Book Recommendations

Data Dump Books
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I know theres been a few threads with book suggestions/requests, but I wanted to make one that’s more direct and centralized.

I’m going to list all the books I’ve studied and where you can buy them. I always reccomend finding used copies or checking your local library, but if you’re into owning fresh copies here you go.

These are books I either studied in college or after on my own time. Studying + real lab experience can create outstanding employees.

  1. PIHKAL (Phenethylamines I Have Known And Loved): A chemical love story
    Amazon.com

(Not a textbook, but an absolute must read for the home chemist and or recreational drug enthusiast)

  1. The Organic Chemistry of Drug Design and Drug Action 3rd edition
    https://www.amazon.com/Organic-Chemistry-Silverman-Holladay-Hardcover/dp/B014S2Z7UI/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=the+organic+chemistry+of+drug+design+3rd&qid=1579469970&sr=8-1

  2. Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics 8th Edition
    https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Engineering-Thermodynamics-Termodinamica-ingenieria/dp/1259696529/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?keywords=engineering+thermodynamics&qid=1579470075&sprefix=engineering+thermo&sr=8-8

  3. Beginners Guide to Reading Schematics 4th edition
    https://www.amazon.com/Beginners-Guide-Reading-Schematics-Fourth/dp/1260031101/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?keywords=beginners+guide+to+reading+schematics+4th+edition&qid=1579470264&sprefix=beginners+guide+to+reading+&sr=8-2

  4. Chemical Bonds: An introduction to atomic and molecular structure 2nd edition
    Amazon.com

  5. Ion Exchange and Solvent Extraction: A Series of Advances, Volume 14
    https://www.amazon.com/Ion-Exchange-Solvent-Extraction-Advances/dp/0824705084/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?keywords=ion+exchange+and+solvent+extraction&qid=1579470372&sr=8-2

  6. Practical Design Calculations for Groundwater and Soil Remediation 2nd edition
    Amazon.com

  7. General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry: Structures of Life 6th Edition
    Amazon.com

  8. Review of Organic Functional Groups: Introduction to Medicinal Organic Chemistry 5th edition
    https://www.amazon.com/Review-Organic-Functional-Groups-Introduction/dp/1608310167/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=organic+functional+groups&qid=1579470586&sprefix=organic+functio&sr=8-1

  9. Understanding Advanced Organic and Analytical Chemistry: The Learner’s Approach revised edition
    https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Advanced-Organic-Analytical-Chemistry/dp/9814733989/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=understanding+advanced+analytical+chemistry&qid=1579470653&sr=8-1

  10. Fractional Distillation - Laboratory Scale Chemistry through Pilot Plant Operations
    https://www.amazon.com/Fractional-Distillation-Laboratory-Chemistry-Operations/dp/1934939285/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?keywords=fractional+distillation&qid=1579470724&sr=8-9

  11. Practical High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, 5th Edition
    https://www.amazon.com/Practical-High-Performance-Liquid-Chromatography-5th/dp/0470682175/ref=mp_s_a_1_12?keywords=practical+hplc&qid=1579470801&sr=8-12

  12. Industrial Crystallization: Fundamentals and Applications 1st edition
    https://www.amazon.com/Industrial-Crystallization-Fundamentals-Applications-Lewis/dp/1107052157/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=industrial+crystallization&qid=1579470862&sr=8-4

  13. Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Modeling and Simulation 2nd edition
    Amazon.com

  14. Guidelines for Risk Based Process Safety 1st edition
    https://www.amazon.com/Guidelines-Risk-Based-Process-Safety/dp/0470165693/ref=pd_aw_sim_14_2/143-9363238-9287913?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0470165693&pd_rd_r=82b42ce1-771e-4d8a-b413-4fa28ca5c8b7&pd_rd_w=auT7w&pd_rd_wg=xh1xg&pf_rd_p=88ca09b8-cf17-4a5c-91ae-6ec10065b040&pf_rd_r=6W8XMYAYDHWF7DWPC1V1&psc=1&refRID=6W8XMYAYDHWF7DWPC1V1

  15. Laboratory Safety for Chemistry Students 1st edition.
    https://www.amazon.com/Laboratory-Safety-Chemistry-Students-Robert/dp/0470344288/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?keywords=lab+safety+book&qid=1579471556&sr=8-6

  16. Stoichiometery 5th edition
    https://www.amazon.com/Stoichiometry-5e-B-I-Bhatt/dp/0070704686/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=stoichiometry&qid=1579471633&sprefix=stoichio&sr=8-3

