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bellulapatata's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Forced institutionalization
jeninmotion's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Graphic: Drug use and Vomit
samiann's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Graphic: Drug use
thevioletfoxbookshop's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
Graphic: Drug use and Cultural appropriation
jadewindsor's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
4.5
Graphic: Drug use
a_sterling's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Cultural appropriation
caseyblue75's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
Moderate: Drug use
raysh3ll's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
I found the author's experiments in this book very interesting. The lengths he went to try to learn more are admirable.
Narration was well done and interested me throughout. I think the section on the poppyseed/opium was most intetesting to me. I also appreciated the author's attempts to stay respectful and understanding when covering mescaline and its role in religipus/cultural practices.
Narration was well done and interested me throughout. I think the section on the poppyseed/opium was most intetesting to me. I also appreciated the author's attempts to stay respectful and understanding when covering mescaline and its role in religipus/cultural practices.
Moderate: Drug use
afion's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Drug use
Minor: Ableism, Sexism, and Colonisation
rzh's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
3.75
mmm mixed feelings about this. it is a real page turner, because pollan is a great writer: though some parts are repetitive or tangential. the social history of each plant was really interesting to read about, as was the socialisation and stigma around each, although at times the latter was overwrought (especially the first chapter on opium). the three chapters felt like three equal parts and each plant was given adequate attention. the second chapter on caffeine was definitely my favourite. the book does have a bit of an anticlimactic ending, although i'm not quite sure what i expected. overall, i'd say this book is a good read, especially if you're into essayists, but if you're after a more scientific or fact-based narrative it might not be for you: as the author leans heavily on his own experiences, each chapter becomes more of a personal essay situation (which is totally fair but i feel that it the book kind of masquerades as more science-based than it actually ends up being). 3.75 stars.
Moderate: Drug use and Colonisation