Amphetamine is the most normal thing in the world as a pharmaceutical: children and soldiers are legally prescribed amphetamine preparations to perform as expected of them. In contrast, as Crystal Meth, also known as Pep, Yaba, or Speed, it is blamed for the recent surge in HIV infections and is seen by politicians as a major health and societal threat. The book portrays the dazzling effects of this drug in its duality by recounting the history of amphetamine from the late 19th century to the present, from its extreme performance enhancement to rapid addiction and destruction. The author meticulously examines the drug's influence on the works of artists such as Judy Garland, Philip K. Dick, Jean Paul Sartre, Andy Warhol, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Rotten.