How to Change Your Mind: The New Science of Psychedelics

Not sure if it was the author's intention, but there seems to be a hidden message in the title. The book does not only explore how psychedelics can change our minds, but perhaps more importantly it strives to change the minds of the wider audience on psychedelics. And it does it beautifully. Extremely well written and researched, the facts about the history of the subject and the studies meet personal experiences and contemplations. With fresh parallels and thought provoking questions the book offers the reader a great understanding of not just "how", but "why". This should be on a recommended reading list of anyone who is at the beginning of the journey. And if you had some experience, but can't quite make sense of it, the book will certainly help with that. The Audible narration is perfect as well.

This book looks at the current situation regarding research into the use of psychedelics for the treatment of mental distress. A very interesting history looks at the 1950's and the success at that time through to the withdrawal of research grants following the counterculture. New research is now being undertaken. The book looks at the neuroscience-i.e. what these drugs do to the brain and the Author tries three different kinds of psychedelics as part of his research for the book. All of this is extremely well written. The title of the book relates to the idea of a de frag whereby the brains of some people could benefit from the insights and opening of their minds following an experience with psychedelics. This is an entertaining but serious book that builds a case for the sensible reappraisal of these substances and their benefits when used appropriately although a case is also made for access by people who are not suffering from mental distress. I genuinely couldn't put this book down and it is extraordinarily interesting. Don't be put off by any question of readability-it has enough depth whilst being very approachable for the reasonably well educated. One of the best books of non fiction I have ever read. Could not give it a higher recommendation.

The book is definitely thought provoking. For someone (like myself) who never read about, not to mention use any psychedelics before it will likely change your mind about the subject. The part about history of LSD is fascinating. If you liked it and want to know more, particularly about how and why psychedelics got banned in USA and the rest of the world I strongly recommend to read "Storming Heaven: LSD and the American Dream" which will give you fuller account of the events. Clearly, for the author trying psychedelics was not exactly life-changing but memorable experience. The tone of the book is generally positive but not exactly endorsing, particularly when it comes to 'recreational use' of LSD. From my part, after reading this book and "Storming Heaven" I came to personal conclusion that very limited (and I mean very limited) use of LSD in therapeutic settings has a potential for somebody to get to piece with himself and the world. Using it for people with depression and/or terminal disease seems quite justifiable. However LSD experience and particularly frequent usage is very unlikely to lead to any 'objective' achievements. That is your are unlikely to become smarter or to gain any special psychological or creative powers. The story of O'Leary demonstrates it quite clearly. Anyway, these are just my thoughts. If you are curious -- read this book, it is likely to change you mind about some aspects of the world.

Arrived as promised . All good .

I think everyone should be able to read this insightful and groundbreaking exploration of psychadelics and how they may just be the most powerful and radical treatment for mental health in decades. Open your mind, learn about the science, and explore the world as it was meant to be seen. Genuinely, i will never be the same again. Eye opening in the extreme

I've just finished reading Michael Pollan's book on psychedelics. It's funny, informative and thought-provoking. The main strong point of the book for me is in bringing the reader up-to-date on where psychedelics currently stand as a set of potential therapeutic tools for the treatment of depression, addiction, and the anxiety of cancer patients facing imminent death; and on how public health professionals are slowly winning the argument for more, and much broader, studies to take place. Pollan's approach is rigorously materialist and rational, although by the end of the book - which includes his own experiences as a newcomer to the world of psychedelics at the age of sixty - he has to admit that the world may be a far stranger place than he had previously thought it to be. I can't recommend the book too highly - it's an engaging, intelligent and suprisingly moving read.

