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emilyinherhead's review
4.0
This book should be essential reading for American citizens, media, lawmakers, and law enforcement. In it, Dr. Carl Hart details his scientific research concerning several of the most heavily regulated and criminalized hard drugs and turns much of what we as a society have been told on its head. His findings (which have been replicated elsewhere by other researchers), if taken seriously by the American public, would make changes in our country's drug policy absolutely necessary. Highly recommended for reading and sharing.
eralon's review
4.0
About 60% memoir (very good interesting memoir) and 40% the science of drug effects that the author researches professionally. Super interesting and thoughtful book that will probably change the way you think about drug abuse, though I think it's a better memoir than it is a science book.
As a science book, there is a little more to be desired. I've read previous accounts of Rat Park and other such studies, but the author only mentions them in passing without fully explaining the study and the implications for humans and drug laws and policy. I followed what he was getting at because I've read other related books, but I'm not sure if he provides enough information if someone is coming to this without previous reading on the topic. Also, I would have appreciated more information about Adderall in general since it is often used to treat children. With regards to the actual science, the personal account is a little irrelevant, especially since the author is stressing how useless anecdotes of "monstrous" drug users are when assessing the real effects of drugs. Well, that works both ways, his personal accounts how he managed to create a life for himself isn't specifically relevant to the examination of drugs, except that he became a drug researcher and his viewpoint with regards to the racism behind the drug policies. But that doesn't require a full memoir to convey.
As for the memoir, kind of sexist. I could have lived with fewer references to "chasing pussy." I understand he's trying to explain the perspective of his friends and family in the memoir, but he didn't exactly disown or condone this perspective in any way. I don't think it's so blatant that it will destroy interest in the memoir, but it might be a lot for some readers.
Overall, a good book worth reading: interesting from start to finish, a good memoir, and decent science book.
As a science book, there is a little more to be desired. I've read previous accounts of Rat Park and other such studies, but the author only mentions them in passing without fully explaining the study and the implications for humans and drug laws and policy. I followed what he was getting at because I've read other related books, but I'm not sure if he provides enough information if someone is coming to this without previous reading on the topic. Also, I would have appreciated more information about Adderall in general since it is often used to treat children. With regards to the actual science, the personal account is a little irrelevant, especially since the author is stressing how useless anecdotes of "monstrous" drug users are when assessing the real effects of drugs. Well, that works both ways, his personal accounts how he managed to create a life for himself isn't specifically relevant to the examination of drugs, except that he became a drug researcher and his viewpoint with regards to the racism behind the drug policies. But that doesn't require a full memoir to convey.
As for the memoir, kind of sexist. I could have lived with fewer references to "chasing pussy." I understand he's trying to explain the perspective of his friends and family in the memoir, but he didn't exactly disown or condone this perspective in any way. I don't think it's so blatant that it will destroy interest in the memoir, but it might be a lot for some readers.
Overall, a good book worth reading: interesting from start to finish, a good memoir, and decent science book.
ironi's review
4.0
It seems that the drug conversation is getting bigger and bigger nowadays. At least in Israel, legalization is taking up a lot of room in the elections discussions now. It feels like our generation will be the one that will legalize, at least marijuana but perhaps more.
So I found this book pretty good. It goes both into his own biography and into his research on drugs. I wanted him to dig deeper into the race issue but yeah, it wasn't quite the topic of the book. It's a broad book though, he goes into a lot of parts of his life.
I was in a party in Berlin a few weeks ago and it was my first time being around people who were using things more serious than weed. It was fascinating for me because I found myself challenging a lot of what I had thought about the influence of drugs. I enjoyed the conversations with the people there and it was eye opening. Quite humorous too, they kept teasing me for being sober and saying that they could never imagine going to a party like this sober.
Within an American context, it seems somewhat obvious that the black neighborhoods need education and social help more than anything else. That by being a closed off area, the youth don't have options and automatically join the narrative.
All in all, this book is well written. I wouldn't say it challenges everything but it's definitely insightful, especially if you're very against drugs. I appreciate science that goes against the mainstream thought. The conversation about how politics and social context influence research is an important one.
What I'm taking with Me
• Much of the research done with animals is irrelevant because they are in isolation or they are given huge amounts of the drug. Of course this influences how much they use and the impact on the brain.
