Show notes / PDF & Infographic / What do you think when someone mentions the word ‘psychedelics’? Do you imagine a world of fantasy and irony? Or do you get skeptical immediately? How to Change your Mind is an inspired look into the effects psychedelics have on the mind.

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StoryShots Book Summary and Review of How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence by Michael Pollan

Introduction

What do you think when someone mentions the word ‘psychedelics’? Do you imagine a world of fantasy and irony? Or do you get skeptical immediately? 

Psychedelics have been cast under that kind of light. This bleak light comes from decades of hysteria, negative reviews and punitive legislation. However, that's not how the story has always been. 

The author of the book, Michael Pollan, was born too late to partake in the acid trips that Woodstock is famous for. He was also young enough to get a taste. This was before the mass hysteria and legislation cast an image of psychedelics as the devil's agents. 

Pollan’s journey begins with a paper he had ignored earlier. It led him to take a deeper look into the scientific study of the effects of psychedelics. 

The meat of this book starts when the study of psychedelics and their uses was highly condemned. At the time, Pollan decided to gather first-hand experience of their usage. While he had put little thought into such substances and their effects, this was a chance to satisfy his curiosity. 

“One good way to understand a complex system is to disturb it and then see what happens.” - Michael Pollan

How to Change your Mind is an inspired look into the effects psychedelics have on the mind. The exploits back up the mystical experiences of those who took psilocybin in a controlled test. These experiences increased Pollan's interest in the subject. 

About Michael Pollan

Michael Pollan is a storied journalist whose work has covered periphery topics that many don't think about or find absurd. 

Even then, his insights are eye-opening in most cases. His recent book, This Is Your Mind On Plants, is a remarkable collection of such insights.

Although Pollan's roots are in journalism, his fame grew through his books. Pollan is also a Knight Professor at the UC Berkeley School of Journalism and writes articles on science and the environment.

Pollan has earned both accolades and criticisms from scientists, therapists, and medical professionals. Most notably in 2015, he was a recipient of the Washburn Award. 

StoryShot #1: Psychedelics Went Through a Renaissance

A Cascade of Talent

StoryShot #2: Psychedelics Had Potential to Revolutionize Natural History 

StoryShot #3: Society Initially Resisted Psychedelics Strongly

StoryShot #4: An Underground Tour Helped Pollan Understand Psychedelics

First published on January 27, 2023.

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