Book Recommendation: This is Your Mind on Plants by Michael Pollan
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Dr. Tiffany Vora recommends the book This is Your Mind on Plants by Michael Pollan.
Would you like coffee or tea? Before you decide, read on …
I’m fascinated by the natural world and how humans come to terms with it—not just understanding how nature works, but what our place in it is (and should be). Science writer Michael Pollan shares that fascination, with a special emphasis on plants. How to Change Your Mind (2018; my take here) showcased psychedelics, science, and culture; The Omnivore’s Dilemma (2007) and Food Rules (2009) asked some hard questions about where our food comes from.
Pollan’s latest work to explore the relationships between plants and humans is This Is Your Mind On Plants (2021). As promised by the title, this book takes a deep dive into three plant-derived molecules and their impacts on people: opium, caffeine, and mescaline. Pollan spends plenty of time on the neurobiology of the effects of these molecules, which—of course!—I thought made for immensely enjoyable reading. But he also takes an uncomfortable look at the cultural histories (problematic) and the regulatory landscapes (very problematic) surrounding these substances.
What’s in a cup of coffee? Image credits: Simas Mo via Unsplash.
In classic style, Pollan directly experiences the biology, culture, and yes, law-enforcement consequences of opium, caffeine, and mescaline. As he reports back, the questions pile up. It’s legal to grow opium-producing poppies in your yard, but not legal to use them in your kitchen? Have we acknowledged the reliance of the world economy on a freely available, highly addictive substance—caffeine—with problematic issues of production? How do we navigate issues of conservation and religious use of peyote when communities are still experiencing deep trauma? And perhaps the biggest question of all: who gets to decide when it comes to relationships between people and the natural world?
As the caffeine section highlights in painful detail, there’s no getting away from mankind’s relationship with nature.
💡 I hope that This Is Your Mind On Plants inspires you to notice the places in your own life that are impacted by plants. I think about the biological world every day, and still my eyes were opened by this book.
In fact, a few days after reading it, I was walking in a nearby town when I stopped dead in my tracks to examine some cacti. Sure enough, they’re probably mescaline producing …and they’re planted across from a police station. Case in point!
Michael Pollan is one of my go-to science writers. Why? Because his responsible journalism not only does right by the science. It also showcases the essential humanity of the people that create, use, push back against, and expand on his subject of interest.
Final note: After reading this book, you’ll never look at your morning (or afternoon … or evening) beverages quite the same. I’ve consumed only decaffeinated coffee and tea for the past 12 years. Pollan’s withdrawal stories were awfully familiar. I never went back to caffeine, and after finishing this book, I doubt I ever will. But my goodness, there are times that I miss that pick-me-up!
About Tiffany
Dr. Tiffany Vora speaks, writes, and advises on how to harness technology to build the best possible future(s). She is an expert in biotech, health, & innovation.
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