63 pages • 2 hours read
Michael PollanHow to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence (2018)
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2018A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In How to Change Your Mind, Michael Pollan explores the history, science, and therapeutic potential of psychedelics, blending history, memoir, and research. He recounts the rise and fall of early psychedelic studies, details his personal experiences with substances like LSD and psilocybin, and explains how these drugs are used in contemporary treatments for conditions like depression, addiction, and anxiety. The importance of ego dissolution and spiritual experience in psychedelic therapy is emphasized. The book includes discussions of end-of-life anxiety in terminal cancer patients.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Michael Pollan’s How to Change Your Mind offers an intriguing exploration of psychedelics, blending personal anecdotes with scientific research. Readers appreciate Pollan's engaging narrative and thorough investigation of the topic. However, some critique the book for its occasional bias and lengthy descriptions. Overall, it’s a thought-provoking read on a complex subject.
Who Should Read How to Change Your Mind?
Readers who appreciate How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan are curious about the science and history of psychedelics and their potential to transform consciousness. Fans of Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari or The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg would find this book thought-provoking and insightful.