  17. The Certified Quality Process Analyst Handbook, Second Edition
    Amazon.com

  18. The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants: Ethnopharmacology and Its Applications
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0892819782/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1

  19. Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics 7th Edition
    https://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Fluid-Mechanics-Bruce-Munson/dp/1118116135

  20. Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (4th Edition)
    https://www.amazon.com/Physics-Scientists-Engineers-Strategic-Approach/dp/0133942651/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?keywords=physics+for+scientists+and+engineers&qid=1579472348&sprefix=physics+for+sc&sr=8-2

  21. Chemical Formulation: An Overview of Surfactant Based Chemical Preparations Used in Everyday Life 1st edition
    https://www.amazon.com/Chemical-Formulation-Surfactant-Preparations-Paperbacks/dp/0854046356/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=formulation+chemistry&qid=1579472411&sprefix=formulation+ch&sr=8-1

  22. The Certified Cannabis Compliance Officer Audit Manual And Guidebook
    https://www.amazon.com/Certified-Cannabis-Compliance-Officer-Guidebook/dp/0578501244/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=cannabis+compliance&qid=1579472515&sr=8-3

  23. The GMP Handbook: A Guide to Quality and Compliance
    https://www.amazon.com/GMP-Handbook-Guide-Quality-Compliance/dp/1548370258/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=guide+to+gmp&qid=1579472570&sr=8-1

  24. Biology: Science for Life with Physiology (6th Edition) (Belk, Border & Maier, The Biology: Science for Life Series, 5th Edition)
    https://www.amazon.com/Biology-Science-Physiology-Border-Maier/dp/0134555430/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=life+science+of+biology&qid=1579472674&sprefix=life+science+&sr=8-3

  25. The Ecological Landscape Professional : Core Concepts for Integrating the Best Practices of Permaculture, Landscape Design, and Environmental Restoration into Professional Practice
    Amazon.com

  26. Medical Mycology: A Self-Instructional Text 2nd edition
    https://www.amazon.com/Medical-Mycology-Self-Instructional-Kathleen-Blevins/dp/0803600364/ref=mp_s_a_1_15?keywords=mycology&qid=1579472795&sprefix=mycology&sr=8-15

  27. Principles of Environmental Chemistry 3rd edition
    Amazon.com

  28. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plants 2nd edition
    https://www.amazon.com/Biochemistry-Molecular-Biology-Plants-Buchanan/dp/0470714212/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=plant+biology+textbook&qid=1579472928&sprefix=plant+bio&sr=8-4

  29. Botany: An Introduction to Plant Biology
    https://www.amazon.com/Botany-Introduction-James-D-Mauseth/dp/1284077535/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?keywords=plant+biology+textbook&qid=1579472928&sprefix=plant+bio&sr=8-7

  30. Principles of Plant Genetics and Breeding 2nd edition
    https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Genetics-Breeding-George-Acquaah/dp/0470664754/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=plant+genetics&qid=1579473035&sr=8-1

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Thanks for this gold mine!! super helpful

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Don’t forget “Bleaching and Purifying Fats and Oils 2nd Edition” It’s been out for a long time, it’s how I taught myself what’s now referred to as CRC before future4200 was even a thing.

https://www.amazon.com/Bleaching-Purifying-Fats-Oils-Practice-ebook/dp/B014F7GD3Q

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Wow. Now I know what I’m reading for the next year

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Beautiful list; i dont normally bookmark threads; but this one certainly is going to he bookmarked!

I’ll add one to the list that I’m currently reading;

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Thanks for the list. Lots of interesting books I’d like to check out. I’ll throw in TIHKAL to go along with PIHKAL.

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Thank you @Phytoalchemy

Confectionary Science and Technology
https://www.amazon.com/Confectionery-Science-Technology-Richard-Hartel/dp/3319617400/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=confectionery+science+and+technology&qid=1581287033&sr=8-2

Great reference for confectionary formulations. processing, troubleshooting, and ingredient ideas

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An Introduction to Interfaces and Colloids: The Bridge to Nanoscience
https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Interfaces-Colloids-Bridge-Nanoscience/dp/9814299820/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=colloids+bridge+nanoscience&qid=1581288994&sr=8-1

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I’m sure they were all picked painstakingly. But are there any 5 to start with?

