Examining Our Relationship with Psychoactive Plants

 This is Your Mind on Plants by Michael Pollan

This is Your Mind on Plants book cover

I was excited to read this book after loving Pollan’s How to Change Your Mind. While it is somewhat different and not as in-depth as the former book, this was a fascinating look at some plants that affective our moods and perceptions. While most people have some kind of experience with caffeine, Pollan also examines mescaline and poppies. I loved reading about the history and experiences of people with these different plants. It’s also interesting to think about how we categorize these plants, since I didn’t really think about any of them as plants necessarily, but just think about caffeine as a necessity in coffee and other drinks, and mescaline and poppies as drugs. However, Pollan explores cultural and historical contexts in the perceptions of these plants and how they have been used. He also explores their effects and uses in different contexts. Pollan presents the varied experiences and the health benefits and problems with using these plants in a medicinal manner. He frequently consults with experts to gain more insights into the chemistry and biology of these plants and how they affect us. I found it completely fascinating to learn more about these plants. Although the chapters are kind of separate from one another and not unified in the way that How to Change Your Mind was, it is still a fascinating read and exploration about our relationships with these plants and how they have changed over time.