I've been interested in this topic for several years now so there wasn't a huge amount in Michael Pollan's book that was new to me but there were still some information and some characters that I hadn't encountered before. This is a very comprehensive, engaging and honest look at psychedelics and their history and I think it's very important that this topic penetrates further into the mainstream. I really feel that psycholytic and psychedelic therapy could be hugely beneficial to the millions of people with mental health problems and that they could also help everyone gain a depper understanding and enjoyment of life and consciousness. This book is also quite funny, particularly his reactions to some of the guides that he encounters when he decides to experience psychedelic states, but without detracting from the wonder of altered states, such as when he pees a waterfall of diamonds while tripping on psilocybin. I've enjoyed Michael Pollan's writing on food and I'm interested in psychedelics so for me this was a perfect match!

I got this after seeing the buzz on the news about psychedelic research and hearing the book being recommended on a podcast. The author also wrote a great book on meat consumption and production called the Ominvore's Dilemma which I can recommend, even if it is very US-centric. This book is split into two halves, I'd say - a history of psychedelia and the authors personal experiences trying them out - though the history accounts for much more than 50%. I felt that the history lessons dragged on a bit and there was so much minutiae included that really wasn't relevant. The writing style is fairly easy to get on with but as it's quite regularly punctuated with the same strange words, I think you could have a go at Pollan Bingo. Some words and phrases to look out for - Dionysian; noetic; numinous; and occasion (as a verb). The personal accounts, present day insights and proposed medicinal use are the real highlights of this. I feel that if the writer cut back on the strange words (maybe I'm under-educated and I should be using these in everyday conversation) and cut back on the historical accounts a bit, I think this would be really good. I think I saw on another review that this would be a good book to give your parents to convince them of the benefits we could have one day - law-abiding. Perhaps, but only if they had a bit of patience to cut through the tedium.

O melhor livro que já li sobre psicodélicos e enteógenos (e já li vários). Pollan mais uma vez nos cativa com sua prosa cativante, concisa e precisa! Nos entregou um texto simples, porém com uma incrível abundância de conteúdo e referências a diversos outros autores e pesquisadores. Nesta obra ele apresenta um viés extremamente sóbrio e necessariamente cético sobre esse polêmico tema. Apesar de todo ceticismo do autor, ele lança questões perspicazes, dinâmicas e honestas... Melhor livro do ano pra mim. Já admirava o autor e fiquei muito satisfeito com mais essa jornada que ele nos traz.

Uno de los mejores libros que he leído y con mucho aprendizaje sobre la psicodelia y la historia de los pioneros de la terapia con psicodelicos

Michael Pollen beschreibt sehr lebhaft und interessant sowohl die Entdeckung und Geschichte psychedelischer Substanzen wie LSD und Psilocibin, eigene (erste) Erfahrungen mit den Substanzen, Forschung im Gebiet der Psychotherapie und allgemein wissenschaftliche Studien und Erkentnisse zu dem Thema. Dabei trifft er eine sehr gute Linie zwischen wissenschaftlicher Korrektheit und Verständlichkeit. Zudem sind die Studien, auf die er sich bezieht, stets in den Fußnoten zu finden, falls sich diese der Leser selbst (gründlicher) anschauen möchte. Ein genial geschriebenes Buch über das Potential dieser Substanzen, ohne verherrlichend zu werden und potentielle Gefahren zu ignorieren.

Lovely. Honest, fascinating. I love how Pollan hates the word and idea "spiritual" (as do I) but cannot get away from it when he is on psychedelics. Yep.

Comprehensive account of psychedelic world. Michael Pollan has a explored the psychedelic world in quite an academic way, however at certain places he does seem to be erring in favour of psychedelics. For example, attributing NASA's earth catalogue project to LSD ( with an open ended maybe). Then making broad generalisations like " closer to two million Americans had tried LSD by 1969, this cadre had indeed blown the mind of America, leaving the country in a substantially different place." ( That's an utterly simplistic view of social change and shows heavy bias ). Other than that, he has explored and explained the psychedelics world from spiritual, humanistic, psychoanalytic, or neurological angles which is great. His choice of words in explaining his own psychedelic experiences has been amazing. Overall great read.