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Dennis McKenna, author portrait
Photo:Synergetic Press·CC BY 3.0·
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Dennis McKenna

American
Born 1950
Dennis McKenna is the author of Brotherhood of the Screaming Abyss, a memoir that chronicles his experiences with psychedelic exploration and his relationship with his brother Terence McKenna. The book presents that history through the bond between the two brothers, using their shared life as the frame for an account of curiosity, investigation, and experiences that were difficult to fit into ordinary categories.
In the memoir, McKenna reflects on decades of investigation into consciousness, plant medicine, and the intersection of scientific inquiry with mystical experience. He considers how careful observation can sit alongside encounters that resist easy explanation, and how a personal story of family and curiosity can carry larger questions about the mind while keeping one foot in the methods of science.
On LuvemBooks, we've reviewed Brotherhood of the Screaming Abyss.
1
Books Reviewed
Cover of Brotherhood of the Screaming Abyss: My Life with Terence McKenna
Brotherhood of the Screaming Abyss: My Life with Terence McKenna

4.5/5

reader rating · 372 ratings

Dennis McKenna's memoir chronicles his childhood alongside his famous brother, Terence, and their shared journey into psychedelics and philosophy. It is designed for readers interested in ethnobotany, countercultural history, and the personal dynamics of the McKenna family.

Reviewed Nov 7, 2026

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