Michael Pollan Book order

By the bestselling author of The Omnivore's Dilemma, this is Michael Pollan's ingenious companion book about the surprising and close relationship between people and plants.

Exploring the reciprocal relationship between humans and domesticated plants, this young readers edition highlights four key desires: sweetness, beauty, energy, and control. Through the stories of the apple, tulip, coffee, and potato, Pollan illustrates how these plants have evolved to meet human needs while also thriving thanks to our cultivation. This engaging narrative reveals the intertwined fates of people and plants, showcasing their shared history and mutual benefits.

"From the new-chef restaurateurs of the last decade to the cooks of humble suburban kitchens, from haute places to neighborhood cafés and the most creative patisseries, this volume tells the stories of the best cooking found in Paris. Oseland rounds up dishes from all over the city, lavishly photographed during celebrations, as well as daily meals"-- Provided by publisher

Explores three very different drugs, opium, caffeine and mescaline - and throws the fundamental strangeness of our thinking about them into sharp relief

THE INSPIRATION FOR THE MAJOR NEW NETFLIX SERIES, HOW TO CHANGE YOUR MIND. 'It's a trip - engrossing, eye-opening, mind altering' New Statesman. 'Fascinating. Pollan is the perfect guide ... curious, careful, open minded' The Guardian. Humans have long relied on plants to alter consciousness, whether to stimulate, calm, or completely transform mental experiences. Michael Pollan delves into three distinct substances—opium, caffeine, and mescaline—highlighting the complexities of our perceptions surrounding them. By engaging with the cultures that have developed around these drugs and examining his own consumption (or avoidance, in caffeine’s case), Pollan confronts the deep-rooted human fascination with psychoactive plants alongside the societal taboos they carry. This work combines history, science, memoir, and reportage, offering a nuanced perspective often overlooked in discussions about drug regulation. Pollan demonstrates that our interactions with these plants go beyond mere debate; they represent a profound engagement with nature. This groundbreaking exploration reflects our essential human needs, mental processes, and our intricate relationship with the natural world.

"75 recipes, evocative storytelling, and beautiful photography provide a lens into one of the planet's most interesting culinary destinations: Mexico City"-- Provided by publisher

When LSD was first discovered in the 1940s, it seemed to researchers, scientists and doctors as if the world might be on the cusp of psychological revolution. It promised to shed light on the deep mysteries of consciousness, as well as offer relief to addicts and the mentally ill. But in the 1960s, with the vicious backlash against the counter-culture, all further research was banned. In recent years, however, work has quietly begun again on the amazing potential of LSD, psilocybin and DMT. Could these drugs in fact improve the lives of many people? Diving deep into this extraordinary world and putting himself forward as a guinea-pig, Michael Pollan has written a remarkable history of psychedelics and a compelling portrait of the new generation of scientists fascinated by the implications of these drugs. How to Change Your Mind is a report from what could very well be the future of human consciousness.

The author captivates readers with a clear and confident narrative style that maintains engagement throughout the book. Through insightful observations and a well-structured approach, the writing encourages reflection and provokes thought, making it a compelling read that resonates with audiences.

When Michael Pollan set out to research how LSD and psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) are being used to provide relief to people suffering from difficult-to-treat conditions such as depression, addiction and anxiety, he did not intend to write what is undoubtedly his most personal book. But upon discovering how these remarkable substances are improving the lives not only of the mentally ill but also of healthy people coming to grips with the challenges of everyday life, he decided to explore the landscape of the mind in the first person as well as the third. Thus began a singular adventure into various altered states of consciousness, along with a dive deep into both the latest brain science and the thriving underground community of psychedelic therapists. Pollan sifts the historical record to separate the truth about these mysterious drugs from the myths that have surrounded them since the 1960s, when a handful of psychedelic evangelists inadvertently catalyzed a powerful backlash against what was then a promising field of research.