Psychedelics: The revolutionary drugs that could change your life – a guide from the expert

by David J. Nutt

We are on the cusp of a major revolution in psychiatric medicine and neuroscience. After fifty years of prohibition, criminalisation and fear, science is finally showing us that psychedelics are not dangerous or harmful. Instead, when used according to tested, safe and ethical guidelines, they are our most powerful newest treatment of mental health conditions, from depression, PTSD, and OCD to disordered eating and even addiction and chronic pain.

Professor David Nutt, one of the world's leading Neuropsychopharmacologists, has spent 15 years researching this field and it is his most significant body of work to date. In 2018, he co-founded the first academic psychedelic research centre - underpinned by his mission to provide evidence-based information for people everywhere. It revived interest in the understanding and use of this drug in its many forms, including MDMA, ayahuasca, magic mushrooms, LSD and ketamine. The results of this have been nothing short of ground-breaking for the future categorisation of drugs, but also for what we now know about brain mechanisms and our consciousness.

At a time where there is an enormous amount of noise around the benefits of psychedelics, this book contains the knowledge you need to know about a drug that is about to go mainstream, free from the hot air, direct from the expert.

Are you ready to change your mind?

Genres: Science, Psychology, Nonfiction, Health, Psychiatry, Drugs, Neuroscience

307 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2023

About the author

David John Nutt is an English neuropsychopharmacologist specialising in the research of drugs that affect the brain and conditions such as addiction, anxiety, and sleep. He is the chairman of Drug Science, a non-profit which he founded in 2010 to provide independent, evidence-based information on drugs.

Reviews

[Alya Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely thorough (yet concise) and very well-written account on psychedelics, ranging from explanations of the different kinds, the history (both from the scientific and political perspectives), diaries from actual human experiences with the substances, advice on taking psychedelics, to answering hundreds of questions you could have on these drugs and their implications.

This was a delightful book to read. It’s honest, at times funny, highly necessary and also hopeful. Professor David Nutt did a fabulous job at communicating the science. The book contains just the perfect amount of technical information without any major oversimplification, yet I find still very accessible to the general public without any scientific background. Highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

This was an easy 5 stars for me.

[Markus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This guy is a very serious and influential sciency professorman, a neuropsychopharmacologist and a psychiatrist so it's not just another book on drugs. His influence also extends to Estonia, having mentored the psychiatrist who recently opened the only clinic in Estonia offering ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.

He talks about the studies he was involved in where they did fMRI and MEG scans on people using psychedelics and the first interesting finding was that the hallucinations were not due to the visual areas of the brain displaying more activity but due to an area called default mode network (DMN) shutting off.

DMN functions as the communication network between anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) which integrates motivation, emotions and memories, and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) which integrates sensory inputs — seeing, hearing, positional sense and touch, etc. DMN is kind of the conductor of the brain, integrating raw input data and forming a coherent, functional perception of the world for us.

So when DMN switches off under psychedelics, the visual inputs transform back into a kind of primal raw data that might not make a lot of sense. More importantly, this also works with the built-in ideas about oneself that have formed over many years which ties into the treatment of depression for example. The negative, hopeless perceptions about one's identity get broken down and a possibility of seeing the self and the world in a new, more positive way emerges.

They also noticed that under psychedelics the connections between neurons in the brain change from "small-world" brain into a "large-world" brain meaning that normally, the neurons in a network in the brain communicate more with neurons in its own network and less with other networks. Under psyhcedelics, this changes into the neurons forming a lot more connections with neurons in other brain networks, allowing for much more creativity and meaningful personal and intellectual insights. Furthermore, psychedelics increase the brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), even during the trip whereas antidepressants increase BDNF slowly, over weeks. The duration of this effect for psychedelics is unknown but they detected it's presence after a month. Under psychedelics, the brain grows too, increasing the amount of dendrites and synapses of neurons in the brain.

