We Love Our Work: Documenting a cultural revolution

Once upon a time, not so many decades ago, a group of respected academics believed that LSD and other hallucinogens would revolutionize American society — and they set out to prove it.

The fascinating story of what happened next is the subject of “The Harvard Psychedelic Club,” the latest from GuildFreelancer Don Lattin, published by HarperOne and now arriving in bookstores.

Lattin, who formerly covered religion at the San Francisco Chronicle, makes a case that this movement was more than a fleeting sidebar to history, as asserted by his subtitle: “How Timothy Leary, Ram Dass, Huston Smith, and Andrew Weil Killed the Fifties and Ushered in a New Age for America.”

Already, Lattin’s book has been inspiring warm reviews from critics around the nation, who call it “informative,” “beautifully constructed” and “highly entertaining.”

When not busy on book tour, Lattin support the Freelance Unit of California Media Workers by serving on our credential committee, ensuring that the press passes we issue are held only by working journalists who meet professional standards.

For details on upcoming Bay Area book-signings and other information on “The Harvard Psychedelic Club,” visit Lattin’s Web site, or by follow his fan page on Facebook.