Overview

From hallucinogenic mushrooms and LSD, to coca and cocaine; from Homeric warriors and the Assassins to the first Gulf War and today's global insurgents - drugs have sustained warriors in the field and have been used as weapons of warfare, either as non-lethal psychochemical weapons or as a means of subversion. Lukasz Kamienski explores why and how drugs have been issued to soldiers to increase their battlefield performance, boost their courage and alleviate stress and fear - as well as for medical purposes. He also delves into the history of psychoactive substances that combatants 'self-prescribe', a practice which dates as far back as the Vikings. Shooting Up is a comprehensive and original history of the relationship between fighting men and intoxicants, from Antiquity till the present day, and looks at how drugs will determine the wars of the future in unforeseen and remarkable ways.

Full Product Details

9781849048835

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Reviews

'Fascinating, immensely detailed and surprisingly sober ... [A] rich and compendious book.' -Sunday Times; 'In this compelling book about the history and prevalence of alcohol and drugs throughout the history of warfare, Lukasz Kamienski reveals in copious detail the countless ways intoxication, in its various forms, has ... been one of the distinctive features of human life.' -The Guardian; 'Kamienski can be methodical and give detailed figures. Much of his narrative is fascinating, plenty of it is new, and he advances some serious arguments.' -The Spectator; 'A historical sweep from the Battle of Hastings to Waterloo or ancient Greece to Vietnam suggests that war has rarely been fought sober.' - London Review of Books; 'An engaging read ... a harmacopoeia of interesting military history, medical research & cultural anecdote.' - Vice

Author Information

Lukasz Kamienski is Associate Professor at the Faculty of International and Political Studies, Jagiellonian University, Krakow.

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