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A review by sarahbythebook
How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us about Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence by Michael Pollan
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I've started this book twice before, but I finally decided to give the audiobook a try, and I'm so glad that I did! As someone both personally interested in altering my reality from time to time and curious about the promise of new medicines and sciences, the research being done on psychedelics is exciting and enticing. As I understand it, Johns Hopkins is currently in stage three testing of psilocybin, and that gives me hope that someday soon, those with treatment-resistant depression or OCD or terminal illness or even people like me who just want to experience a different reality in the hopes of living a better life might get the chance to do so.
Michael Pollan's blend of science journalism and memoir is captivating and informative. The fraught history of research on LSD and similar substances is both ancient and brand new, thanks in no small part to the Nixon administration. However, it's encouraging to hear the research that's been unearthed and continued, at least up to 2018.
There are a few things I wish Pollan had given more page space to:
First the use of psychedelics by indigenous peoples in the Americas pre-Europeans as well as how they're used in cultures on other continents. I'm especially curious about the use of these types of plants in Africa, since it was only mentioned in passing once in this book.
Second, MKUltra. As someone unsurprised by the government lying to its civilians and using them as test subjects, I'd at least like to be able to read about it, especially in the context of other research that paralleled the CIA's.
This book also raised an interesting question, at least to me. How would a guided trip--eye masks and all-- work for someone with a sense-based neurodivergence? How would someone who already experiences synesthesia react? What about someone like me with aphantasia who cannot create mental images? What are the scientifically observable differences in a psychedelic experience in a neurotypical person versus those of us that don't quite follow the mold?
The only real issue I have with this book is the constant use of feminine pronouns when referring to a fictional person. It felt like a weird choice--maybe it's just in the audiobook. Overall, I'm glad I finally read How to Change your Mind, and I hope it's done some good in changing the minds of those who control drug policy.
Michael Pollan's blend of science journalism and memoir is captivating and informative. The fraught history of research on LSD and similar substances is both ancient and brand new, thanks in no small part to the Nixon administration. However, it's encouraging to hear the research that's been unearthed and continued, at least up to 2018.
There are a few things I wish Pollan had given more page space to:
First the use of psychedelics by indigenous peoples in the Americas pre-Europeans as well as how they're used in cultures on other continents. I'm especially curious about the use of these types of plants in Africa, since it was only mentioned in passing once in this book.
Second, MKUltra. As someone unsurprised by the government lying to its civilians and using them as test subjects, I'd at least like to be able to read about it, especially in the context of other research that paralleled the CIA's.
This book also raised an interesting question, at least to me. How would a guided trip--eye masks and all-- work for someone with a sense-based neurodivergence? How would someone who already experiences synesthesia react? What about someone like me with aphantasia who cannot create mental images? What are the scientifically observable differences in a psychedelic experience in a neurotypical person versus those of us that don't quite follow the mold?
The only real issue I have with this book is the constant use of feminine pronouns when referring to a fictional person. It felt like a weird choice--maybe it's just in the audiobook. Overall, I'm glad I finally read How to Change your Mind, and I hope it's done some good in changing the minds of those who control drug policy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Addiction and Alcoholism