Review of Coming Full Circle

[Diana Lowery]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Coming Full Circle" by Shannon Duncan.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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S​hannon Duncan's memoir, Coming Full Circle: Healing Trauma Using Psychedelics, explains in painful detail how the medical use of drugs turned his life around. Through his experimentation, both on his own and with professional help, he uncovered the cause of his problems and confronted them.

O​ne aspect that I appreciated is the organization of the book. The eighteen chapters are broken up into three main parts. Part One explains how psychedelics heal. Part Two covers the importance of a travel guide, and Part Three is a narration of the author's personal journey. The three sections helped me to understand Duncan's sincerity in helping others achieve success.

O​ne aspect of Part One that is important is that Duncan repeatedly makes the assertion that he is not a professional and is not promoting the widespread use of illegal drugs. The analytical tone of his encounters creates a professional feeling and sense of credibility. His only goal is to help others on their own path. When describing the three different uses of psychedelic drugs, Duncan makes it clear that he has indulged in all three: recreational, expansive, and medical. The focus of this book is not on the first two. This part also explains the different types of drugs, their street names, and their effects.

P​art Two is my favorite part because of the practical advice the author gives on what criteria to use when selecting a guide. I appreciate the humor of the Monty Python quote at the beginning of this section. This part also effectively uses the metaphor of the miner's canary. The author urges drug users to be aware of warning signs just as the miners paid attention to the canary.

P​art Three was the most difficult to read because it describes the personal trips the author took to his past. While uncovering the reason for his current issues was vital to the author's healing, it was grueling to read about.

I chose to read this book because I served as a trip sitter for someone who was undergoing legal ketamine treatments for pain. I wish I had read this book before going through those appointments. My presence would have been more beneficial with the knowledge gained from reading this book. My rating is five out of five. There were no negatives or errors. I recommend that this book be read by anyone who is thinking about psychedelic drug use in any form.

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Coming Full Circle
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[Amy Luman]

I have no doubt as to the author’s sincerity. These drugs are illegal, though, and probably for good reason. I understand that there are legal uses for many of them, but I’m still not sure. Thanks for the review.

[Diana Lowery]

I have no doubt as to the author’s sincerity. These drugs are illegal, though, and probably for good reason. I understand that there are legal uses for many of them, but I’m still not sure. Thanks for the review.

Thanks, Amy, I agree with you. The results of their use are indeed dubious.

[Tirami]

Great review Diana! Its crucial to approach drugs for medicinal use with caution. I liked how you mentioned that this book would have helped you in your previous work as a trip sitter.

[Diana Lowery]

Great review Diana! Its crucial to approach drugs for medicinal use with caution. I liked how you mentioned that this book would have helped you in your previous work as a trip sitter.

Thank you, Tirami, I appreciate your comment.

[Benny Rach]

Shannon Duncan's "Coming Full Circle" offers a compelling and insightful exploration of using psychedelics for trauma healing, blending personal narrative with practical guidance.