Publishing Agenda : The Secret Chief

This book by Myron Stolaroff will be MAPS' first book publishing project.

In 1996, MAPS will publish and distribute its first book titled The Secret Chief. The book is a series of interviews between Myron Stolaroff, Ph.D., a pioneering psychedelic researcher and the author of Thanatos to Eros, and "Jacob," the secret chief of the underground psychedelic psychotherapy network in the United States.

"Jacob" is an actual person who passed away in 1988, after having changed the course of thousands of lives. During his career, he trained hundreds of therapists in the procedures of psychedelic psychotherapy and facilitated the psychedelic experiences of thousands of people. "Jacob" was the person who coined the code name "Adam" for MDMA. Eight years after his death, his family and friends are finally comfortable with letting Myron's conversations with "Jacob" be made publicly available. In The Secret Chief, "Jacob" lets Dr. Stolaroff in on the methods he developed over the course of several decades practicing his unique labor of love. He talks about how he developed his procedures for individual and group sessions, what he thought were the different qualities of the drugs that were the tools of his trade, how he felt they could be put to the wisest use, and how he handled issues of security, fear, illegality, sexuality and emotional catharsis.

In a simple and direct manner, "Jacob" opens a window on the secret heart of kindness at the center of the psychedelic movement. It was my profound good fortune to have "Jacob" assist me on two of my inner voyages. It is with special pride that MAPS will publish this book in 1996.

"Dance, Trance and Transformation"

Nicholas Saunders has donated the North American rights to his book to MAPS, with the profits from the proceeds to support MDMA research.

In the spring of 1996, the US edition of Nicholas Saunders' second book about MDMA will be published. The book has been a phenomenon in England. It has been translated into Italian, German, and French with forthcoming editions in Russian and Hungarian. Mr. Saunders has donated the North American rights to his book to MAPS, with the profits from the proceeds to support MDMA research. MAPS negotiated a contract to publish and distribute the book in North America with Quick Trading Company, under the direction of Ed Rosenthal.

MAPS has been working with Mr. Saunders to revise the book for the North American audience. MAPS has found authors for new chapters of special relevance to US readers and has reviewed and commented on possible revisions throughout the entire book. If the book is even half as successful in the US as it is in England, many people will be educated and MAPS will receive several thousand dollars for MDMA research.