Psychedelic Apes: Alex Boese and the History of Error
Explore Alex Boese's Psychedelic Apes and the history of error. Dive into fringe science, from the Stoned Ape theory to alternative views on human evolution.
Best quote from Psychedelic Apes: Alex Boese and the History of Error
The history of science is essentially a 'history of error'—we’re constantly finding out that what we thought was true was just a small piece of a much weirder puzzle.
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Psychedelic apes by Alex Boese. No introduction, just all the theories, one after the other.
Frequently Asked Questions
This episode explores Alex Boese’s book, Psychedelic Apes, which delves into the history of error and fringe science. The discussion centers on reality-bending ideas that challenge mainstream scientific boundaries, such as whether ancient mushrooms sparked the human mind. By examining theories often dismissed by the scientific community, the podcast encourages listeners to embrace primal curiosity and ask 'what if' regarding human evolution and alternative history.
Alex Boese is the author of Psychedelic Apes, a work that investigates what he terms the history of error. This concept suggests that while many unconventional ideas are dismissed as mistakes by the mainstream, some of these 'errors' may actually contain elements of truth. Boese applies academic rigor to fringe science and subcultures of thought, exploring how these controversial theories impact our understanding of the world and scientific progress.
Yes, the podcast highlights several provocative theories mentioned in Alex Boese's work. These include the 'Stoned Ape' idea, which suggests primate ancestors' consumption of mushrooms influenced human brain development, and the radical theory that dinosaurs might have caused their own extinction through nuclear war. While these ideas sound like science fiction, the discussion focuses on how Boese uses them to challenge the boundaries of what is considered possible in science.
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