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I suppose it depends on what you’re trying to study. But if I had to pick 5 to start for working in cannabis processing then it would be (in no particular order),

  1. Chemical Bonds: An introduction to atomic and molecular structure 2nd edition
  2. Industrial Crystallization: Fundamentals and Applications 1st edition
  3. Laboratory Safety for Chemistry Students 1st edition
  4. General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry: Structures of Life 6th Edition
  5. Fractional Distillation - Laboratory Scale Chemistry through Pilot Plant Operations

Runners up:
1.The Organic Chemistry of Drug Design and Drug Action 3rd edition
2. Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics 8th Edition
3. Review of Organic Functional Groups: Introduction to Medicinal Organic Chemistry 5th edition

These books touch on some of the concepts involved in your average cannabis lab in a depth a lot of technicians are only versed in if they went to school for chemistry related subjects. I included the book on safety because knowledge of lab safety is one of the most common areas for improvement I see with entry level technicians.

If you dont have any formal STEM training then any good textbook on general chemistry and good lab practices is going to be a great place to start before moving on to more advanced subjects.

My experience is that most cannabis techs know the “how” behind making quality products, but many don’t know the “why”. Studying the “why” behind the science and engineering will empower you to better refine your methods and improve the efficiency and throughput of your methods.

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This was my favorite textbook in college:

Physical Chemistry: A Molecular Approach
https://www.amazon.com/Physical-Chemistry-Molecular-Donald-McQuarrie/dp/0935702997

Derives everything about chemistry starting from quantum mechanical first principles.

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Check out Total Synthesis by my old friend Strike. Strike if you’re out threre— piece and much love

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I feel like I’ve seen this in the data dump, but it could have been a paper with a similar name. There are a few full books in there somewhere…

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New 360 page general reference textbook about compliance testing from Springer-Nature Publishing.

“Cannabis Laboratory Fundamentals”
https://www.amazon.com/Cannabis-Laboratory-Fundamentals-Shaun-Opie/dp/3030627152

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I am new to the technical side and am really wanting to learn more. Some of these books seem like they may be advanced? Any basic entry books to refresh my memory from high school?

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Pocket Ref is always good to have around, along with Machinery’s Handbook.

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You could always start from scratch with general chemistry, but that will also take awhile to chew through and a fair amount if is not as applicable to this industry when you’re new to chemistry and cannabis lab work.

I’d recommend starting out by using a source like this forum to learn about basic fundamentals, and start out with lab basics like best lab practices before moving on to the hard science behind it.

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Also the more recent,
Pihkal-Tihkal Commemorative Edition *
Currently out of print, however they will be republished in an updated version by Transform Press’ new co-publishing partner, Synergetic Press in the near-ish future*.

This 4 book boxed set contains a huge amount of new material, including pictures and many many new chapters by friends and colleagues of Sasha and Ann, and is completely worth owning even if you already own copies of Pihkal/Tihkal.

I WOULD STRONGLY ADVISE AGAINST PAYING THE CRAZY PRICES LISTED BY VARIOUS RESELLERS ONLINE!
but if you gotta have 'em NOW, you gotta have 'em now.

Also, I highly recommend the first of his posthumously published books,
“The Nature of Drug Vol. I”

" The Nature of Drugs: History, Pharmacology, and Social Impact, Volume I was transcribed from the original lectures recorded on cassette tapes by Ann Shulgin at SFSU in 1987. This class was taught as an introductory course on drugs and biochemistry, and this transcription is a unique document being both a historical record of Sasha’s teaching style and the culmination in many ways of his philosophy on drugs, psychopharmacology, states of consciousness, and societal and individual freedoms pertaining to their use, both medicinal and exploratory. The Nature of Drugs is the story of humanity’s relationship with psychoactive substances from the perspective of a master psychopharmacologist and will enthrall anyone intrigued by this subject.

The full course of The Nature of Drugs will be published in either two or three volumes. Volume I presents Shulgin’s view on the origin of drugs, the history of U.S. drug law enforcement, human anatomy, the nervous system, the range of drug administrations, varieties of drug actions, memory and states of consciousness, and research methods. The discussions in Volume I lay the groundwork for Sasha’s philosophy on psychopharmacology and society, what defines a drug, the nature of a person’s relationship with a given compound, and for extensive examinations of dozens of compounds in Volume II."

I also strongly encourage you to show your support for all the hard work that goes into these works by buying his books directly from Transform Press (started by the Shulgins) and avoid Amazon & the like. This puts more $$$ in the hands of Team Shulgin & helps to support the many upcoming projects/publications being prepared.

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This one has been posted in other places, but I would recommend, especially for new lab techs…

Not only does it cover the basics of lab procedures, but it’s written in a very accessible style, and has a fair amount of humor for books on the subject.

Here is a free .pdf
James Zubrick - Organic Chem Lab Survival Guide [2E OCR].pdf (4.8 MB)

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