This Is Your Mind on Plants

Opium - Caffeine - Mescaline

By: Michael Pollan

Narrated by: Michael Pollan

Length: 7 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's Summary

Brought to you by Penguin. 

Of all the many things humans rely on plants for, surely the most curious is our use of them to change consciousness: to stimulate, calm, or completely alter the qualities of our mental experience. In This Is Your Mind on Plants, Michael Pollan explores three very different drugs - opium, caffeine and mescaline - and throws the fundamental strangeness of our thinking about them into sharp relief. Exploring and participating in the cultures that have grown up around these drugs, while consuming (or in the case of caffeine, trying not to consume) them, Pollan reckons with the powerful human attraction to psychoactive plants and the equally powerful taboos.

In a unique blend of history, science, memoir and reportage, Pollan shines a fresh light on a subject that is all too often treated reductively. In doing so, he proves that there is much more to say about these plants than simply debating their regulation, for when we take them into our bodies and let them change our minds, we are engaging with nature in one of the most profound ways we can. This groundbreaking and singular book holds up a mirror to our fundamental human needs and aspirations, the operations of our minds and our entanglement with the natural world.

©2021 Michael Pollan (P)2021 Penguin Audio

INTERESTING, WELL READ BUT LACKING

I really enjoyed the author's last book "how to change your mind" and was looking forward to another trip into the fascinating world of psychoactive plants. This book is very interesting and does have a lot of eye-opening information. However, I felt it fell short of its predecessor. Possibly due to the pandemics travel restrictions etc, which are mentioned many times as causes for the author's plans being changed/abandoned. I feel the book would have benefited from waiting out the restrictions and continuing a little deeper into the rabbit hole. Also releasing the coffee section early and free for audible members, took a big chunk out of the finished book.

A wonderful book, once again.

I really enjoy Pollan's style and how he intertwines various plants into a narrative.

This is a fascinating look at the criminal war on drugs, the amazing power of caffine and gave me a beautiful new perspective on peyote.

No table of contents?!?!?

Unacceptable that they should, in this day and age, publish an audiobook without a table of contents!!!

Another great book from Pollan

This book explores two subjects that I have not given much thought to and one that I think about constantly.

The material is interesting, peppered with interviews and read as only an author can read their book.

For me, the chapter on caffeine seemed quite light, likely because I have already researched coffee a fair bit. (I would like to point out that although Pollen makes the point that growers make barely any money, the process from bean to cup accounts for a lot of different costs, and if the café is charging a sensible premium then the costs to get the coffee to you do make up 98%< of the cost and are warranted.)

Additionally I feel like, although Pollan points out the difference between cultural appropriation and the use of peyote (diminishing supply for native Americans). The use of the term is self reinforcing its use in culture - cultures have borrowed and changed each others customs for melania and the current narrative that this is a bad thing only serves to demonise those who a bad actor wishes to dispense with.

Interesting, but not as good as How to change your mind

I’ve very much enjoyed Michael Pollan’s books and this is a great read too - or great reading by the author I should say. It’s a nice accompaniment to his previous book, How to Change Your Mind, which I highly recommend. However, a bit shorter, a bit lighter, it just wasn’t as deep or good. One chapter being a previously published article, was this a bit of a rushed book through the pandemic? It seems like it. Worth reading but I feel there was more in the author.

Brilliant

I had difficulty at the beginning of the book
I thought I might even return it, I lost interest but my friend who read it said to pull through a little more and I was very happy that I did

A gentle, humane ride

What a pleasure it is to spend several hours in Michael Pollan’s company as he walks us through the history and impact of these fascinating plants. The writing is excellent, as usual. I could have listened to many more minutes.

great book

another great book from Pollan. The book is in 3 sections opium, caffine, mescaline. These are the only subjects of the book but explored in depth with the usual Pollan story telling making it easy to read / listen to.

Excellent story telling!

Michael Pollan tells a very interesting tale about the everyday substances that control our lives.

Really makes you think about what you ingest and it’s history. A fantastic book.

Well written in typical Pollan style

Well written and engaging. I very much enjoyed the book and felt it would a fun book to read with interesting anecdotes. However, although entertaining, it was not transcendental.

Not very scientific

Very American perspective, especially about legal implications of possession. Very little insights about impact on nervous system and homeostasis.

Humour in neuroscience

Great story telling - bringing science to life (and sometimes the spiritual 'beyond'). Loved this book. Thank you.