Jess Stearn is a journalist who specializes in books on various forms of esoterica. In the past, he has written about homosexuality, yoga, spiritualism, and prophecy. Now he has turned his hand to an account of marihuana, heroin, hippies, and sex. Much of the writing in the book is in quotes, either those from various authorities in the field of drug abuse (often out of context) or from purported conversations with various drug users. One of the latter exchanges is the best explanation of what the author is up to:
"Would you explain," I said, "how one writes a book that will make money?"
"You take sensational material and treat it sensationally." Never has an author heeded advice better.