Russell A. Berman, Ph.D. - Lifted Veils & Cosmic Power: Exploring “Approaches” by Ernst Jünger

Professor Russell A. Berman joins the Psychedelic Podcast to explore the captivating life and works of controversial German writer Ernst Jünger.

Find episode links, summary, and transcript here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-201-russell-a-berman-phd/

Jünger’s initial career as a German officer shaped his early books examining war and politics. After the war, Jünger continued writing prolifically, exploring genres like science fiction and nature. He remained a contentious figure due to his conservative and military background. However, in his later years, Jünger became interested in drugs and altered states of consciousness. His book “Approaches,” later edited by Professor Berman, serves as an autobiography through the lens of his experiences with mind-expanding substances.

As the episode unfolds, Professor Berman and Paul F. Austin unpack the book “Approaches” and Jünger's psychedelic perspectives.

Russell A. Berman is the Walter A. Haas Professor in the Humanities at Stanford and Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, where he co-directs the Working Group on the Middle East and the Islamic World.

He formerly served as Senior Advisor on the Policy Planning Staff of the United States Department of State, focusing on transatlantic relations, and as a member of the Commission on Inalienable Rights. He is also a member of the National Humanities Council.

Berman has been awarded a Mellon Faculty Fellowship at Harvard and an Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship for research in Berlin. He has also been honored with the Federal Service Cross of the Federal Republic of Germany. His books include The Rise of the Modern German Novel: Crisis and Charisma and Enlightenment or Empire: Colonial Discourse in German Culture—both of which won the Outstanding Book Award of the German Studies Association.

He has edited several translations of works by Ernst Jünger and Carl Schmitt.

Highlights:

• Dr. Berman frames Jünger’s life; world wars, political activism, and literary works.
• Professor Berman reflects on the history of drug culture.
• Jünger’s writings on psychedelics, including LSD, psilocybin, mescaline, and more.
• How altered states impacted Jünger’s religious life and philosophy.
• Jünger’s relationship with Albert Hofmann, the man who first synthesized LSD.
• Examining Jünger, Hofmann, Timothy Leary, & Richard Alpert’s (Ram Dass) shared history and psychedelics perspectives.
• Jünger’s nuanced place in German political history.
• Why Dr. Berman is fascinated with Jünger’s life and writings.
• Dr. Berman reads selections from Junger’s book Approaches.

Links:

• Professor Berman's website: https://profiles.stanford.edu/russell-berman
• Jünger’s Book, “Approaches: Drugs and Altered States” (edited by Russell A. Berman): https://amzn.to/3XfccPH
• Jünger’s Book, “The Storm of Steel”: https://amzn.to/44bdzRS
• Jünger’s Book, “The Adventurous Heart”: https://amzn.to/42PuzMi
• Jünger’s Book, “On the Marble Cliffs”: https://amzn.to/3phqXF9
• Jünger’s Book, “Forest Passage”: https://amzn.to/44t2CLF
• Jünger’s Book, “Eumeswil”: https://amzn.to/3CKMcC9
• “The Decadent Society” byRoss Douthat: https://amzn.to/42Vdhxg
• Book, “The Air-Conditioned Nightmare “ by Henry Miller: https://amzn.to/3peswDL
• Eleusinian Mysteries: https://amzn.to/3pd485B
• (Blog) The History of LSD: From Hero to Villain & Back Again: https://thethirdwave.co/the-history-of-lsd/

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