Most Delicious Poison

The Story of Nature's Toxins―from Spices to Vices

By: Noah Whiteman

Narrated by: Noah Whiteman

Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

An evolutionary biologist tells the story of nature’s toxins and why we are attracted—and addicted—to them, in this “magisterial, fascinating, and gripping tour de force” (Neil Shubin).

A deadly secret lurks within our spice racks, medicine cabinets, backyard gardens, and private stashes.

Scratch beneath the surface of a coffee bean, a red pepper flake, a poppy seed, a mold spore, a foxglove leaf, a magic-mushroom cap, a marijuana bud, or an apple seed, and we find a bevy of strange chemicals. We use these to greet our days (caffeine), titillate our tongues (capsaicin), recover from surgery (opioids), cure infections (penicillin), mend our hearts (digoxin), bend our minds (psilocybin), calm our nerves (CBD), and even kill our enemies (cyanide). But why do plants and fungi produce such chemicals? And how did we come to use and abuse some of them?

Based on cutting-edge science in the fields of evolution, chemistry, and neuroscience, Most Delicious Poison reveals:

• The origins of toxins produced by plants, mushrooms, microbes, and even some animals
• The mechanisms that animals evolved to overcome them
• How a co-evolutionary arms race made its way into the human experience
• And much more

This perpetual chemical war not only drove the diversification of life on Earth, but also is intimately tied to our own successes and failures. You will never look at a houseplant, mushroom, fruit, vegetable, or even the past five hundred years of human history the same way again.

©2023 Noah Whiteman (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Whiteman's narration is wholly engaging. He isn't as smooth as a pro but is all heart, which will move listeners as much as the science intrigues them. Further, his ability to pronounce all of the words builds confidence with the audience. This audiobook is rigorous and technical but relatable.”—Library Journal

“Humans have benefitted for millennia from the wild variety of healing, intoxicating, delicious or stimulating toxins produced by the biological warfare that pervades the natural world. Whiteman provides a wonderful overview of the diversity and ubiquity of these drugs, giving us an inspiring, entertaining look at both the richness of nature and the clever ways humans—and many other species—have learned to exploit it.”—Edward Slingerland, author of Drunk

i thoroughly enjoyed this book

lovely book that focuses on the history and science of natures toxins. i’d say 5 stars

Captivating

He made the topic real by tying it to his real life story, which was his driving force.

I thought I was getting a book about plant science.

The information about botany was okay but I was totally turned off by the personal family trauma and only made it through a few chapters.

This is an Amazing Book

This is a book about the chemicals produced by plants and animals and the myriad ways they affect our lives. incredibly detailed, this book will take you all over the world as well as into intimate places in your own life. As I read I had two major thoughts: the list of people I will recommend this book to, and the fact that I will need to listen to it again and maybe several more times.

i hope this author continues to write

i just quadrupled my knowledge of plants and chemicals. This is a great overview for non-scientific as well as working scientists. the author narrates his own writing and his narration improves greatly as the book progresses. very fascinating subject. i hope to read more from this young man in the future.

interesting story but falls between his personal interest and scientific

lots of interesting facts but didn't convince me in terms of the stories vs the scientific pieces of Info about how spices or active ingredients work

WOKE culture

Letting the listener know about GAY life and feelings seems to be as important as anything to do with the supposed subject matter. Don’t waste your time…

Off topic

Tortured connections to the authors grief around his family history. Narrative jumps all over the place and neither has sufficient depth or much new that couldn't easily be found searching topic online.