All I can say is . . . WOW
Customer Rating: 
First, I must say, I had never heard of Jimmy Weiskopf prior to purchasing this book, and I ran across it completely by accident. It was the last copy in a small bookstore I was visiting, and was selling for 30% off the cover price. So, without even reviewing the table of contents I took a risk and bought it, and am glad I did.
Jimmy Weiskopf is an American who's lived in Colombia for over a decade, and for most of that time he's been using yaje' and studying with shamans. This book is actually a lengthened and revised version of a previous work he originally wrote in Spanish. The English version weighs in at over 650 pages, and includes approximately 40 photos and illustrations (many of which were taken by Richard Schultes). Weiskopf divides his work into two parts. The first 250 or so pages are an empirical look at the yaje' phenomenon, from cultural, historical, and scientific perspectives. The remaining 300+ pages are essentially a collection of trip reports devoted to his visions and experiences under the guidance of yaje'.
Weiskopf makes it clear that he's not primarily a scientist, but it's obvious that he's familiar with most of the available literature on the subject of yaje'/ayahuasca. The book is peppered with references to works by Schultes, Burroughs, Spruce, and others who have contributed to the canon of yaje'/ayahuasca literature. In addition to giving the reader a lot of background information, as a longtime user of yaje, he's also very familiar with its physical/emotional effects. I think this is what sets this book apart from other, more objective looks at the subject.
At 650 pages, this is neither a light nor an easy read. Weiskopf's narrative is rarely straightforward, and his writing occasionally feels somewhat baroque. Nevertheless, I don't think those are bad things. As was mentioned earlier, he's not a scientist - he's not trying to prove a hypothesis here; he's sharing with the reader and telling a very personal story about his relationship with the vine. It's illuminating, interesting, and comprehensive.
Hofmann wrote the definitive book on acid with "LSD: My Problem Child", and Rick Strassman pulled off the same trick with "DMT: The Spirit Molecule." I think Jimmy Weiskopf has given us the same kind of cornerstone work with "Yaje: The New Purgatory". The paperback costs under 20 bucks brand new - for an entertaining and informative read like this one, that's practically a giveaway. Read it, learn from it, and enjoy it.
