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How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence
How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence | Michael Pollan
110 posts | 90 read | 11 reading | 72 to read
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review
JenReadsAlot
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Pickpick

Interesting.

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jack777
Pickpick

So so mind-blowing. Like Chasing the Scream but for psychedelics. About time I had a good history lesson on psychedelics in America. His ability to put ineffable feelings into language is pretty impressive. Definitely plan on rereading sometime in the near future.

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DieAReader
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Pickpick

#Wardens2023 #RushAThon #Scarathlon #MagicalMonsters #BookSpinBingo #OutstandingOctober

Very interesting & informative. A re-read is possible❤️‍🔥

🔪: 1

DieAReader Moving this up the TBR pile as it was referenced here. 1y
DieAReader Also moved up on the TBR due to mention here as well. 1y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 1y
See All 11 Comments
Andrew65 Excellent 👏👏👏 1y
DieAReader @Andrew65 😊😊😊 1y
CoverToCoverGirl 👏😊 1y
DieAReader @CoverToCoverGirl ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 1y
DieAReader @TheAromaofBooks Catching up on my #BookSpinBingo card & realize that this was my #DoubleSpin 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ 1y
TheAromaofBooks Always fun to find out you've already accomplished a goal!! 😂 14mo
29 likes11 comments
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DieAReader
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34 likes1 comment
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BC_Dittemore
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Pickpick

Are psychedelics the dangerous drugs they‘ve been made out to be? Are they, like cannabis, on the verge of being made legal for medicinal purposes? Can they be used to treat a host of mental and nervous disorders? Michael Pollan delves into the history and future of psychedelics, exploring these and many other topics. A lot of interesting information here; a good primer for anyone with a casual interest.

Pollan does a fine job narrating.

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Vivlio_Gnosi
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"The short summary is, babies and children are basically tripping all the time."

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Vivlio_Gnosi

"A platitude is precisely what is left of a truth after it has been drained of all emotion."

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Vivlio_Gnosi

"It's often said that political scandal is what happens when someone in power inadvertently speaks the truth."

#nonfiction #politics #truth #history #medicine #science

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Vivlio_Gnosi
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"Full-on-moral panic", one of the main historical inspirations to me living as skeptical & open-minded as I do.

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Vivlio_Gnosi
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This seems to be a common theme amongst most debates.....

"The loudest and most authoritative voices in the debate over psychedelics during the 1960s were precisely the people who knew least about them."

#nonfiction #science #medicine #history

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Vivlio_Gnosi
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No wonder today's tech is so cool!

#nonfiction #tech #science #medicine

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Vivlio_Gnosi
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What are the odds?? #Netflix is releasing a documentary about the very book I'm studying!
#nonfiction #science #medicine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8LRb4jfZ9g

10 likes1 comment
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Vivlio_Gnosi
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Isn't this the case of most everything?

"The fact that such an ambitious research program continued at Spring Grove well into the 1970s suggests the story of the suppression of psychedelic research is a little more complicated than the conventional narrative would indicate."

#nonfiction #medicine #mentalhealth #science

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Vivlio_Gnosi

Forbid a premature closing of our accounts with reality.

#nonfiction #science #mentalhealth

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Vivlio_Gnosi
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Effects of a controlled administration of a synthetic version of psilocybin.

#nonfiction #science #mentalhealtg

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Vivlio_Gnosi
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Started reading this #nonfiction work about the mind.

#science #mentalhealth

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tdrosebud
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Finished 3 books this week for #nfn21
Dream More was a short book in which Dolly expounds on her thoughts of the pillars of her Imagination Library foundation.
The Time of My Life is a memoir.
The tagged is about the effect of psychedelic drugs on the mind and ultimately how a user views life. The author is an immersive journalist who did take a few psychedelic journies and discussing history of the drugs, studies, etc. @rsteve388 @coffees

coffees Nice! Lots of NF reading :D !! 3y
20 likes1 comment
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AileenRR
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Mehso-so

Spaced out a bunch listening to this one, but still heard lots of interesting things.

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jackday
Pickpick

So so mind-blowing. Like Chasing the Scream but for psychedelics. About time I had a good history lesson on psychedelics in America. His ability to put ineffable feelings into language is pretty impressive. Definitely plan on rereading sometime in the near future.

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Clare-Dragonfly
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This book is about mental breakthroughs—if in a very unorthodox way! It‘s about the science of, and the author‘s experiences with, psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin and LSD. They have a lot of promise for treating mental illness.

Deck: Shadowscapes Tarot

#tarottakeover

Erinsuereads This is my favorite deck! I've connected with it heavily since I got it! I have others and it's still my go to 4y
21 likes1 comment
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Michael_Gee

The price of the sense of an individual identity is a sense of separation from others and nature.

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Godpants
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Pickpick

I‘ve been slowly listening to this one for months and it‘s excellent. Really makes me want to experiment with microdosing and expanding my horizons.