He talks a lot about microdosing psychedelics and appears to be very excited over its possibilites, but eventually concludes that in the studies, microdosing doesn't have a benefit over placebo. He is able to accept the data as a scientist and I find that respectable.

He presents more data with psychedelics and treatment of depression, for example a six week double-blind study of 59 participants with moderate to severe depression comparing escitalopram (3 weeks 10 mg then 3 weeks 20 mg), the golden standard of SSRI treatment, with 25 mg of psilocybin once in the beginning and once after 3 weeks. Placebos were also included. The results showed a significant benefit of psilocybin over escitalopram at six weeks - 57% of people in remission compared to 28% with escitalopram. Although, for a little criticism, I think they should have had a 6 week period with 20 mg escitalopram to get a better comparison but nonetheless, initial results are promising.

To be fair, he warns of the dangers of using psychedelics in uncontrolled environments and I'm still highly skeptical of the use of psychedelics to treat one's mental problems. Nevertheless, he has managed to convince me of their potential benefits over antidepressants, especially in controlled, clinical environments.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, a book that comprehensively covers the science of psychedelics! This has been surprisingly hard to find. How to Change Your Mind is the usual recommended primer on psychedelics, and, make no mistake, that book is very well-written. However, I was disappointed by how much that book focused on the history of psychedelics, as opposed to how they work. David Nutt's book is the book I was actually looking for.

Nutt does a comprehensive job exploring what a psychedelic is, the different types and their effects, how psychedelics work more generally, and what issues could be treated by psychedelics. His writing is exceptionally clear and concise; he doesn't skimp on technical details or water anything down, but it's also an extremely accessible read and is never dry. Considering how academic bioscience can be, this is a feat.

I don't think I learned a lot new from the book, but this isn't a demerit of the book at all; I had to painstakingly piece together the content by talking to people in the field and reading research papers to learn the things he covers. Having a comprehensive, easily digestible survey of the literature to date in one place, written without academese, is a big deal.

I really liked that he emphasized psychedelics are not a wonder drug where you take it once and your depression / OCD / anxiety / etc. disappears forever. For lots of people, that really does happen! But for many depressed patients, some of the effects wear off a bit--much better than they were before taking it, but they do relapse a bit. Three steps forward, one step backward, and additional experiences help keep the brain "in tune". Ketamine in particular has gotten a very rosy reputation in the press for being a one-time wonder drug, when in reality most people need multiple infusions to see an effect. Nutt is excited about the promise of psychedelics, but he's not a blind evangelist--he's refreshingly realistic about it. Psychedelics are not a silver bullet, but rather a very promising new tool in the toolbox against mental illness.

Overall I'm pretty satisfied with the book, although I wish he had explored a couple topics more. He mentions a few times in the book that not everyone responds to psychedelics, or have milder experiences--why? Similarly, I wish he had spent longer talking about the negative effects of psychedelics. He mentions Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD), but it was a pretty brief byline. I suspect perhaps he didn't because it would have made the book more technical, and, also, in some cases, robust research probably just simply isn't there, especially in terms of psychedelic non-responders.

All in all, a good read for someone who actually wants to understand how psychedelics work and likes the science behind it all.

[Ric Sander · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmmm, I was torn between 2 or 3 stars. The book gives a good overview of psychedelics as well as the authors and his peers research.

However, Prof. David Nutt is a peak example of an extremely biased researcher who still claims the total objectivity of science and his own research. He hides this unconditional personal love for psychedelic substances through quotes and personal stories that give nothing but praise to brain stimulating drugs. To me that’s just unscientific.
Even in the chapter in which he tries to describe the risks and dangers of psychedelic drugs he fails to do so.
THIS BOOK IS NOT SELF-CRITICAL OR REFLECTIVE.

The language is pleasant, easy to follow. He cooks down complicated pharmacology into very simplified processes. That’s what I look for in pop science book. I would have LOVED to read more of that!

