca herself.

Rachel Harris is a personal friend of Tatiana's.

Why it matters: Evidence-based approach to ayahuasca's healing potential. Particularly valuable for therapists and those seeking psychological healing. Strong emphasis on women's experiences and integration practices.

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Author's Website


4. One River: Explorations and Discoveries in the Amazon Rain Forest

Author: Wade Davis
Published: 1996

Ethnobotanist Wade Davis retraces the journeys of his mentors Richard Evans Schultes and Timothy Plowman through the Amazon, documenting their groundbreaking plant research. The book weaves together adventure narrative, ethnobotany, and indigenous wisdom, covering ayahuasca and other sacred plants within broader Amazonian ecology and culture.

Wade is a scion of wisdom and has inspired countless amateur anthropologists and seekers of truth to journey to the Amazon and learn about the ways of the jungle.

Why it matters: Classic of ethnobotanical literature. Provides historical context for Western study of ayahuasca and essential background on the scientists who pioneered research into Amazonian plant medicines.

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Author's Website


5. The Falling Sky: Words of a Yanomami Shaman

Authors: Davi Kopenawa & Bruce Albert
Published: 2013 (English translation)

A powerful testimony from Yanomami shaman and activist Davi Kopenawa, co-written with anthropologist Bruce Albert. Kopenawa shares his people's cosmology, shamanic practices, and urgent warnings about environmental destruction. While not exclusively about ayahuasca, it provides profound insight into Amazonian shamanic worldviews and the spiritual dimensions of ecological crisis.

Why it matters: Rare first-person account from an indigenous shaman and political leader. Essential for understanding the broader context of Amazonian spirituality and the threats facing indigenous peoples and their knowledge.

Purchase: Available through major book retailers

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6. Medicine Song: Spiritual Healing and the Psychedelic Renaissance

Author: Joe Tafur, MD
Published: 2025

Colombian-American physician Dr. Joe Tafur explores the convergence of scientific medicine and spiritual healing in the context of the psychedelic renaissance. Drawing on his experiences working with traditional healers in Peru and his medical training, Tafur examines how plant medicine can complement Western healthcare. The book addresses cultural healing traditions and the role of ceremony and more specifically songs can have in transformation.

Why it matters: Written by a Western-trained physician who bridges both medical and shamanic worlds. Essential for healthcare providers interested in integrative approaches.

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Author's Website


7. Plant Teachers: Ayahuasca, Tobacco, and the Pursuit of Knowledge

Authors: Jeremy Narby & Rafael Chanchari Pizuri
Published: 2021

A collaborative work between anthropologist Jeremy Narby and Asháninka elder Rafael Chanchari Pizuri, this book offers rare direct insight into Amazonian plant wisdom. Through dialogues and teachings, Rafael shares his lifetime of knowledge about ayahuasca, tobacco, and other teacher plants from the Asháninka tradition, while Narby provides anthropological context.

Why it matters: Authentic indigenous perspective combined with scholarly insight. Emphasizes the importance of learning directly from plant teachers and traditional knowledge holders.

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Publisher's Website




8. When Plants Dream: Ayahuasca, Amazonian Shamanism and the Global Psychedelic Renaissance

Authors: Daniel Pinchbeck & Sophia Rokhlin
Published: 2019

An exploration of ayahuasca's global expansion and its cultural implications. Pinchbeck and Rokhlin investigate the commercialization of ayahuasca, ethical considerations for Western seekers, and the impact of global interest on indigenous communities. Includes interviews with shamans, scientists, and practitioners from various traditions.

Why it matters: Critical examination of ayahuasca tourism and globalization. Important for understanding ethical participation and cultural appropriation concerns.

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Authors’ Website: Daniel Pinchbeck / Sophia Rokhlin




9. The Boiling River: Adventure and Discovery in the Amazon

Author: Andrés Ruzo
Published: 2016

Geoscientist Andrés Ruzo's quest to find the legendary boiling river of the Amazon, known as Shanay-timpishka ("boiled by the heat of the sun"). While not specifically about ayahuasca, this book captures the mystery and wonder of the Amazon and explores how indigenous knowledge and scientific inquiry can work together. The sacred river is central to shamanic practice in the region.

Andrés Ruzo details and describes the place where Tatiana has studied, and Andrés is a close friend of Tatiana's.