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MeganPagan
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Pickpick

I recommend this book to almost everyone I talk to now. “...people suffering from a whole range of disorders characterized by excessively rigid patterns of thought - including addiction, obsessions, and eating disorders as well as depression - stand to benefit from ‘the ability of psychedelics to disrupt stereotyped patterns of thought and behavior...‘”

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MeganPagan
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“Did he now believe consciousness exists outside the brain? He‘s not certain. ‘But to go from being very sure the opposite is true‘ - that consciousness is the product of our gray matter - ‘to be unsure is an immense shift....And for someone with my orientation‘ - agnostic, enamored of science - ‘that changes everything.‘”

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MeganPagan

“...psychedelics ‘would be for psychiatry what the microscope is for biology or the telescope is for astronomy‘.” I‘ve been following the progression of psychedelic therapy for some time now and love this quote. Pollan does a great job introducing the idea to people who are unfamiliar or unsure about the benefits of these powerful substances for those suffering from PTSD, depression, anxiety, and so much more.

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Valeka
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The end of a year and beginning of another. Wishing all of my Litsy friends a happy and joyous New Year filled with love, light, adventure, and understanding.

VioletBramble Happy New Year! 5y
15 likes1 comment
review
Creadnorthey
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Pickpick

For me this was a bit of a slog- worthwhile slog, but slog nonetheless. If I wasn‘t a believer before (which I was)- this book makes a great case for hallucinogens in treating mental illness and in the “betterment of well people”.

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LauraJ
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1. An important read for anyone who struggles from chronic depression.
2. The reading chair in my living room.
3. Yup.
4. BABY YODA!
@4thhouseontheleft

catiewithac Stacked! But I‘m only happy when I‘m sad 🤷‍♀️ 5y
LeahBergen That meme. 😂 5y
Sace I'm also loving that meme 🤣 5y
38 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Godpants
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I‘ve been wanting to read this for months, and an audiobook version just came available.

SamAnne I‘m listening to the audio read by Pollan right now. Love his books. 5y
7 likes1 comment
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Vanessa.Rae
Pickpick

*****

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CSeydel
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Pickpick

This book was all over the place - part history of psychedelic research, part botany, part memoir, part neuroscience - it‘s tough to review succinctly. Some parts worked better than others. It could‘ve been shorter, really; it felt repetitive in places, but it was all interesting and I‘m glad I read it. #NFNovember

59 likes1 stack add
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ladygrey
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I've been a fan of Michael Pollan for a long time. This is a must read!

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SamAnne
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Moved up Pollan‘s book after seeing Fantastic Fungi last night. Film delves into the medical and psychological benefits of psychoactive mushrooms. And fun fact: in the American Civil War nursed would wrap wounds with moldy bread to get the penicillin benefits. The development of high grade penicillin helped the Allies win WWII. #NFNov @Clwojick @rsteve388

Texreader Whoa! That‘s cool! How did the nurses figure it out? 5y
SamAnne @Texreader missed that in the film or they didn't really go into that! But I want to research it.

(edited) 5y
Clwojick 9 pt. 5y
43 likes3 comments
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NatalieR
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Pickpick

Excellent book on the benefits of psychedelic assisted therapy. The author does a superb job explaining the history of psychedelics for the treatment of mental health disorders, addiction, dying, etc. He shares his personal experiences with different guided psychedelic experiences. Throughout he highlights the benefits of such treatment. My 🤞 for continued support for this method of treatment.

LauraJ Me too! It seems so promising. 🤞🏼 5y
82 likes1 stack add1 comment
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LauraJ
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Pickpick

I want to find a therapist who specializes in psychedelic treatments... but I‘m going to have to wait for the FDA to reclassify the drugs. Pollen gives a full history of the study of psychedelics and his own experiences with them. The key seems to be the ego dissolution that most people experience during a “trip”. He also covers current research findings and future projects that sound incredibly promising. 4.5/5

Trashcanman I tried mushrooms in my youth. It all honesty they were my preferred drug. Except for the time I accidentally smoked angel dust. 5y
Scochrane26 Didn‘t they already try this a long time ago? The Psychopath test talks about it. 5y
41 likes1 stack add2 comments
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MLRio
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Next up in research reading: some new(ish) nonfiction exploring the complicated past and unpredictable future of psychedelics 🍄

15 likes1 stack add
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perfectlywinged
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Pickpick

I knew next to nothing about psychedelics before this book so this was a fascinating read about how scientists have been studying LSD and mushrooms over the years for treatments for addiction and depression and in hospice!

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mklong
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Pickpick

An examination of psychedelic drugs, both their history and their future. Despite promising early research, poor scientific practices and misuse of the drugs ended any serious study of them for many years. Now they are back and being studied in palliative care and as treatment for addiction and depression. This subject seems a bit of a departure for Pollan, but his engaging writing and immersive research are still on show.

47 likes3 stack adds
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Oblomov26
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Pickpick

Now I want to get onto a psychedelic drug test program. Pollan investigates the role that psychedelics have play in human history and the many beneficial affects which are being confirmed in current drug testing programs, including breaking addiction and improving depression anxiety. Effects thought to result from the temporary dissolution of the self and perceived connection with a larger reality which provides perspective on individual concerns.

