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Summary of How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan
How to Change Your Mind is a fascinating account of one man’s exploration of the psychedelic drug world. Author Michael Pollan takes readers along for the ride as he learns first-hand about the positive aspects of psychedelic drugs, including the healing and restorative effects they can have on people suffering from depression and addiction. Readers will also hear from neuroscientists to learn exactly what is happening in the brain during a psychedelic trip.
This is a concise summary of the book How to Change Your What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence and does not intend to replace the original book.
This is a concise summary of the book How to Change Your What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence and does not intend to replace the original book.
Kindle Edition
Published December 9, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
February 24, 2020
This book might be a favorite! On top of being very informative, it just fills in so much space on how the mind works. It's got so much heart to it too. Just beautifully written.
June 1, 2019
Great book. Extremely thorough and easy to follow.
January 17, 2021
I honestly did like the book's cover title... but, when I started and finished the book. I was so confused with what I read.
I understood the context. I am able to read. I am able to rationalize the concepts. But. What I didn't understand was what the author was sourcing his context in revolving focus. Meaning... I had no clue... absolutely no idea, in regards to what the author was generating his context to further make clear, compliment, and quite market in the intention to have the reader be of the same interest as the author.
I realized that this book was very much written in a metaphorical interpretive way. I don't know if that was the intention, but that's how I was only able to make sense to a various amount of the book's context.
The analogical and metaphorical applications to the concepts and context of the book's logical and insightful offerings, was very abstract. The context of the book, very much contradicts the marketing attraction in which the book's title attracts the customer of being interested in the book.
The context contradicts the initial attractions "hook", meaning... why the customer would buy the book, and take the time to read, and basically, by reading... supporting the author as the author being a professional literaryist.
I don't dislike the author. The insights were very applicable. But. I just didn't like how unclear the book's context was. I didn't like... at all, how contradicting the book's context was to the title. Just literally destroyed all my positive hopes in developing applicable and relatable insight to the title. The topic, in which the book was marketed of elaborating and further explaining to ensure a more grasped clarity of the connotations of the title of the book, "how to change your mind".
The author does have very good skills in writing. I would advocate for him to further his literary career, and suggest him to really be more clear in his rationals. Rather than focusing on accounting for various contexts that allows for relatability from different perspective (multiple perspectives; different ways in which people perceive life). I suggest just to focus on how the author perceive's life, and account for the perception's logical context and rationales to the applications in which your knowledge is most inclined in default to rationalize the intellectual knowledge that is acquired and capable of being organized and identified. In whatever identifying context your knowledge is best organized in your rationalizing skills for your efforts of intellectualization.
I understood the context. I am able to read. I am able to rationalize the concepts. But. What I didn't understand was what the author was sourcing his context in revolving focus. Meaning... I had no clue... absolutely no idea, in regards to what the author was generating his context to further make clear, compliment, and quite market in the intention to have the reader be of the same interest as the author.
I realized that this book was very much written in a metaphorical interpretive way. I don't know if that was the intention, but that's how I was only able to make sense to a various amount of the book's context.
The analogical and metaphorical applications to the concepts and context of the book's logical and insightful offerings, was very abstract. The context of the book, very much contradicts the marketing attraction in which the book's title attracts the customer of being interested in the book.
The context contradicts the initial attractions "hook", meaning... why the customer would buy the book, and take the time to read, and basically, by reading... supporting the author as the author being a professional literaryist.
I don't dislike the author. The insights were very applicable. But. I just didn't like how unclear the book's context was. I didn't like... at all, how contradicting the book's context was to the title. Just literally destroyed all my positive hopes in developing applicable and relatable insight to the title. The topic, in which the book was marketed of elaborating and further explaining to ensure a more grasped clarity of the connotations of the title of the book, "how to change your mind".