Maybe that would have given the book some more structure as well. Unfortunately it’s rather messy. He jumps back and forth between the different drugs and topics ordered in chapters that don‘t make a whole lot of sense. Especially towards the end. Meanwhile he spreads anecdotal stories of the wonders of psychedelics throughout the whole book distracting the reader from the actually interesting stuff.

If you are interested in the topic, go read it and paint your own picture, however please be critical of what you learn even if it comes from a renowned scientist such as Prof. David Nutt.

[Cameron Burkholder · Rating 4 out of 5]

The subject matter is fascinating, but the way it's presented feels a bit scattered and leaves something to be desired.

[Aka901 · Rating 4 out of 5]

great overview about the potential of psychedelics as medicine, introducting lots of current studies, very accessible

clearly this guy is very comfortable and confident in his research and kind of iconic? being sacked by the government and still continuing his research with his own charity, having a study funded by channel 4 lol...
you do what you have to do in this political landscape

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Profound. Insightful. Groundbreaking. Easy to read without prior knowledge of psychopharmacology. David explores the topic fluidly and in great depth. A wonderful read on new treatment modalities that are set to shake the world of psychology.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading about the history behind psychedelics as well as learning more in depth detail about why they were banned; not because they were truly dangerous, but because they could provide insight and healing that could really change someone’s point of view in life, which most powerful entities do not want. “They open you up to the possibility that everything you know is wrong.”

Although I loved reading this book, I don’t think it’s for everyone. If the why behind psychedelic drugs and/or therapy isn’t intriguing to you, then this book may not excite you. Although, if you’re suffering from anxiety, depression, anything that you’re currently being medicated for, or curious about psychedelic therapy at all, I’d definitely add this to your list.

Thank you to NetGalley, author, and publisher for the ARC. 🙏

[John Boxall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic and very interesting overview from a consistently interesting scientist. Well worth a read

[Mihai · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Nutt's Psychedelics is a great entry point for readers interested in the science behind these fascinating compounds. As a neuroscientist studying serotonergic psychedelics and their effects on the brain in both health and disease, I found this book to be an excellent complement to Michael Pollan's How to Change Your Mind. While Pollan’s work blends history, personal experiences, and cultural context, Nutt offers a more focused, science-driven exploration—ideal for readers curious about the mechanisms and research underpinning psychedelics.

The book is written in an accessible style, nicely bridging the gap between overly simplified popular science and highly specialized neuroscience. Nutt highlights groundbreaking findings, particularly those emerging from his own lab in the UK, showcasing how psychedelics are transforming our understanding of brain function and mental health. However, I felt at times that achievements from other research groups were not highlighted as much as they should, especially in comparison to his own lab's contributions.

One point that surprised me was Nutt’s statement that distinct psychedelics produce largely the same changes in the brain because they act on the 5-HT2A receptor (p. 22). While this is a key mechanism, psychedelics exhibit complex polypharmacy, interacting with many other receptors that also influence brain function. Emerging evidence suggests that even closely related compounds can produce distinct effects on brain connectivity and behavior in humans.

Additionally, given the rapid progress in psychedelic research, some parts of the book already feel slightly outdated. For instance, Nutt discusses the potential of psychedelics in anxiety disorders as hypothetical, but recent studies (e.g., 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.08.025) have demonstrated its efficacy. In fact, MindMed has just announced a Phase 3 trial for generalized anxiety disorder—an exciting step forward for the field.

That said, these are minor critiques of an otherwise engaging and informative book. I thoroughly enjoyed the many fun and quirky details Nutt shares—tidbits I hadn’t come across before. If you’re looking for a clear, scientifically grounded introduction to these intriguing compounds, Psychedelics is an excellent choice.

