This is Your Mind on Plants by Michael Pollen

Book Review

I’m endlessly fascinated by the brain and how it functions… which is why I love Michael Pollen.

If you’re a fan of nonfiction, I HIGHLY recommend you read his book How to Change Your Mind, which explores the science, history and psychological effects of psychedelics (specifically psilocybin (aka mushrooms) and LSD). His latest book, This Is Your Mind on Plants, felt much like a continuation of How to Change Your Mind, as it explores opium, caffeine and mescaline.

A few of my most interesting takeaways:

—While mescaline is illegal in the US, Native Americans are allowed to possess and consume the drug (in the form of peyote), as such is considered a religious ritual and therefore protected by the First Amendment

—The War on Drugs, which was started by the Nixon administration, was largely an effort to oppress the antiwar left and minorities…which explains the decision to classify some drugs as “illicit,” while other highly-addictive drugs - like caffeine, nicotine and alcohol - were deemed (and remain) legally permissible and socially accepted

—While the US government was busy cracking down on gardeners and seed distributors in the 90s for selling/growing opium, Purdue Pharma was quietly (and legally) mass-producing and selling OxyContin (which has been responsible for hundreds of thousands of overdose deaths since it’s debut in 1996)

—The introduction of coffee (and more specifically, caffeine) was a major factor in the rise of capitalism - as it allows humans the ability to stay awake and push beyond the limits of our natural circadian rhythms…thus making possible night-shifts and long nights at the office

—While some people can drink caffeine before bed and have no trouble falling asleep, science shows that the quality of a person’s deep sleep is significantly impaired under the influence of caffeine (thus effectively mimicking the sleep quality of a person 20% older)*

* I loved that Pollen consulted Matthew Walker, the author of Why We Sleep (another favorite non-fiction book), in his chapter on caffeine

In true Pollen fashion, the book includes a heavy dose of participatory journalism, as the author personally experiments with all the drugs discussed (in the name of research, of course). If you are fascinated by the history, science and societal impacts of drugs, this one's for you. While it wasn’t quite as mind-blowing as How to Change Your Mind, it’s still a worthwhile and educational read.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ /5 

Thanks to Penguin Press for my gifted copy!