• Having a stake in the society is in many ways more important than simply fighting against drug use.
• In Portugal, if you get caught with any drug, you simply have to pay a fine and go to a meeting with various professionals (but no police) who are there to help you if there's a drug abuse problem. If not, you just pay the fine and that's it.
So I found this book pretty good. It goes both into his own biography and into his research on drugs. I wanted him to dig deeper into the race issue but yeah, it wasn't quite the topic of the book. It's a broad book though, he goes into a lot of parts of his life.
I was in a party in Berlin a few weeks ago and it was my first time being around people who were using things more serious than weed. It was fascinating for me because I found myself challenging a lot of what I had thought about the influence of drugs. I enjoyed the conversations with the people there and it was eye opening. Quite humorous too, they kept teasing me for being sober and saying that they could never imagine going to a party like this sober.
Within an American context, it seems somewhat obvious that the black neighborhoods need education and social help more than anything else. That by being a closed off area, the youth don't have options and automatically join the narrative.
All in all, this book is well written. I wouldn't say it challenges everything but it's definitely insightful, especially if you're very against drugs. I appreciate science that goes against the mainstream thought. The conversation about how politics and social context influence research is an important one.
What I'm taking with Me
• Much of the research done with animals is irrelevant because they are in isolation or they are given huge amounts of the drug. Of course this influences how much they use and the impact on the brain.
• Having a stake in the society is in many ways more important than simply fighting against drug use.
• In Portugal, if you get caught with any drug, you simply have to pay a fine and go to a meeting with various professionals (but no police) who are there to help you if there's a drug abuse problem. If not, you just pay the fine and that's it.
christinam's review
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
High Price by Dr. Carl Hart is a critical examination of the war on drugs as told through a neuropsychopharmacologist's journey from a teenager who "maintained a complicated relationship with the street" to a tenured professor at Columbia University.
Hart dispels myths about drugs and the people who use them in a way that challenges the simplistic understanding of pharmacological determinism. That is, our naive belief that the effects of a drug are inherent in the drug itself. Whereas the effects, both beneficial and harmful, are influenced by factors at the intersection of the biological, psychological, social, and cultural.
This book highlights the disparity of the drug war and the way that prohibition disproportionately affects marginalized people and communities and is used as a means of propagating oppression. The laws surrounding drugs are not based on a rational and scientific evaluation of the harms of drugs but instead have continued to fulfil a political agenda. Hart argues for a more rational approach to drug policy informed by rigorous scientific research that accurately models the naturalistic conditions under which drugs are used.
Hart also stresses the importance of having guidance and support from those who recognize the additional complexities race can add to the already challenging environment of academia.
I could keep going about how much Dr. Hart has packed into this memoir but I'll stop here. I really enjoyed this book. This is not light reading and it's the only memoir I've read so far that has an extensive references section. His new book Drug Use for Grown-Ups is expected early next year and I can't wait to read it!
zachkuhn's review
3.0
Dr. Hart has a magnetic presence and his insights on addiction and drug usage are easy to understand for readers with limited background in neuroscience. I was more interested in his insights than in his personal story, but that's not his fault.
terriaminute's review
4.0
This is an important book. Anyone who thinks "drugs are bad" covers the whole topic really ought to read this book. The nuance and personal experiences, and the thoughtful and science-based lessons, are critical to increasing understanding of who abuses drugs and why, and what should be done. Unilaterally criminalizing Does Not Work, and directly damages us socially, politically, and economically.
I think it needed more editing. I found it somewhat repetitive. I think it would have had more punch had Dr. Hart's personal experiences rambled less; there are very important lessons that get buried in excess verbiage (to steal a term from "Twice Upon a Time".) That said, I am grateful to have read it!
I think it needed more editing. I found it somewhat repetitive. I think it would have had more punch had Dr. Hart's personal experiences rambled less; there are very important lessons that get buried in excess verbiage (to steal a term from "Twice Upon a Time".) That said, I am grateful to have read it!
tavalava's review
4.0
My view of this book is somewhat skewed as it was a common reader for incoming freshmen students. There were a lot of heavy topics to discuss that I don’t think they nor I were prepared to process. It’s a very interesting read as the author interweaves his upbringing and understanding of the world with his scholarly research.
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