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bhnmt61's review against another edition
5.0
My spouse and I listened to this on a long road trip and I’m giving it five stars not so much because I agree with or am on board with everything Pollan says, but because it was such an interesting book to discuss. We paused it multiple times per chapter to talk about something. I will say that it gets more interesting as it goes— we almost gave up during the first bit. Pollan is a terrific reader of his own work, which we already knew from some other things we’ve listened to. Very thought-provoking, maybe a bit long, but I’m glad we read it.
joshgroven's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
fjguros's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of the most fascinating books I’ve ever read. It has forever changed my understanding of the history of psychedelic drugs, my perspective of their us, and the in-progress surge in their use, and hopefully, widespread acceptance.
gadicohen93's review against another edition
4.0
This was great, part of the great tradition of the romantic scientists Pollan discusses. I loved the trip reports — they lended credibility to the narrative. I zoned out during some discussions in the middle — with information around how psychedelics affect the default mode network, or some of the politics around the trials and Timothy Leary and the moral panic that ensued, and I wish there was some contemporary discussions around decriminalization, etc etc. But overall this was enjoyable and made me excited to go out and run my own psilocybin projects and dissolve my ego!
cpa85's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
savaging's review
4.0
My interest in this book wavered by the chapter.
The opening chapter following all the white-man scientists and their research through the decades bored me. I know this is how modern science writing is done -- make the scientist into a character! with a hairstyle and one behavioral quirk! I can only handle it for the length of one New Yorker article.
But then comes the chapter full of Pollan's wild trips, in vibrant detail. Just delicious.
I appreciated learning as well about where the neuroscience stands on the effects of psychedelics on the brain. Reading this spurred me to lean more into 'expansive' mindsets and ways of thinking, which has left me feeling more awe and joy.
Two quibbles:
1) Perhaps wanting to sound reasonable, Pollan says he doesn't support full legalization of psychedelics. He says he worries people can have bad trips if they're not done carefully. He wrote an op-ed in the New York Times arguing against Denver's ballot initiative decriminalizing psilocybin, saying it might lead to a backlash.
I know psychedelics aren't the first priority for any police force, but as long as they're criminalized, laws against them will always be used disproportionately against black, brown, and impoverished people. I think white psychedelic advocates like Pollan need to push for decriminalization, and then make nuanced arguments about how the substances should be used from there.
2) This book and the scientists it traces look a lot at how psychedelics could make us less depressed and reduce substance addiction. But there's no consideration of whether they can help us become better to each other. Am I a moralist for thinking this is far more important than anything else the chemicals might do?
Pollan quotes Timothy Leary warning that after doing LSD the kids won't fight your wars no more, but this was presented to show how Leary went too far and spurred a backlash. Nobody else seems interested in whether the experiences that reduce our sense of ego and allow us to see more universal subjectivity could lead us to treat others (of all kinds) with more love.
I know everyday cruelty and oppression isn't in the DSM-5, so questions like this don't make sense to any drug research department. But it made me nostalgic for good ol' Leary.
The opening chapter following all the white-man scientists and their research through the decades bored me. I know this is how modern science writing is done -- make the scientist into a character! with a hairstyle and one behavioral quirk! I can only handle it for the length of one New Yorker article.
But then comes the chapter full of Pollan's wild trips, in vibrant detail. Just delicious.
I appreciated learning as well about where the neuroscience stands on the effects of psychedelics on the brain. Reading this spurred me to lean more into 'expansive' mindsets and ways of thinking, which has left me feeling more awe and joy.
Two quibbles:
1) Perhaps wanting to sound reasonable, Pollan says he doesn't support full legalization of psychedelics. He says he worries people can have bad trips if they're not done carefully. He wrote an op-ed in the New York Times arguing against Denver's ballot initiative decriminalizing psilocybin, saying it might lead to a backlash.
I know psychedelics aren't the first priority for any police force, but as long as they're criminalized, laws against them will always be used disproportionately against black, brown, and impoverished people. I think white psychedelic advocates like Pollan need to push for decriminalization, and then make nuanced arguments about how the substances should be used from there.
2) This book and the scientists it traces look a lot at how psychedelics could make us less depressed and reduce substance addiction. But there's no consideration of whether they can help us become better to each other. Am I a moralist for thinking this is far more important than anything else the chemicals might do?
Pollan quotes Timothy Leary warning that after doing LSD the kids won't fight your wars no more, but this was presented to show how Leary went too far and spurred a backlash. Nobody else seems interested in whether the experiences that reduce our sense of ego and allow us to see more universal subjectivity could lead us to treat others (of all kinds) with more love.
I know everyday cruelty and oppression isn't in the DSM-5, so questions like this don't make sense to any drug research department. But it made me nostalgic for good ol' Leary.