David’s Reviews > How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence > Status Update

Book so far has been about the use/misuse of Psilocybin (magic mushrooms) and LSD in the 50s/60s/70s forcing these drugs underground. So author just 'tripped' on LSD, then mushrooms at this point in the book. Both seem to highly rely on the setting & predisposition. Not much data so far in the book about current research though. Focus seems to have been to dispel old myths that arose. Maybe final 30% will do current.

Lots of historical details on how mushrooms and LSD were first used clinically in the 50's and then over-used-for-fun in the 60's thus giving them a bad reputation. In a controlled setting, there can be great results. And controlled is NOT a clinically white/sterile lab-room. There is a natural amplification of the person's feelings that occurs so establishing the mood upon taking these seem critical. VERY readable.

Cary Grant gave an interview in 1959 extolling the benefits of LSD therapy. Grant had more than sixty sessions and by the end declared himself "born again". The 55 year old actor said "I'm no longer lonely and I am a happy man. Young women have never before been so attracted to me." With this publicity, psychiatrists called complaining their patients were now begging them for LSD.

A very readable account of reexamining mushrooms and LSD as possible help in cancer treatment, and mental health problems. Well researched. History told with stories and anecdotes. Sure, some of this is skeptical but science was so 'scared' to research these drugs after their reputation tanked in the 60's/early 70's.

A psilocybin volunteer and physicist that makes helium neon lasers is now an ordained Zen monk. He has described that “I realize there are just some domains that science will not penetrate. Science can bring you the Big Bang, but it can’t take you beyond it. You need a different kind of apparatus to peer into that.“

Extremely readable book about the possibility of using LSD and magic mushrooms to help treat mental illnesses. These were medicines in the 50’s. Broke out of the lab and into counter culture in 60’s/70’s. Shunned for a few decades but now serious analysis being done. Extremely good audiobook reader.