[Lexie Lodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is SO good! I have been interested in psychedelic therapy for a long time and David Nutt was one of the heroes of Bristol University when I was a student there so I was instantly drawn to this.
Professor Nutt writes in a clear, spare way that makes the content easily accessible, even to those without a scientific background. The book provides an introduction to what psychedelics are and their effects, the history of their use and regulation and a rigorous discussion of trials into their medical use that have been done. There is safety information about recreational taking of psychedelics, however, this book is primarily focussed on the emerging evidence of their medicinal use, particularly in treatment of psychiatric illness. Psychedelic therapy is very politically charged and I think logical, balanced books like this are important tools to argue for its use. I look forward to seeing the outcomes of the ongoing trials and if the results are as good as they seem, I hope we will see the medicinal use of psychedelics becoming WHO approved therapies within my lifetime.

[Tommy Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slowly becoming one of those people. Book left me feeling excited about the revolution of psychopharmacology, and angry about the ignorance, fear-mongering, and dishonesty which has slowed it down

I also didn’t realise that ket was not only considered a psychedelic but that ket-assisted therapy is now a promising cure for anxiety, depression, and PTSD

Interestingly, UoM is one of a handful of organisation campaigning for the relegation of these drugs from Schedule One (UN), with the hope that they can then be freed up for research in the UK

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

From someone who took a copious amount of psychedelics before my frontal lobe was fully developed and an adult who loves data backed//scientific//easily digestible books to nerd on — i loved it.

But then again … THIS IS MY BRAIN ON DRUGS 🍳🍄🧬🧠🤪

[Joe O'Hallaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great dive into the different psychedelics, how they interact with your brain, and up to date discussion of research and modern thinking on psychedelics as medicine.

[L.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Książka poważna rzeczowa i wydaje się że z uzasadnionym optymizmem napisana. Chyba mnie przekonał ;) Czasami mi się dłużyła, ale autor przytacza badania itp., to może nie jest bardzo porywające ale jest ważne i dosyć przystępnie napisane.
Autor twierdzi, że psychodeliki mogą wspierać leczenie depresji, PTSD, uzależnień... Natomiast czego nie stwierdza: że przyjmowanie ich na własną rękę, zwłaszcza z niewiadomych źródeł (a dla przeciętnego człowieka raczej niemal wszystkie źródła takimi by były) byłoby bezpieczne. Ok, to uczciwe postawienie sprawy.
Ale tymi bezpiecznymi myślę, że mógłbym się zainteresować, jeśli coś może uspokajać gonitwę myśli, to warto się tym zainteresować ;)
Natomiast to co mi się bardzo nie spodobało, to takie stwierdzenie:
"Jednoznacznie pokazały [wyniki badań], że Class A nie odzwierciedla szkód wywoływanych przez tabletki ecstasy, a  wręcz że jedynymi środkami psychoaktywnymi o mniejszej szkodliwości są azotyny alkilowe (takie jak azotyn izoamylu znany jako poppers) i khat (czuwaliczka jadalna)."
(pdf.str. 286)
- bo moim zdaniem przedstawia tu poppersa w jednoznacznie pozytywnym świetle... aż musiałem znowu prosić chataGPT żeby mi poukładał co tu się wydarzyło ;) i oto co odpowiedział: "Jeżeli Nutt napisał, że są „mniej szkodliwe”, to prawdopodobnie odnosił się do konkretnych wskaźników szkód społecznych lub długoterminowego uzależnienia, a nie do tego, że są całkowicie bezpieczne." - no i to ma sens... szkoda tylko że autor tego w swojej książce nie napisał :P [Więc uzupełniam: "Poppers (azotyny alkilowe) działają głównie przez gwałtowne rozszerzenie naczyń krwionośnych i spadek napięcia mięśni gładkich. To daje szybki „efekt”, ale jednocześnie obciąża układ krążenia. (...) W ogóle przy książkach Nutta warto pamiętać o jednej rzeczy: on często porównuje względne ryzyko różnych substancji. A ludzie odbierają to jako ocenę bezwzględną."]

