{"product_id":"9780872864702","title":"Mushrooms, Myth and Mithras: The Drug Cult that Civilized Europe","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis illustrated book traces the history of an unlikely force in the shaping of Western civilization: the use of psychedelic mushrooms, namely by a secret society called the cult of Mithras. Nero was the first emperor to be initiated by the group’s “magical dinners,” and most of his successors embraced the ritual as a source of spiritual transcendence. The cult was officially banned after the Conversion, but aspects of their rituals were assimilated or co-opted by Christianity, and the brotherhoods persist today as secret societies such as the Freemasons. This is a fascinating exploration of a powerful force kept behind the scenes for thousands of years.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"City Lights Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47027542851824,"sku":"9780872864702","price":23.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780872864702_p0.jpg?v=1763839967","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780872864702","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}