Graywacke Pretty fascinating stuff 5y
Cathythoughts Sounds fascinating... I‘m a scaredy-cat when it comes to drugs though- but I find it all really interesting 5y
iread2much It is interesting, but I wonder if he bothered to look at all sides of the science. Yes there is enormous potential with these drugs, but also a lot of risk and possible societal harm 5y
45 likes3 comments
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Graywacke
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Being more aware of the reading experience, the atmosphere around me and how I feel when I‘m reading. Thinking more about how the text connects with art and images. But also three of the books I‘m currently reading are with Litsy groups (with really fun conversations). Three at once! So, yeah, it‘s impacting my reading choices quite a bit too.

... And I get to share pet pictures. 😁

Megabooks That‘s awesome! It is fun to find people to discuss books with while you‘re reading them. And I enjoy the pet pictures too. Your dog is very cute!! 🤩 6y
Graywacke @Megabooks yes, the book talk is terrific, fun and motivating. And Pepper, our 🐶, appropriates the compliment. 🙂 6y
BarbaraBB I am glad you found this place too besides LT! 6y
See All 7 Comments
Graywacke @BarbaraBB 🙂 I do love our LT group. This is a different experience, in really nice ways. 6y
Liz_M I love being able to follow you (and other LTers) in both places. Almost enough to convince me to post more often myself. 😁 6y
Graywacke @Liz_M it‘s fun, a different look at everyone. (And, of course, a little more activity here. 🙂) 6y
48 likes7 comments
review
Angitron
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Pickpick

An interesting trip (ha!) through the world of psychedelics, going back to their history as a class of drugs studied at universities for their therapeutic potential, to their downfall and rebranding as a menace to society, to today where they‘re slowly creeping back into the halls of psychotherapy. It was a topic I didn‘t know much about, but I thought this was really well-researched and written. Fascinating and I learned a lot!

janerzy I‘ve been wanting to read this book! 6y
Angitron @janerzy I totally recommend it! 6y
17 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Catsandbooks
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 stars I wanted to give up multiple times on this book, but I finished it. The second part was much better and my favorite parts were when he was describing his trips on different psychedelics. While I'm not wanting to try any of these substances, I do think they can be very beneficial for people suffering from addiction, depression, and other mental illnesses.

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Lindy
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Pickpick

The subtitle sums up the contents: “What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence.” Fascinating stuff. Made me want to try LSD, which the author did as part of his journalistic investigation into the topic. (I‘m so suggestible. I must be careful about what I read!) Anyway, the #audiobook, narrated by the author, led me down many internet rabbit holes.

50 likes1 stack add
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Lindy
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Convinced that trepanation would help facilitate higher states of consciousness, Fielding went looking for someone to perform the operation on her. When it became clear no professional would oblige, she trepanned herself in 1970, boring a small hole in the middle of her forehead with an electric drill. (She documented the procedure in a short but horrifying film called Heartbeat in the Brain.)👇

Lindy [quote continues] Pleased with the results, Fielding went on to stand for election to Parliament, twice, on a platform of "Trepanation for National Health.” 6y
Lindy P.S. not an April Fools joke! 6y
Lindy P.P.S. I‘ve updated my old blog post on trepanation: https://lindypratch.blogspot.com/2017/10/a-year-of-literary-trepanations.html?m=... 6y
Tonton Yikes! 6y
Lindy @Tonton I know! 6y
26 likes5 comments
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Lindy
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RD Laing once said that there are three things human beings are afraid of: death, other people, and their own minds.

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Catsandbooks
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Starting this for my local book club meeting next week!

Anyone else hate when the library puts the sticker right over the title? 🙄

Samplergal That sticker person certainly should be fired! 😂😂😂 yeah. It pisses me off too! 6y
Catsandbooks @Samplergal it's like how am I supposed to take good pictures of my books?!? 🙄😂 6y
27 likes2 comments
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Lindy
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“Mysticism is the antidote to fundamentalism,” (Pollan is quoting Rick Doblin, a pro-psychedelics campaigner.)

(Photo: Buddha seated on a snake deity, 12th century Cambodia)

saresmoore I like that quote a lot. 6y
44 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Lindy
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This audiobook is leading me down fascinating Internet rabbit holes.
https://www.ted.com/talks/paul_stamets_on_6_ways_mushrooms_can_save_the_world?ut...

Reggie Thanks for this, super interesting, and we all need hope. 6y
Lindy @Reggie 😊🍄 6y
33 likes1 stack add2 comments
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karajay
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Just starting this one. Im really excited to read it. I've heard great things! Have any of you read this one?

7 likes4 stack adds
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SkeletonKey
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Pickpick

The most surprising thing I learned from this was that Timothy Leary was once taken seriously as a scientist, lol.

This book reminds me that there are two kinds of people: those who have and have not taken psychedelic drugs. Being the latter, it was hard to relate.

It was very interesting and I find myself angry that they aren‘t being used therapeutically. It would be nice to see if it could help some of my issues and I‘d LIKE to understand.

OwsleyKid Understanding is only a drop away 6y
39 likes1 comment