Scott Alexander reviews 'The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test', examining Ken Kesey's LSD-fueled counterculture movement and its lasting impact. Longer summary

This post reviews Tom Wolfe's book 'The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test', which chronicles Ken Kesey's experiences with LSD and his role in 1960s counterculture. Scott Alexander summarizes Kesey's journey from novelist to cult leader, his Merry Pranksters group, and their psychedelic adventures. The review critiques Wolfe's writing style and explores the impact of psychedelic culture. It concludes by analyzing Kesey's unique talents, the role of LSD in his influence, and the broader implications for cult dynamics and drug culture. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander examines ecclesiology in non-religious movements, using the Catholic Church as a model of organizational success, and questions why other causes don't adopt similar structures. Longer summary

Scott Alexander explores the concept of ecclesiology in non-religious movements, examining how organizations can effectively capture and direct the energy of their members. He discusses the trade-offs involved in organizational design, such as strictness vs. relaxation, orthodoxy vs. flexibility, and top-down vs. bottom-up control. The post then highlights the Catholic Church as an impressively successful organization, analyzing its key features. Finally, Scott ponders why other movements don't adopt similar church-like structures, suggesting that there might be a memetic immune response against such organizations in modern society. Shorter summary