In short, psychology overlaps with many other areas of study or even areas of life and work. Perhaps in part because of this, a defi nition has proved diffi cult for more than 100 years. Nowadays, it is usually defi ned as: the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes. Some years ago, behavioural purists wanted the defi nition to embrace only behaviour, but the vacuity of that was eventually realised. There is clearly more to the human condition than behaviour. Also, the word psyche has an interesting background; it is a mixture of mind, spirit and, originally, even air (the other sense of spirit).
R. A. Salvatore - Demon Wars 02 - The Demon Spirit
unabridged audiobook + text
The Demon trilogy by R.A. Salvatore began with The Demon Awakens and continues with The Demon Spirit. Corona is a fantasy world regularly menaced by the "demon dactyl" who organizes the usual suspects--goblins, dwarfs, giants--in hope of wiping out humanity. Having been comprehensively blown up in book one, the now bodiless demon resorts to corrupting the soul of the abbot who is Corona's chief religious leader. It's an easy task, since despite a few good monks the church is already a murderous, hypocritical outfit.
DMT: The Spirit Molecule A Doctor's Revolutionary Research into the Biology of Near-Death and Mystical Experiences by Rick Strassman
The Spirit Molecule is the most extensive scientific study of the mental and perceptual effects of a psychedelic drug since the 1960s. Strassman provides fascinating insight into the world of psychiatric research as he seeks to understand these most mysterious substances and their profound effects on human consciousness.
It is particularly interesting when it focuses on the personal experiences of the individuals in the research study that is the focus of the book. The author concludes this brilliant work with a discussion on the practical use of psychedelics as therapy, to stimulate creativity or as entheogens.
