How to Change Your Mind

By Michael Pollan

This is a difficult book to jump into writing about. I guess I'll start by providing a semi-summary: Michael Pollan is a 60-something year old journalist who likes to find a topic and immerse himself into it, learning about its history and culture. In the case of this book, he jumped into the psychedelic area of hallucinogenic drugs. Pollan details the history of psychedelics in Western culture, specifically in the scientific (therapeutic) realm, and follows this narrative into the present day. The last third or so of the book follows his personal journey through psychedelics - he tries holotopic breathing as an intro, then mushrooms, then acid, then eventually DMT. 

I mentioned above that the book looks into the science behind psychedelics - this isn't exactly the case. Going into this book, I was in fact expecting to learn about the molecular basis of why drugs make you hallucinate, and how each one's effecting cause is different. But the science covered by Pollan is more so aligned with therapy or psychology. Not that these aren't real sciences, but I do believe there is a restrictive barrier to knowing fact when the only method of gathering information is having one person record accounts of other people. Yes, of course studies of these kind are determined to be statistically relevant and I'm sure are rigorously performed, but to me the science isn't as hard. I'll get off my soapbox now and get on with more interesting thoughts on the book, I apologize.

In the 1950s, psychedelics weren't outlawed. In fact, it was becoming increasingly common for these chemicals - both plant derived and that of the laboratory - to be used and studied by legitimate, respected researchers and medical professionals. There were conventions and large studies about the possible benefits of hallucinogenics to a vast array of people with differing mental states. Some were bad, sure. Some of the methods of research described in the book - for example strapping a patient down and injecting them with varying amounts of LSD - sound horrifying. But some sound productive and helpful. The line between therapist and researcher and hippie began to blur; "trip counselors" administered drugs and guided patients through their "journeys" safely, while also recording useful data for on the effects of hallucinogenics. According to Pollan, however, this all went downhill when counter-culture in America took hallucinogenics under their wing and promoted it as a hallmark of their movement. Once this happened, the government obviously intervened quickly and shut down the whole thing. A few cases of bad trips (undoubtedly overly-reported by the media) also helped to turn the public's opinion on the wacky substances. In any case, by the mid 80s it was done (if my memory serves). However, when the book was published, psychedelic studies were just beginning to start up again. I'm sure by now there have been more, and will continue to be more. 

Most studies were trying to address one of two things: (1) the potential of psychedelics to cure disorders like addiction and depression; (2) the possibility of accessing higher forms of consciousness through psychedelics. On the first, I can say it seems that these studies proved largely successful, although nothing ever penetrated the American psyche deeply enough to allow for common use. On the second, while I do believe there is utility in psychedelics (I think they can in fact change your mind. Or at least, broaden your perspective), I'm skeptical about the use of "higher forms of consciousness" as the description of the state or result achieved through the drugs. But there is something to be said about the spiritual experiences most people tend to have on these drugs, and that those that do partake seem to be more inclusive and accepting (Pollan reports many individuals feeling like they are "part of a whole"), which in my opinion is one of the most wanting areas of improvement in today's society.

Lastly, I want to say a thing about Michael Pollan. I'm fuzzy on the details, but he had used psychedelics a time or two in college, and only smoked weed occasionally since. Then near the age of sixty, as chronicled in this book, he takes shrooms, acid, and DMT. That is absolutely wild to me. I'm not saying it is necessarily beneficial to do these drugs at an old age, or at all, but props to him for keeping an open mind. He had undertaken heavy research before trying each, and ensured he had a safe environment each time. But at 60? Damn Michael!

(10/06/2021)