Why it matters: Demonstrates the value of indigenous knowledge in scientific discovery. Inspiring adventure narrative that honors both traditional wisdom and scientific investigation.

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TED Books Website

Author's Website

10. Ayahuasca Reader: Encounters with the Amazon's Sacred Vine

Editors: Luis Eduardo Luna & Steven F. White
Published: 2000 (First edition)

A comprehensive anthology featuring diverse perspectives on ayahuasca from anthropologists, psychologists, artists, writers, and indigenous practitioners. Essays cover history, pharmacology, ritual use, art, literature, and contemporary applications. Contributors include Terence McKenna, Ralph Metzner, Dennis McKenna, and others.

Why it matters: The most comprehensive single-volume introduction to ayahuasca from multiple perspectives. Essential reference work for serious students of ayahuasca.

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Publisher's Website



Honorable Mentions

Ayahuasca in My Blood: 25 Years of Medicine Dreaming

Author: Peter Gorman
Published: 2010

Veteran journalist Peter Gorman's personal account of decades working with ayahuasca in the Peruvian jungle. Raw, honest, and often humorous, Gorman shares his relationships with shamans, his family's experiences, and the sometimes difficult lessons the medicine teaches.

Why read it: Authentic, unromanticized perspective from someone with extensive long-term experience. Balances reverence with practicality.

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Author's Website

Singing to the Plants: A Guide to Mestizo Shamanism in the Upper Amazon

Author: Stephan V. Beyer
Published: 2009

Comprehensive ethnographic study of mestizo shamanism in the Peruvian Amazon. Beyer explores the syncretic healing traditions that blend indigenous, European, and African influences, with detailed information on plant medicines, icaros (healing songs), and ceremonial practices.

Why read it: Scholarly yet accessible deep dive into mestizo shamanic practice. Essential for understanding the cultural context of most contemporary ayahuasca ceremonies.

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Facets of Ayahuasca

Authors: Charles D. Johnston, Dario Nardi, and others.
Published: 2018

A practical guide for understanding ayahuasca featuring essays from diverse contributors exploring different aspects of ayahuasca use, research, and culture. Includes scientific, experiential, and cultural perspectives that provide accessible, hands-on insight into working with the medicine. A simple read that is meant to leave the reader with tools to navigate safely and effectively.

Why read it: Multiple viewpoints provide a well-rounded, practical understanding of ayahuasca's complexity. Valuable for those seeking concrete guidance alongside theoretical knowledge.

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The Antipodes of the Mind: Charting the Phenomenology of the Ayahuasca Experience

Author: Benny Shanon
Published: 2002

Israeli cognitive psychologist Benny Shanon's rigorous phenomenological study based on over 130 ayahuasca sessions and extensive interviews. Maps the recurring themes, visions, and cognitive patterns of the ayahuasca experience with scholarly precision.

Why read it: The most detailed systematic analysis of ayahuasca phenomenology. Important for researchers and those interested in the philosophical and cognitive dimensions of the experience.

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The Ayahuasca Test Pilot's Handbook: The Essential Guide to Ayahuasca Journeying

Author: Chris Kilham
Published: 2014

Practical guide covering preparation, ceremony, integration, and safety. Kilham, known as "The Medicine Hunter," offers straightforward advice for those preparing for ayahuasca ceremonies based on his extensive experience.

Why read it: User-friendly introduction with practical guidance. Good starting point for first-time participants.

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Ayahuasca Visions: The Religious Iconography of a Peruvian Shaman

Authors: Pablo Amaringo & Luis Eduardo Luna
Published: 1991

Stunning collection of paintings by renowned Peruvian shaman-artist Pablo Amaringo, with commentary by Luis Eduardo Luna. Each intricate painting depicts ayahuasca visions with detailed explanations of the symbolism, spirits, and plant teachers portrayed.

Why read it: Visual masterpiece that captures the aesthetic and spiritual dimensions of ayahuasca visions. Amaringo's art has become iconic in representing ayahuasca consciousness.

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Beyond Ayahuasca: Plants, Consciousness & Spirit

These books don't focus specifically on ayahuasca but provide essential context about plant consciousness, sacred plants, and psychedelic healing.

The Secret Teachings of Plants: The Intelligence of the Heart in the Direct Perception of Nature

Author: Stephen Harrod Buhner
Published: 2004

Explores how humans can develop direct perception and communication with plants through the heart, rather than just intellectual understanding. Buhner argues that plants are sentient beings capable of sophisticated communication and that humans can relearn this ancient skill.

