David Jay Brown
Encyclopedia
David Jay Brown is an American writer and scientific researcher.
Brown is the author of four interview collections with controversial scientists and artists, two science fiction novels, and a health science book. Brown's scientific research has been in the areas of behavioral neuroscience
, psychic phenomena, unusual animal behavior prior to earthquakes, and medical marijuana He has written dozens of popular essays, magazine articles, and scientific papers, and has made contributions to numerous books.
in 1961, and he grew up in the nearby town of Somerville
. He moved to Tampa, Florida
in 1980 to study psychology
at the University of South Florida
, and attended five other universities in California, New York, and France as part of his formal education. He transferred to the University of Southern California
in 1981, and studied at l'université de Dijon in France in 1983. He did his graduate work in psychobiology and behavioral neuroscience at the University of California, Santa Cruz
(1984–85), New York University
(1985–86), and the University of Southern California (1989–90). Brown currently lives in the Santa Cruz
mountains of California
.
and a master's degree in psychobiology from New York University. He conducted research in electrical brain stimulation at NYU from 1985–1986, and in learning and memory at the Hedco Neuroscience lab at USC from 1989-1990.
Brown's first book, Brainchild — one of the very first science fiction novels about nanotechnology — was published in 1988 by New Falcon Publications. Mavericks of the Mind, his second book and first collection of interviews, was published in 1993 by Crossing Press. Voices from the Edge, his second collection of interviews, was published in 1995 by the Crossing Press. Both of these books were done with co-interviewer Rebecca McClen Novick.
From 1996-1999 Brown researched the unexplained powers of animals with British biologist Rupert Sheldrake
. This work culminated in three scientific papers and was summarized in Dr. Sheldrake's books Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home (Crown, 1999) and The Sense of Being Stared At (Crown, 2003).
In 2002 Brown earned a Certified Massage Practitioner (C.M.P.) certification in massage therapy at Twin Lakes College in Santa Cruz, California.
In 2005 Palgrave Macmillan
published Brown's third collection of interviews, Conversations on the Edge of the Apocalypse. His fourth collection of interviews, Mavericks of Medicine, was published in 2006 by Smart Publications. Brown's seventh book, Detox with Oral Chelation--a health book about chelation therapy, which he coauthored with Garry Gordon, M.D.--was published by Smart Publications in 2008.
In 1993, at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Brown was moderator for "Mavericks of the Mind Live!", a panel debate with Robert Anton Wilson
, Stephen LaBerge
, Nick Herbert
, Carolyn Mary Kleefeld
, and others. In 1994, Brown was moderator for "Techno & Psyche", a panel debate with Timothy Leary
, John Lilly
, Laura Huxley
, and others at UCLA. Both of these events were recorded and produced on DVD by Sound Photosynthesis in Mill Valley, California. Brown has appeared as a lecturer and workshop leader at many events and institutions that explore mind sciences and the frontiers of consciousness, including the University of California, Santa Cruz, the Starwood Festival in upstate New York, the Brain and Mind Symposium in Los Angeles, the Health & Life Enrichment Expo in Pasadena, the Electronic Cafe in Santa Monica, and MAPS Benefits in San Francisco. He frequently lectures on the psychology of maverick thinkers and taught a series of workshops in "The Science of Sex and Drugs" with his colleague Annie Sprinkle
at the Harvey Milk Institute
in San Francisco in 2002 and 2003.
Brown has appeared on numerous television shows, speaking about smart drugs, health & nutrition, the future of technology, unusual animal behavior prior to earthquakes, how drugs effect sex, and psychedelic drug research. He appeared on the PBS show "Nature" (Extraordinary Cats), the HBO show "Real Sex
" (episode # 22, about RealDolls), the BBC and the Discovery Channel's "Animal X" (Psychic Animals), the Fox show "A Current Affair" (about smart drugs, on May 3, 1992), and ViaCom's The Montel Williams Show
(about smart drugs, on July 10, 1991).
