David Dupuis explores ayahuasca consumption in new book

Anthropologist David Dupuis has released a new work titled "L’Épreuve de l’invisible" (Le Seuil, 2026). The book examines the sociological and anthropological implications of Westerners consuming ayahuasca.

Dupuis explores how the desire for ayahuasca stems from an intersection of global imaginaries, market dynamics, and local traditions. The text suggests that for many participants, the use of the hallucinogen serves as a perceived redemption from Western civilization, a response to chemical therapeutics, and a way to reconstruct a sense of maternal protection. The work analyzes how these spiritual and psychological experiences are mediated through a clinical framework, where visions are often converted into psychological symptoms and therapeutic levers.