Na koniec kilka ciekawych cytatów:

"Muchomor czerwony może również leżeć u  podstaw opowieści o Świętym Mikołaju. Grzyb ten rośnie między innymi w  północnej Laponii, gdzie ludzie często nie mogą wyjść ze swoich jurt z powodu wysokich zasp po opadach śniegu. Podobno zdarzało się tak, że sąsiedzi lokalizowali ich za sprawą dymu wydobywającego się z komina, a następnie wrzucali do niego wysuszone owocniki muchomora, żeby podnieść ich na duchu. Jeżeli to prawda, byłoby to wyjaśnienie, dlaczego Święty Mikołaj nosi czerwono-biały strój i wchodzi do domów przez komin, a także dlaczego jego renifery potrafią latać.
Jako że renifery uwielbiają zjadać muchomory czerwone, ich hodowcy je zbierają i rozrzucają w określonych miejscach, aby zwabić do nich zwierzęta."
(pdf.str. 76)

"Wielu ludzi obawia się śmierci między innymi dlatego, że postrzega ją jako koniec. Potencjał psychodelików w łagodzeniu cierpienia wynika po części z  tego, że pomagają pacjentowi zobaczyć, że tak nie jest. Kluczem do tego jest doświadczenie rozpuszczenia ego i poczucie stopienia, zjednoczenia lub mocniejszego połączenia ze światem lub wszechświatem. Ludzie mogą wtedy czuć się tak, jakby unosili się poza swoim ciałem albo nawet patrzyli z góry na siebie samych. W bardziej skrajnych przypadkach mogą mieć wrażenie, jakby ich ciało rozpływało się w  przestrzeni, a ich fizyczna tożsamość i integralność ulegały rozpadowi. Mimo to nadal są tą samą osobą, po prostu w innej formie.
Na logicznym poziomie wiemy, że po naszej śmierci atomy tworzące nasze ciała będą istnieć dalej i  nieuchronnie w pewnym momencie zostaną włączone w nową formę życia. Psychodeliki pomagają doświadczyć tej myśli w sposób emocjonalny. Dodają ludziom otuchy, ponieważ mogą popchnąć ich ku uświadomieniu sobie tego, że nie umrą w  całości – że śmierć jest raczej przemianą aniżeli końcem."
(pdf.str. 220)

"Wydaje się mało prawdopodobne, że kiedykolwiek możliwe będzie wytworzenie przekonania religijnego poprzez ingerencję w  mózg osoby, która nie chce być wierząca. Jeżeli jednak człowiek jest wierzący albo przynajmniej otwarty na wiarę w  Boga, wywoływane przez psychodeliki poczucie transcendencji albo przebywania w obecności czegoś lub kogoś większego będzie mieć dla niego charakter religijny."
(pdf.str. 239)

- ok, to jest szczere ;)

(czytana/słuchana: 4-8.06.2026)
5-/5 [7/10]

[Rosemarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, comprehensive look at the research around psychedelics and their potential uses in medicine. The author is obviously passionate about his work and helping people with mental illnesses using psychedelics, but I think he might have some blind spots when it comes to criticism. He's clearly still upset about being sacked in the 1990s. I get it, it's frustrating when you're trying to share information and people refuse to listen because it doesn't fit their narrative, but he's had a massively important career in academia since then.

I've never taken drugs, it's not my thing; in fact, I've said I would only try these drugs under clinical, research conditions, and since I respond well to my medication, I'd never qualify for the research trials. I found Nutt's descriptions and his quotes from others, including research participants, fascinating. It's one of the reasons I got this audiobook, I want to know what people experience without actually trying psychedelics. People I know have told me about their experiences but I'm interested in it from a scientist's position.

I'm interested in the science of how they work. The explanations of the way the chemicals work on the brain are really easy to understand. Er, for me at least, but I have some background in biochemistry. I think a general reader without a science background should be able to make sense of it. Nutt's frustration at the waste of research time and opportunity caused by unsupported bans and high costs seems well-founded.

Nutt narrated his book and he has a reasonable narration voice. His accent sounds comforting, he has clear diction and a warm tone.

