POSTED BY

Joel Johnson

AT 12:02 PM
Thursday July 9, 2009

Health and Vice • Industry

Albert Hofmann's letter to Steve Jobs

Steven_Paul_Jobs_by_dylanroscover.jpg

Ryan Grim hangs a short overview of psychedelic use among computing luminaries around a letter from LSD-discoverer Albert Hofmann's letter to Steve Jobs, asking for the Apple founder's support of Dr. Peter Gasser's MAPS study project:

Hello from Albert Hofmann. I understand from media accounts that you feel LSD helped you creatively in your development of Apple computers and your personal spiritual quest. I'm interested in learning more about how LSD was useful to you.
Grim's book, This Is Your Country on Drugs: The Secret History of Getting High in America, is on sale now.

Image: Dylan Roscover

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5 Comments

dculberson

#1 – 6:30 AM July 10, 2009

I wonder if Steve wrote back?

phisrow

#2 – 7:54 AM July 10, 2009

He was going to; but all the words crawled off the page and he was busy tasting colors.

Anonymous Anonymous

#3 – 3:28 PM July 10, 2009

I tried acid only twice in my life. Both times were utterly awful experiences; like living nightmares, complete with the horrific scenes and the unending confusion of a dream. My mind seems to function most productively when either sober or lightly sedated, so don't let my account here sway anyone considering a dose. If I hadn't tried it, I wouldn't have learned that particular bit of data about how my mind works.

But based on my experiences and those of close friends (whose trips were always positive), I fail to see how acid could possibly lead to anything more coherent than a foggy inspiration for an artistic project. Like Hofmann, I would be interested to know exactly how acid helped Steve Jobs figure out anything that has significantly contributed to his current success.

Anonymous Anonymous

#4 – 7:11 PM July 11, 2009

On a completely personal level, I've used acid on at least a quarterly basis for the last several years. It's not only provided me with a completely unique perspective as a human being, but it's also been absolutely magic for expanding my creative endeavors. I treat it as a medication to be used judiciously, and a way of rebooting/defragmenting.

It doesn't work as well with everyone-- indeed, it's not FOR everyone. But that's what you should expect of any substance, medication traditional or otherwise.

chirs

#5 – 10:34 PM August 7, 2009

the effects of lsd can be catastrophic on those who have a closed or weak mind... its absolutely not for everyone and should absolutely be controlled by the state.
but if your mind and will are strong enough to experience something other than the reality youve been taught to understand, it can open your mind and creative understanding to the next level of enlightenment.

im 18, i graduated from highschool a year and a half early and im going to collage for psychiatry
i use lsd
and i respect it potential.

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