Brown has also written for many popular magazines and scientific journals, including Scientific American Mind
,Nature Medicine
, Wired
, Tricycle, The Sun, Mondo 2000
, High Times, Fate, Neuroscience Abstracts, the Journal of Parapsychology
, Hustler, the International Synergy Journal, the Journal of Psychical Research, and Magical Blend. He is sometimes Guest Editor of the MAPS Bulletin--he has done a series of special theme Bulletins for MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
)--and is part of the Erowid
Expert Network. He has also written dozens of health science articles for various nutritional supplement company publications—including Smart Publications, Health Freedom Nutrition, Life Enhancement, and International Anti-Aging Systems—and is the author of two health science books.
Brown is the author of four interview collections with controversial scientists and artists, two science fiction novels, and a health science book. Brown's scientific research has been in the areas of behavioral neuroscience
Behavioral neuroscience
Behavioral neuroscience, also known as biological psychology, biopsychology, or psychobiology is the application of the principles of biology , to the study of physiological, genetic, and developmental mechanisms of behavior in human and non-human animals...
, psychic phenomena, unusual animal behavior prior to earthquakes, and medical marijuana He has written dozens of popular essays, magazine articles, and scientific papers, and has made contributions to numerous books.
Life
Brown was born in New Brunswick, New JerseyNew Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of...
in 1961, and he grew up in the nearby town of Somerville
Somerville, New Jersey
Somerville is a borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 12,098. It is the county seat of Somerset County....
. He moved to Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
in 1980 to study psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
at the University of South Florida
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
, and attended five other universities in California, New York, and France as part of his formal education. He transferred to the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in 1981, and studied at l'université de Dijon in France in 1983. He did his graduate work in psychobiology and behavioral neuroscience at the University of California, Santa Cruz
University of California, Santa Cruz
The University of California, Santa Cruz, also known as UC Santa Cruz or UCSC, is a public, collegiate university; one of ten campuses in the University of California...
(1984–85), New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
(1985–86), and the University of Southern California (1989–90). Brown currently lives in the Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
mountains of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Career
Brown holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
and a master's degree in psychobiology from New York University. He conducted research in electrical brain stimulation at NYU from 1985–1986, and in learning and memory at the Hedco Neuroscience lab at USC from 1989-1990.
Brown's first book, Brainchild — one of the very first science fiction novels about nanotechnology — was published in 1988 by New Falcon Publications. Mavericks of the Mind, his second book and first collection of interviews, was published in 1993 by Crossing Press. Voices from the Edge, his second collection of interviews, was published in 1995 by the Crossing Press. Both of these books were done with co-interviewer Rebecca McClen Novick.
From 1996-1999 Brown researched the unexplained powers of animals with British biologist Rupert Sheldrake
Rupert Sheldrake
Rupert Sheldrake is an English scientist. He is known for having proposed an unorthodox account of morphogenesis and for his research into parapsychology. His books and papers stem from his theory of morphic resonance, and cover topics such as animal and plant development and behaviour, memory,...
. This work culminated in three scientific papers and was summarized in Dr. Sheldrake's books Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home (Crown, 1999) and The Sense of Being Stared At (Crown, 2003).
In 2002 Brown earned a Certified Massage Practitioner (C.M.P.) certification in massage therapy at Twin Lakes College in Santa Cruz, California.
In 2005 Palgrave Macmillan
Macmillan Publishers
Macmillan Publishers Ltd, also known as The Macmillan Group, is a privately held international publishing company owned by Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. It has offices in 41 countries worldwide and operates in more than thirty others.-History:...
published Brown's third collection of interviews, Conversations on the Edge of the Apocalypse. His fourth collection of interviews, Mavericks of Medicine, was published in 2006 by Smart Publications. Brown's seventh book, Detox with Oral Chelation--a health book about chelation therapy, which he coauthored with Garry Gordon, M.D.--was published by Smart Publications in 2008.