Nutt has a shallow understanding of neurodiversity. I appreciate him mentioning that he doesn't want to get rid of neurodivergent people, but he needs to actually understand what he's saying. Neurodiversity covers everyone, neurodivergent refers to those who's brains don't fit the social norm. Neurodiversity is a social and political movement for disability rights; saying you don't 'want to get rid of their neurodiversity' about treating anxiety in Autistic people, doesn't really mean anything. Why didn't an editor check that? Why hasn't Nutt looked into it more deeply if he's concerned about helping us? Also, ADHD isn't a mental illness. It's a form of neurodivergence, like autism, like OCD, like schizophrenia, etc. There are things we need help with and I'm sure psychedelics could be useful in some cases.

[Rohan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Along with Michael Pollan's book “How to Change Your Mind”, this book by the psychopharmacologist David Nutt is a fascinating study of psychedelic medicines and the role they have played and will play in the growth of human consciousness and how we can combine them with our connection with the universe.

The book covers the whole science of psychedelics and is a great introduction to the subject. It clarifies the most frequently asked questions: what they are, where they come from, their differences, how they act on the brain, their benefits and harms, how they can be fundamental tools in the treatment of the most diverse pathologies, and why they meet all the conditions to be considered. Always with scientific support and citing hundreds of studies.

Nutt says that the work on the brain science of psychedelics is an important human initiative that already has a solid scientific basis and that it will bring benefits to people's neurological and mental health.

Here are a few quotes that caught my eye and that I think are worth highlighting:

“Psychedelics are illegal because they dissolve opinion structures and culturally established models of behavior and information processing. They open us up to the possibility that everything we know is wrong.”

“Studying the nature of human consciousness requires some level of humility. The complex discoveries about how our brains work are fascinating and dazzling. There is no doubt that psychedelics are a brilliant tool to help us discover what happens to the brain when someone has a spiritual experience. They provide a reliable way of inducing, in a controlled scientific context, special states of mind that have inspired thought leaders and influenced human history. Psychedelics are a safe and easy way to gain important insights into the peculiar capacity of our brains.” 🍄

[Jackspear217 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Temat psychodelików nie jest mi obcy – wcześniej czytałem inne publikacje i oglądałem świetne dokumenty na Netflixie. Jednak książka Davida Nutta wyróżnia się tonem i podejściem.

To nie tylko opowieść o potencjale psychodelików w medycynie, choć ta kwestia zajmuje sporą część książki. Autor uczciwie pokazuje też zagrożenia związane z przyjmowaniem tych substancji. Jak wskazuje podtytuł, jest to przewodnik przygotowany przez eksperta – i to widać. Nutt bada psychodeliki od dziesięcioleci, łącząc doświadczenie psychiatry i neurofarmakologa.

Autor podkreśla jednak, że informacje zawarte w książce nie zastąpią konsultacji lekarskiej i nie należy ich traktować jako zachęty do eksperymentów. Celem publikacji jest przekazanie rzetelnej wiedzy medycznej, prawnej i naukowej.

Wiadomo, że psychodeliki mogą wspierać leczenie depresji, PTSD czy uzależnień. To, co wyróżnia tę książkę, to naukowa perspektywa i jasny sposób wyjaśniania nawet złożonych zagadnień, jak budowa mózgu czy jego biochemia. Dzięki temu publikacja jest przystępna także dla osób spoza środowiska medycznego.

Śmiało mogłaby służyć jako podręcznik dla studentów czy lekarzy, a jednocześnie pozostaje świetnym źródłem wiedzy dla laików. To rzetelna, aktualna i krytyczna analiza tematu – daleka od bezrefleksyjnego zachwytu, pełna ostrzeżeń i rzeczowych wniosków.

Dawno nie czytałem książki, która tak dobrze łączy naukę z popularyzacją wiedzy. Rewelacyjna i obowiązkowa lektura dla wszystkich zainteresowanych tematem. Polecam!

Za egzemplarz dziękuję @insignis_media

[Zachary DiLuzio · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is a strange book - it's pretty informative, at times, and the author is clearly very knowledgeable on the subject, but there's a level of ego here that really shouldn't be (particularly in a book about psychadelics - extra ironic). the text feels outright masturbatory at times, and certain transcriptions of debates seem to be taken personally by the author, leading to several instances of what i feel justified in describing as fairly childish outbursts (dressed up in academic language). the subline of the title itself shows this pretty cleary - "a guide from THE expert" [emphasis mine]. THE expert? really? how much more self indulgent can someone be in a non fiction context? it's bizarre.

the content was interesting, and i learned new things, but it was hard to take anything seriously when the author displayed so much obvious bias towards himself and his ideas. nobody knows everything, science is nuanced and complicated and contextual and impossible to fully grasp by any single human (ESPECIALLY neuroscience). therefore, it's a huge red flag for anyone to write in a way that so clearly implies peerless mastery. i got that feeling a BUNCH here.

i still found value in this (and it's an easy, short read), but this feels like a self published compendium of theories presented as facts. meh

[Kenneth Roberts 340 · Rating 5 out of 5]

After spending a relatively long time in the military, having to attend annual drugs lectures as to the damaging effects of pyschedelic drugs, I found myself subconsciously sceptical about any form of pyschedelic.

I read this book after going to a brilliant lecture on the science of psychedelics and wanting to expand my knowledge and help remove my cynicism over any benefits.

The book is written brilliantly to cover what could be a very dry scientific subject, in a way that is both easy to understand and yet very engaging to read. The author covers clearly what a psychedelic is, the different types, how they work, and what each could be used for.

He has written in a style that’s beautifully balanced between passion and belief in the subject but also, reality to the sometimes negative effects. He makes a very clear case that this isn’t a simple medicinal cure but another tool to help us deal with personal issues and to grow and expand as individuals.

Thoroughly recommended for anyone wanting a pretty comprehensive, balanced introduction to psychedelics.

[Conor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading books about drugs instead of taking them is a sign of getting older. In “Psychedelics: The Revolutionary Drugs That Could Change Your Life - A Guide from the Expert” by Professor David Nutt there is much to learn for the psychedelically naïve and experienced.

Personally, I fall into the “experienced” category, familiar enough with how a few of the psychedelics Professor Nutt researches affect me. Which makes it downright funny to read their effects on a paper. I imagine that for the psychedelically naïve it’d be like trying to understand music by reading about rhythms and chords.

At a casual Friday happy hour maybe psychedelic researchers discuss taking the drugs they’re studying. The side in favor could argue that it gives a better understanding of patient experiences and could help to design better studies, while the side opposed could argue it weakens personal scientific objectivity, plus another Timothy Leary–type could cast psychedelic research back into its dark age.

[Larissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review!

Psychedelics by Professor David Nutt

3 / 5⭐️

I liked the structure of this book. It was scientific and informative without bogging the reader down with too many incomprehensible thought processes.

The one thing I wasn’t a huge fan of was the professor seemed to promote his own companies and affiliations repeatedly throughout the book. This felt like more of a focuss on his personal achievements and opinions

This book is for you if you like :

Neuropsychology

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[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Eye-Opening Exploration of Psychedelics

"Psychedelics: The Revolutionary Drugs That Could Change Your Life" by Professor David Nutt is an illuminating guide that delves into the world of psychedelics. Nutt's expertise and engaging writing style make this book a valuable resource for both beginners and enthusiasts. He skillfully combines personal anecdotes, scientific research, and cultural analysis to provide a comprehensive understanding of these mind-altering substances. While primarily focusing on the scientific aspects, Nutt also explores the historical, cultural, and therapeutic dimensions of psychedelics. This thought-provoking book will expand your perspective on these remarkable substances.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book both topically and how it was written. The subject matter drew me in when I discovered this at the local library and it it did not disappoint. There were portions where I found myself skimming as it was very scientific in the portions of each study, but still week worth the read.
I have found myself reflecting a lot on the control of psychedelic substances and it was insightful to learn the history behind each drug being banned.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the description and study portions in which psychedelics affect the portion of the Brain and why. Amazing and makes me even happier with my life experience and choices 😉.

