Scan barcode
hbf's review
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cultural appropriation and Drug use
Minor: Addiction, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Grief, and Xenophobia
laurenleigh's review
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Another interesting read from Michael Pollan! I’m a big fan of his style, and I should read more of his back listed titles. I enjoy his investigative journalism slant and his wide-reaching research. He clearly reads a ton on his subject, but then he also takes it a step further and wants to experience the subject. He’s pretty self aware and respectful of other cultures, which is refreshing to see, especially from a privileged white man. This book is kind of a continuation from How to Change Your Mind, and Pollan explores opium, caffeine, and mescaline. A sedative, a stimulant, and a psychedelic, or as Pollan delightfully puts it, “a downer, an upper, and an inner.” The first two sections on opium and caffeine were fascinating to read in context of one another, especially in terms of legality. Why is our collective dependence on caffeine legal, but other substances are not? Why is oxytocin legal (though controlled) while growing the wrong kind of poppy flower could theoretically put you in jail? It’s worth noting too that there was once a time when alcohol was illegal in this country, but at that same time, laudanum (an opium tonic) was widely used. Lots to think about here. I really appreciated how Pollan covered Peyote vs. San Pedro in the last section (they are very different!). He spent a good chunk of time talking to Indigenous leaders and discussing cultural appropriation, which is so important. I’m 100% for the Decriminalize Nature movement, but I also think it’s vital to protect the endangered Peyote plant. White folks have other avenues to explore mescaline without taking even more away from the Native communities. Anyway, I could talk about all this for a long time. I liked the deeper dive in How to Change Your Mind more, but this was still a great companion text.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use
Moderate: Cultural appropriation
Minor: Addiction, Alcohol, and Car accident
More...