In 1993, at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Brown was moderator for "Mavericks of the Mind Live!", a panel debate with Robert Anton Wilson
Robert Anton Wilson
Robert Anton Wilson , known to friends as "Bob", was an American author and polymath who became at various times a novelist, philosopher, psychologist, essayist, editor, playwright, poet, futurist, civil libertarian and self-described agnostic mystic...
, Stephen LaBerge
Stephen LaBerge
Stephen LaBerge is a psychophysiologist and a leader in the scientific study of lucid dreaming. In 1967 he received his Bachelor's Degree in mathematics. He began researching lucid dreaming for his Ph.D. in Psychophysiology at Stanford University, which he received in 1980...
, Nick Herbert
Nick Herbert
Nicholas Le Quesne "Nick" Herbert is a British Conservative Party politician and the Member of Parliament for Arundel and South Downs...
, Carolyn Mary Kleefeld
Carolyn Mary Kleefeld
Carolyn Mary Kleefeld is an American author, poet, and visual artist. Kleefeld is the author of ten books, has a line of fine art cards, and has had numerous gallery and museum awards and exhibitions between 1981 and the present, in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and other major...
, and others. In 1994, Brown was moderator for "Techno & Psyche", a panel debate with Timothy Leary
Timothy Leary
Timothy Francis Leary was an American psychologist and writer, known for his advocacy of psychedelic drugs. During a time when drugs like LSD and psilocybin were legal, Leary conducted experiments at Harvard University under the Harvard Psilocybin Project, resulting in the Concord Prison...
, John Lilly
John C. Lilly
John Cunningham Lilly was an American physician, neuroscientist, psychoanalyst, psychonaut, philosopher and writer....
, Laura Huxley
Laura Huxley
Laura Huxley was a musician, author, psychological counselor and lecturer.-Life and work:...
, and others at UCLA. Both of these events were recorded and produced on DVD by Sound Photosynthesis in Mill Valley, California. Brown has appeared as a lecturer and workshop leader at many events and institutions that explore mind sciences and the frontiers of consciousness, including the University of California, Santa Cruz, the Starwood Festival in upstate New York, the Brain and Mind Symposium in Los Angeles, the Health & Life Enrichment Expo in Pasadena, the Electronic Cafe in Santa Monica, and MAPS Benefits in San Francisco. He frequently lectures on the psychology of maverick thinkers and taught a series of workshops in "The Science of Sex and Drugs" with his colleague Annie Sprinkle
Annie Sprinkle
Annie M. Sprinkle is an American former prostitute, stripper, pornographic actress, cable television host, porn magazine editor, writer and sex film producer...
at the Harvey Milk Institute
Harvey Milk Institute
Harvey Milk Institute, located in San Francisco, California, was the largest queer studies institute in the world, and was founded by Jonathan David Katz. It was named in honor of Harvey Milk....
in San Francisco in 2002 and 2003.
Brown has appeared on numerous television shows, speaking about smart drugs, health & nutrition, the future of technology, unusual animal behavior prior to earthquakes, how drugs effect sex, and psychedelic drug research. He appeared on the PBS show "Nature" (Extraordinary Cats), the HBO show "Real Sex
Real Sex
Real Sex is a television series broadcast on and a production of HBO. As its name implies, Real Sex is a sexually explicit "magazine" which "explores sex '90s style."...
" (episode # 22, about RealDolls), the BBC and the Discovery Channel's "Animal X" (Psychic Animals), the Fox show "A Current Affair" (about smart drugs, on May 3, 1992), and ViaCom's The Montel Williams Show
The Montel Williams Show
The Montel Williams Show is a syndicated talk show hosted by Montel Williams. On January 30, 2008 it was announced that The Montel Williams Show would stop production on new episodes at the end of the 2007-2008 television season after seventeen years...
(about smart drugs, on July 10, 1991).