A great read if you like to come away with knowledge and enjoyment all balled.into one.

[Mikaela Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, im glad that i read this book! its actually shocking the amount of misinformation that the government has spread on psychedelics and other drugs in order to further their own personal agendas. its also very sad to think that so many people with chronic and debilitating mental health problems have gone untreated due to arbitrary bureaucratic propaganda. a lot of the psychology jargon went straight over my head and at times that hindered my engagement, but it allowed me to learn so much about psychotherapy and its benefits. i would give this a read if you want to be better informed on recreational drug usage and its therapeutic applications, it definitely gave me a fresh perspective.

[Aaron Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

CHAPTER 1
WHY PSYCHEDELICS ARE BACK

CHAPTER 2
WHAT IS A PSYCHEDELIC? MEET THE CLASSICS: LSD, MAGIC MUSHROOMS, AYAHUASCA

CHAPTER 3
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE NON-CLASSICS: MDMA, KETAMINE, IBOGAINE

CHAPTER 4
WHAT HAPPENS IN YOUR BRAIN DURING A TRIP?

CHAPTER 5
CAN PSYCHEDELICS TREAT DEPRESSION?

CHAPTER 6
THE HISTORY AND PRACTICE OF PSYCHEDELIC THERAPY

CHAPTER 7
CAN PSYCHEDELICS TREAT DEPENDENCE?

CHAPTER 8
MDMA: PTSD, TRAUMA AND RELATIONSHIPS

CHAPTER 9
END OF LIFE, MYSTICAL EXPERIENCES AND FINDING GOD

CHAPTER 10
CLASSIC PSYCHEDELICS: ANXIETY, PAIN, EATING DISORDERS, ADHD AND OCD

CHAPTER 11
MICRODOSING, MIDI-DOSING AND MACRO-DOSING

CHAPTER 12
MY SACKING, MDMA AND THE REAL HARM OF DRUGS

CHAPTER 13
ARE PSYCHEDELICS ADDICTIVE OR DANGEROUS？

[Victor Mazereel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought, going in, that it would be a relatively biased account of psychedelics given prof Nutts involvement in the field. However, the content was balanced. The pros but also the possible harms and risks were all considered in a nuanced way. Although prof Nutt is obviously pro psychedelics, he bases his conviction on sound evidence. The only thing I found lacking was the inclusion of more recent research as the research has exploded since the initial studies by Carhart-Harris and Nutt himself.

[Rudi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wat is bewustzijn , ? Slaap/ droom / onder / boven invloed , aan/ afwezigheid, …. Wat is ziekte? Trauma , eetstoornis, depressie, geestesziekte, dementie , ….
Wat is genezing/ verzachting? Medicijnen , Drugs gebruik , drugs misbruik ,
Ik heb meer vragen na het lezen van het boek dan ervoor ,
De schrijver lijkt mij wel bekwaam en overzichtelijk om over het thema van psychedelica te schrijven 5 sterren , …. Wat is het / wat doet het , voor wie , hoeveel , mag het , enz . ?
Als men wil een mening vormen is het boek wel aan te raden ,

[Sekar Writes · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book that took me from knowing almost nothing and having zero expectations about psychedelics to being thoroughly engaged and surprised by their wonders. The book is written in a well-organized manner, making it easy to follow and highly informative. The author does a great job of explaining the history, current research, and future of these fascinating substances. It covers almost everything one should know about psychedelics.

Informative, easy to understand, and very engaging.

[Dora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read this book for a class and genuinely really enjoyed it. It went through some basic history, scientific background, and nuances of using psychedelics as treatment for mental health conditions. I felt it explained everything at a really good level for someone with little previous knowledge of these drugs as well as the neuroscience that explains how they impact the brain. Definitely got me interested in this field!