The author does have very good skills in writing. I would advocate for him to further his literary career, and suggest him to really be more clear in his rationals. Rather than focusing on accounting for various contexts that allows for relatability from different perspective (multiple perspectives; different ways in which people perceive life). I suggest just to focus on how the author perceive's life, and account for the perception's logical context and rationales to the applications in which your knowledge is most inclined in default to rationalize the intellectual knowledge that is acquired and capable of being organized and identified. In whatever identifying context your knowledge is best organized in your rationalizing skills for your efforts of intellectualization.
May 25, 2022
Great book if you're interested in learning more about psychedelics and how it can be beneficial to some people.
March 21, 2021
Too many superfluous words!!! Author display stories but do not analyze anything. So it’s often some ppl at some place doing something. And then this is all becoz psycodelic drug, no root cause analyze, waste of time.
May 8, 2019
Mind-numbingly tedious...so much so that I no longer have the bandwidth to give this a more descriptive review.
December 13, 2019
Best known for his work on the ethics of eating, Pollan delivers his most personal book yet, one that demanded he drop acid in full view of the reader. Exploring the history and science of psychedelics, he tells of the rise and fall and rises again of our societal interest in these drugs, which are now thought to have many benefits, from helping with addiction to easing the terror of the terminally ill. The book hits its high point when he examines the mysticism and spirituality of the psychedelic experience. What can we learn about ourselves when the part of our mind controlling the ego drops away? What is this older, more primitive part of the brain, which connects us to how a child sees the world? It’s a trip that leads him to wonder about how, ultimately, we can get the most out of our existence as conscious beings in the world.
March 31, 2020
In this book, Pollan explores the benefits of psychedelics on various medical conditions, while providing background on therapeutic studies done in the 60’s and 70’s. As part of his research, Pollan notably tripped on three types of psychedelics to gain better insight into the subject. Do not let this obscure the potential of psychedelics as a treatment alternative. The challenges are prevailing views of drugs - opioids, street, or psychedelics - are lumped together as bad. With that said, with the acceptance of medical marijuana (another topic altogether), some researchers are once again exploring the therapeutic aspects of psychedelics.
For me, this book complements two books I previously read - Cocaine: An Unauthorized Biography by Dominc Streatfield and In Pain: A Bioethicist’s Personal Struggle with Opioids by Travis Rieder.
For me, this book complements two books I previously read - Cocaine: An Unauthorized Biography by Dominc Streatfield and In Pain: A Bioethicist’s Personal Struggle with Opioids by Travis Rieder.
February 17, 2019
This book is absolutely amazing. It made me excited for the potential for healing, but also made me cry... I have known many people who have had their lives destroyed or cut short because of addictions to alcohol and opiates, and it pains me to know that the FDA and DEA have shut out these extremely promising medicines for so many years due to ignorance and fear.... but those same agencies continue to approve more and more powerful opiates. Hopefully, with the old guard leaving, we can usher in a new era of mental health research and actually cure some of the diseases that are now up to epidemic levels in my generation, (ie depression, addiction).
March 9, 2019
Terrific for anyone interested in experimenting with psychedelics.
The first third is a social history of psychedelics in North America, the middle third is a wonderful first-hand accounting of Michael Pollan’s own experience trying several psychedelics for the first time at age 50, and the final third is a review on the future of psychedelics in therapy and medicine.
He methodically demystifies these drugs and at times beautifully describes their transcendent effects, glorious visuals, and immense emotional capabilities.
The historical and future sections can be a bit tedious at times, but overall this is a fantastic read which I have recommended to many friends.
The first third is a social history of psychedelics in North America, the middle third is a wonderful first-hand accounting of Michael Pollan’s own experience trying several psychedelics for the first time at age 50, and the final third is a review on the future of psychedelics in therapy and medicine.
He methodically demystifies these drugs and at times beautifully describes their transcendent effects, glorious visuals, and immense emotional capabilities.
The historical and future sections can be a bit tedious at times, but overall this is a fantastic read which I have recommended to many friends.
August 6, 2023
It definitely peaked my curiosity on the subject, and it helped lift the veil on taboo’s around it. There are still lots of questions that need answers and it gives some guidance of what to expect should you decide to take on that journey yourself.