Brown has also written for many popular magazines and scientific journals, including Scientific American Mind
Scientific American Mind
Scientific American Mind is a bimonthly American popular science magazine concentrated on psychology, neuroscience, and related fields. By analyzing and revealing new thinking in the cognitive sciences, the magazine tries to focus on the biggest breakthroughs in these fields...
,Nature Medicine
Nature Medicine
Nature Medicine is an academic journal publishing research articles, reviews, news and commentaries in the biomedical area, including both basic research and early-phase clinical research. Topics covered include cancer, cardiovascular disease, gene therapy, immunology, vaccines, and neuroscience...
, Wired
Wired (magazine)
Wired is a full-color monthly American magazine and on-line periodical, published since January 1993, that reports on how new and developing technology affects culture, the economy, and politics...
, Tricycle, The Sun, Mondo 2000
Mondo 2000
Mondo 2000 was a glossy cyberculture magazine published in California during the 1980s and 1990s. It covered cyberpunk topics such as virtual reality and smart drugs. It was a more anarchic and subversive prototype for the later-founded Wired magazine....
, High Times, Fate, Neuroscience Abstracts, the Journal of Parapsychology
Journal of Parapsychology
The Journal of Parapsychology is a semi-annual peer-reviewed publication "devoted primarily to the original publication of experimental results and other research findings in extrasensory perception and psychokinesis." It also contains reviews of "literature relevant to parapsychology, criticisms...
, Hustler, the International Synergy Journal, the Journal of Psychical Research, and Magical Blend. He is sometimes Guest Editor of the MAPS Bulletin--he has done a series of special theme Bulletins for MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies is a membership-based 501 non-profit research and educational organization working to develop psychedelics and marijuana into legal prescription drugs...
)--and is part of the Erowid
Erowid
Erowid, also called The Vaults of Erowid, is an online library of information about psychoactive plants and chemicals and other topics on altered states of consciousness such as meditation and lucid dreaming. It provides information about legal and illegal substances, including their desired and...
Expert Network. He has also written dozens of health science articles for various nutritional supplement company publications—including Smart Publications, Health Freedom Nutrition, Life Enhancement, and International Anti-Aging Systems—and is the author of two health science books.
Books
- Brainchild, New Falcon Publications, 1988. ISBN 0-941404-92-7
- Conversations on the Edge of the Apocalypse: Contemplating the Future with Noam Chomsky, George Carlin, Deepak Chopra, Rupert Sheldrake, and Others, Palgrave MacmillanPalgrave MacmillanPalgrave Macmillan is an international academic and trade publishing company, headquartered in Basingstoke, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom and with offices in New York, Melbourne, Sydney, Hong Kong, Delhi, Johannesburg. It was created in 2000 when St...
, 2005. ISBN 1-4039-6532-3 - Detox with Oral Chelation: Protecting Yourself from Lead, Mercury, & Other Environmental Toxins, Smart Publications, 2009. ISBN 1-890572-20-9
- Mavericks of Medicine: Conversations on the Frontiers of Medical Research, Smart Publications, 2006. ISBN 1890572195, ISBN 978-1890572198
- Mavericks of the Mind: Conversations for the New Millennium, Crossing Press, 1993. ISBN 0-89594-602-5
- Mavericks of the Mind: Conversations with Terence McKenna, Allen Ginsberg, Timothy Leary, John Lilly, Carolyn Mary Kleefeld, Laura Huxley, Robert Anton Wilson, and Others, (Second Edition), The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, 2010. ISBN-13: 978-0979862250
- Virus: The Alien Strain, New Falcon Publications, 1999. ISBN 1-56184-144-7
- Voices from the Edge: Conversations With Jerry Garcia, Ram Dass, Annie Sprinkle, Matthew Fox, Jaron Lanier, & Others, Crossing Press, 1995. ISBN 0-89594-732-3
Foreign Translations
- Riflessioni sull'Orlo dell'Apocalisse, in Italian, published by Mondadori, 2006.
