Verlag Matthes & Seitz Berlin
Why do people enjoy ecstasy? N&P co-founders Paul-Philipp Hanske and Benedikt Sarreiter explore this question in Ecstasies – States beyond the Self – from ancient mysteries to the Berghain darkroom.
And what about the present day?
From Dionysus to Acid House, shamans to Silicon Valley, Teresa of Ávila to mindfulness, Ecstasies examines how and why people get into the state that is repeatedly described as the happiest of their lives. The German edition of the book was highly acclaimed by critics. The Süddeutsche Zeitung described it as “a standard work that anyone who deals with this subject should read.” The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung named it the top non-fiction title at the Leipzig Book Fair. Die Zeit wrote that “the authors draw lively anecdotes out of the bulging magic hat of ecstatic experiences in human history and yet always remain committed to the present.”
A global phenomenon
Our day and age is rediscovering intoxication – in retreats and raves, mindfulness and work. And above all, all over the world. That’s why an English-language edition of this highly acclaimed German book was launched in autumn 2025 – from the up-front art book publisher Sorry Press.
| Client | Publisher Matthes & Seitz Berlin |
|---|---|
| Period | 2023 |
| Category | |
| Services provided | Idea, implementation, marketing, promotion |
| Good to know | The authors were interviewed more than 20 times in the public-sector media of German-speaking countries. |