I do feel, like most non-fiction books, there is a lot of unnecessary fluff to fill-up the required page quantity format for such books. It could have been resumed since a lot of stuff was repetitive. It also dealt with a lot of history of the discovery, while fascinating at some points, at others was incredibly boring and put me at risk of not being able to finish the book, thus hampering the deliverance of it’s main message.
I do feel, like most non-fiction books, there is a lot of unnecessary fluff to fill-up the required page quantity format for such books. It could have been resumed since a lot of stuff was repetitive. It also dealt with a lot of history of the discovery, while fascinating at some points, at others was incredibly boring and put me at risk of not being able to finish the book, thus hampering the deliverance of it’s main message.
November 27, 2019
I know this book thanks to Paul Stamet, the famous mycologist. I got interested in psychedelics once I learned about the benefits they may have. I loved listening to the Pollan book so after I finished, I bought both the e-book and the paper version! The book gave me hope for finally having something that can stop the anxiety of people with terminal illnesses, people with deep depression and many other ailments of today's world.
https://newatlas.com/science/psilocyb...
https://newatlas.com/science/psilocyb...
February 7, 2019
An amazing book about the research of Psychedelics and mental health. I highly recommend this to anyone who is interested in the questions of what consciousness is and how these drugs will benefit humanity in exploring it.
March 28, 2020
Note to self and others — I read the whole book, not this summary, but couldn’t find book on Goodreads. The “two stars” reflects my thoughts on the book (very dry, repetitive, but well researched and interesting subject), not the summary. It might well be a very good summary.
June 21, 2024
I listened to the audio version narrated by Pollan. I've read his work before but many years ago. This is a fascinating history of psychedelics and their impact on the brain and their resurgence as a possible treatment for many mental health issues.
January 6, 2025
I loved the book at the beginning, but the more it went on the more bias it became. He would try to make far fetched claims of stringing 2 theories together with no proof, but saying, “you can fill in the gap”…. But you can’t fill in the gap because those 2 things aren’t related.
June 12, 2019
emotional intelligence and spiritual enlightenment via drugs. All in.
March 18, 2020
Not my cup of tea. I am more interested in human mind and the secrets it keeps. This is more of how drugs can influence your mind.
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April 23, 2020Didn't finish this book, but really enjoyed what I did read. A little too much history, but learned a lot from it as well. I may come back to it later. Very good research is found in this book.
November 8, 2020
Interesting read. Lots of Science but makes logical sense too
February 7, 2021
Should be required reading for anyone interested in doing psychedelics.
Also, just phenomenal written. Well done. So fascinating.
Also, just phenomenal written. Well done. So fascinating.
July 26, 2021
Such a fascinating read. Definitely worth a read especially for all you spiritual not religious folk but maybe even. More for the religious and spiritual folk.
January 26, 2022
DNF at 25%. Was intrigued by the title and what it promised but got bored pretty quickly. I like the case he made for the benefits of psychedelics but the history made me lose interest
February 5, 2022
Mindblowing book, the power of psychedelics explained at its best.
September 2, 2024
I listened to the audiobook version of How to Change your Mind, read by Michael Pollan himself. I found it really interesting and learned a lot on how to open your mind. Growing up I was always told “drugs are bad”, and while working in the medical field I was told no different. To hear Pollan talk about his own experiences and others experiences with “drugs” (or in this case hallucinogenics) truly opened my mind about those types of drugs and how they may actually be beneficial to some. I understand why some in the field will steer away from discussing this subject but I love that some are brave enough to face the stigma and actually discuss it and their experiences so we can learn more about it and realize the drug can actually help some people rather than hurt. This was my first book I’ve read from Pollan but I have enjoyed many of his talks related to food and health. I think this book is useful to those questioning hallucinogenics, either as a potential user to help with ptsd or another mental situation or those who want to help others. The way it is written is extremely non judge-mental and more as an open conversation to learn more and open our minds, it has open my mind greatly.
May 30, 2019
Life changing. Especially if you're middle aged, suffer from anxiety, depression or PTSD.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews