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.

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.

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.

Informative / Contemplative / Mysterious / Inspirational / Emotional

- How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan sparked a resurgence of interest in psychedelic research, delving into the history, science, and potential benefits of these substances.
- The book led to the creation of a documentary series by the same name on Netflix, exploring the topics and stories covered by Pollan in his writing.
- Michael Pollan, previously known for his works on food and agriculture, takes a personal journey in How to Change Your Mind, which includes experimenting with psychedelics himself.

**Albert Hoffman**  
A Swiss chemist credited with synthesizing LSD-25 while working for a pharmaceutical company, whose accidental encounter with the substance marked the first recorded LSD experience.

**Al Hubbard**  
A colorful and enigmatic figure in the psychedelic community who played a significant role in spreading LSD in the U.S., and who reportedly had ties to various government agencies.

**Roland Griffiths**  
A psychopharmacologist who transitioned from studying drug dependence to exploring consciousness and mystical experiences, contributing to further understanding psychedelics' effects.

**Bob Jesse**  
An activist and computer scientist who became influential in the psychedelic community, founding a nonprofit to research spiritual experiences and contributing to the modern psychedelic renaissance.

**Rick Doblin**  
A prominent advocate for the therapeutic use of psychedelics who founded the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) to support research and policy changes.

**Paul Stamets**  
A self-educated mycologist and entrepreneur whose work focuses on the discovery and research of fungi, including the genus Psilocybe, where his passion for mushrooms began from a transformative personal experience.

**Timothy Leary**  
A former Harvard professor and psychologist whose experiments with psychedelics led to significant media attention and controversy, ultimately impacting the direction of psychedelic research in the U.S.

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How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence (2018)

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