Change Your Brain

by Timothy Leary

This book tells the inside story of Leary's early LSD research at Harvard. Known throughout the world as the guru who encouraged an entire generation to "turn on, tune in, and drop out," he draws on wit, humor, and skepticism to debunk the power of psychotherapy and to advocate reprogramming the brain with psychedelics. Discussing how various drugs affect the brain, how to change behavior, and how to develop creativity, he also delves into psychopharmacological catalyzing, fear of potential, symbol and language imprinting, and brain reimprinting with Hinduism, Buddhism, and LSD.

Genres: Psychology, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Self Help

92 pages, Hardcover

First published November 21, 2000

About the author

Timothy Francis Leary was an American writer, psychologist, futurist, modern pioneer and advocate of psychedelic drug research and use, and one of the first people whose remains have been sent into space. An icon of 1960s counterculture, Leary is most famous as a proponent of the therapeutic and spiritual benefits of LSD. He coined and popularized the catch phrase "Turn on, tune in, drop out."

Reviews

[Scott Benowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timothy Leary is most widely known for his writings in which he describes his views about how very moderate quantities of lysergic acid diethylamide can be potentially therapeutic for some people if it is administered carefully in the right setting.
His essays were very controversial when he'd initially written them, and this topic still creates a lot of controversy today (I'm writing this in 2023).
Whether you agree with Timothy Leary or you disagree with his views on many issues, there's no denying that the essays and the books that he wrote do effectively highlight some very serious flaws and shortcomings in the mental healthcare system in the U.S. The essays and the books that he wrote also draw attention to the emptiness and the superficiality of contemporary pop culture, encourage people to explore ideas from philosophies which are frequently studied in other regions of the world, and the essays and books that he wrote encourage the readers to explore a lot of out- of- the- box unconventional thinking. And once you read the essays and books that he'd written, it becomes very clear very quickly that everything that he wrote was in fact very thoroughly researched.
Whether you agree with Timothy Leary's views on many issues or whether you disagree with his views on many issues, you'll enjoy reading some of the essays and books that he wrote. If you agree with his views, you'll enjoy reading this book because you're in agreement with the author. If you disagree with his views on several issues, I think that you'll still enjoy reading this book because you'll likely be curious to see why he had a large following.
note: This was published posthumously. Timothy Leary died in 1996, this book was published in 2000. I don't know the reason that this was not published during his lifetime. Perhaps he'd intended to continue revising this essay or adding to it. Perhaps some of the topics that he mentions in this book were controversial and publishing companies weren't interested in publishing it.

[Gebo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books seeks to layout Leary's life work from his own perspective. While much of the book is interesting, the end, as far as I can tell, is mostly pseudoscientific pondering about the possibilities of language. Nonetheless, it's based on a rather shallow reading of language and leads to rather asinine positions, e.g. that we need to create a language of pure sensation and somehow express ourselves via sense impressions that we can then share like YouTube videos of our experiences. He calls this "tran art". If you're interested in Leary, this is a pretty good introduction text. Otherwise, I'd probably pass by it.

[Greg Bem · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you can get over the typos and other lack-of-editing, this serves as a super quick, super easy-to-read introduction to Leary and his history.

[christopher 😐🗿🔛🔝 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little sloppy and all over the place with spelling errors and repetitive texts. But the overall message stands and intrigues.

[D.S. West · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a little book--a little more meat would've been nice. At the same time, having Leary gloss over some of his very big ideas (among others, binocular education, reimprinting, and overcoming the constrictions of verbal reality).

This def. makes me want to read something more substantive. Like Ken Wilbur's No Boundaries, Change Your Brain is the bait. The good thing about the sampler platter though is that it gives you a taste before you invest in the nitty-gritty.

Great book by the little old man waving his hands around in Johnny Depp's film about Jon Frusciante, Stuff. I saw that for the first time this weekend too. Guess Leary is hanging around me in the astral plane. (As far as guardian angels go, I'd consider myself pretty goddamn lucky were that the case.)

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great explanation of game theory as it relates to the brain - "reality" interface.

Oddly, much of the book is opinions I've long held without having read any of Dr. Leary's works before, or having taken any mind altering substance (people that know me will find that hard to believe, but it's true.).

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Basically a more fun Doors of Perception. More relatable, too, in that I've not come across mescaline, as discussed in Huxley's book. It was also fun to read Leary saying things I've already come up with on my own, in particular his 'Game Theory'

[Heath · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read. Important for p. 9, Leary's description of game theory, and chapter 6. If all you looked at was p. 31, that'd be cool, too.

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lacking substance and hasn't aged well.