- Ram Dass Rozhovory, in Czechoslovakian, published by East Hauz, 1999.
- I protagonisti della New Age, in Italian, published by Gruppo Futura, 1997.
- Mavericks of the Mind, in Japanese, published by Hachiman Publishing, 1995.
Contributions to Other Books and Publications
- 2009 Spring MAPS Bulletin: DJB edited this special issue on ecology and psychedelics.
- Soul Seeds: Reflections & Drawings, by Carolyn Mary Kleefeld, Cross-Cultural Communications, 2008. DJB wrote the introductory instructions, entitled "Portal to the Oracle Within."
- 2008 Spring MAPS Bulletin: DJB edited this special issue on technology and psychedelics.
- Tales of Tongue Fu, by Paul Krassner, Ronin Press, 2007. DJB wrote the introduction to the book and the glossary.
- The Man Who Predicts Earthquakes: Jim Berkland, Maverick Geologist, by Cal Orey, Sentient Publications, 2006. DJB wrote the foreword to the book.
- Email to the Universe, by Robert Anton Wilson, New Falcon, 2005. Pages 219 through 222 contain an excerpt from an interview that DJB did with Robert Anton Wilson.
- Erotika: Drogen und Sexualitat, by Wolfgang Sterneck, Komista & Nachtschatten, 2005. Page 34 contains a German translation of one of DJB's anecdotes about ketamine.
- The Evolutionary Mind, by Rupert Sheldrake, Terence McKenna, and Ralph Abraham, Monkfish Book Publishing, 2005. DJB edited two of the trialogues in the book from 1998: “The Evolutionary Mind” and “Skepticism.”
- First Certificate Masterclass Workbook, by Simon Haines and Barbara Stewart, Oxford University Press, 2004. This educational workbook for learners of English as a second language, used extracts from an essay by DJB on unusual animal behavior and earthquake prediction, as part of a language exercise in the book.
- Magic Mushrooms and Other Highs, by Paul Krassner, Ten Speed Press, 2004. DJB wrote an anecdote about ketamine and a section on John Lilly for the book.
- The Sense of Being Stared At, by Rupert Sheldrake, Crown, 2003. DJB did all of the California-based research for the book.
- Transfigurations, by Alex Grey, Inner Traditions, 2001. DJB provided excerpts from an interview with Alex Grey.
- Acid Trips for the Mind, by Paul Krassner, High Times Books, 2001. DJB wrote an anecdote about LSD for the book.
- Rebels and Devils: The Psychology of Liberation, edited by Christopher Hyatt, New Falcon Publications, 2000. DJB wrote the essay "Liberty and the Pursuit of Forbidden Fruit" about the injustice of the Drug War.
- Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home, by Rupert Sheldrake, Crown, 1999. This was the bestselling science book in the world for several weeks during the Fall of 2000. DJB did the California-based scientific research for the book.
- The Alchemy of Possibility, by Carolyn Mary Kleefeld, Merrill-West Publishing, 1998. DJB wrote the introduction to the book.
- A Magical Universe: The Best of Magical Blend Magazine, Editors Jerry Snider and Michael Peter Langevin, Blue Water Publishing, 1996. DJB did the interviews with Jerry Garcia and Jaron Lanier.
- High Times Greatest Hits, Editors of High Times, St. Martin's Press, 1994. Contains excerpts from articles and interviews by DJB that were done for High Times magazine.
- Archaic Revival, by Terence McKenna, Harper, 1991. DJB co-wrote the chapter "Critique Interview".
- One Foot in the Future, by Nina Graboi, Aerial Press, 1991. DJB took the photograph on the cover, as well as numerous photos throughout the book.
External links
- http://www.mavericksofthemind.com
- http://www.animalsandearthquakes.com
- http://www.sexanddrugs.info