Why read it: Deepens understanding of plant consciousness and direct plant perception. Particularly relevant for integrating teachings from plant medicines.

⭐ Tatiana's Favorite

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Plants of the Gods: Their Sacred, Healing, and Hallucinogenic Powers

Authors: Richard Evans Schultes, Albert Hofmann & Christian Rätsch
Published: 1979 (revised editions since)

Comprehensive survey of psychoactive plants used in sacred contexts worldwide. Combines botany, chemistry, ethnography, and cultural history. The definitive reference on entheogenic plants.

Why read it: Essential background for understanding ayahuasca within the broader context of sacred plant use globally. Beautiful illustrations and authoritative text.

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Swimming in the Sacred: Wisdom from the Psychedelic Underground

Author: Rachel Harris, PhD
Published: 2024

Follow-up to "Listening to Ayahuasca" focusing on women's experiences with underground psychedelic therapy, including MDMA, psilocybin, and ayahuasca. Harris explores how women use these medicines for healing trauma, spiritual development, and personal transformation outside of clinical settings.

Why read it: Important perspective on women's psychedelic experiences and underground therapy practices. Addresses gender-specific healing needs and approaches.

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Intelligence in Nature: An Inquiry into Knowledge

Author: Jeremy Narby
Published: 2005

Narby's sequel to "The Cosmic Serpent" explores intelligence in various life forms—from plants and animals to microorganisms. Investigates how different species communicate and process information, challenging anthropocentric views of consciousness.

Why read it: Expands on themes from "The Cosmic Serpent." Important for understanding the philosophical implications of plant consciousness and intelligence.

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Medicine Stories: History, Culture and the Politics of Integrity

Author: Aurora Levins Morales
Published: 1998

Essays exploring healing, memory, trauma, and resilience through a social justice lens. While not about plant medicines specifically, Levins Morales addresses how storytelling and cultural reclamation function as medicine, particularly for marginalized communities.

Why read it: Important perspective on healing as a political and cultural act. Relevant for understanding ayahuasca healing within broader contexts of colonialism and cultural survival.

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How to Use This Guide

For Beginners: Start with "Listening to Ayahuasca" (Rachel Harris) for a research-based introduction and "The Fellowship of the River" (Joe Tafur) for an accessible medical perspective. "Ayahuasca Test Pilot's Handbook" offers practical preparation guidance.

For Integration: "Listening to Ayahuasca" provides excellent integration frameworks. "The Secret Teachings of Plants" (Stephen Buhner) can deepen your relationship with plant consciousness.

For Cultural Context: "Singing to the Plants" (Beyer), "One River" (Davis), and "The Falling Sky" (Kopenawa) provide essential ethnographic and historical background.

For Scientific Understanding: "The Cosmic Serpent" (Narby), "The Antipodes of the Mind" (Shanon), and both Tafur books bridge science and spirituality.

For Visual Inspiration: "Ayahuasca Visions" (Amaringo & Luna) offers stunning artistic interpretations of ayahuasca consciousness.



Important Considerations

Respecting Indigenous Knowledge

Many of these books discuss indigenous knowledge and practices. Remember that ayahuasca is a sacred medicine with thousands of years of cultural context. Approach with respect, humility, and awareness of the ongoing impacts of colonialism on indigenous communities.

Safety and Preparation

Reading is essential preparation but not a substitute for working with experienced facilitators. Ayahuasca has significant risks and contraindications. Always:

  • Screen for medication interactions (especially MAOIs, SSRIs)
  • Work with legitimate, experienced practitioners
  • Prepare physically, mentally, and spiritually
  • Have support for integration

Ethical Participation

Consider the environmental and cultural impact of ayahuasca tourism. Support indigenous communities, avoid exploitative practitioners, and be mindful of sustainable harvesting practices.


Further Resources

  • ICEERS (International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research & Service): Comprehensive information hub
  • MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies): Research and education on psychedelic therapies
  • Chacruna Institute: Articles, webinars, and resources on plant medicines and psychedelics

This guide is for educational purposes only. Ayahuasca remains illegal in most countries and has significant physical and psychological risks. Always consult qualified practitioners and medical professionals before participating in ceremonies.