Finished reading this book and I can highly recommend it! 💜

The book is comprised of 3 parts: Opium, Coffee and Mescaline.

So I thought I’d share a few thoughts on each bit.

Opium

I finished reading this chapter just as Ross Ulbricht was being released from jail.

Ross was sent to jail with a double life sentence plus 40 years, and was released after 10, for creating a website that enabled people to purchase anything, including drugs.

His treatment contrasts starkly with the Sacklers, who are discussed in this book.

The Sacklers empire created an exceptionally addictive pharmaceutical drug. They had direct knowledge of its impact and fully supported its sales and marketing. That drug, OxyContin, directly destroyed innumerable lives. And yet…not one single jail term. Not one single criminal charge for any of the individuals involved. Paid some fines. Dissolved the business.

The whole episode perfectly illustrated just how misguided the US administration’s war on drugs actually is, and seemed to underline Pollan’s thoughts on the matter in this book.

Coffee

Really interesting chapter that included a lot of history that was eye opening.

The impact on sleep was not what I was expecting but it explains a few things.

Made some adjustments to my coffee intake but I haven’t, as yet, decided to give it up!

Mescaline

This chapter surprised me the most!

The author describes a Mescaline trip. I was struck by the similarity of the trip to a very deep Mindfulness meditation. Done properly, with eyes open and senses brought to the fore, experiences are so magnified that they seem to have very similar effects.

‘The immensity of existing things’ is exactly how it can feel. Leaving the conscious mind aside and connecting to the unconscious with intense awareness.

It was a surprise to me that I’ve been hacking my brain to mimic a mescaline trip 😂💜

It was also interesting to read how Native Americans use mescaline for self-healing (physical,mental and spiritual).

It had me wondering if mescaline was a way to achieve a deep mindfulness meditation without the hassle of learning how to do it or for people that find it difficult to practice.

I’m guessing that a mescaline trip would likely be a more pure experience as the conscious mind would be tamed for a much longer period.

All in all, it was a fascinating read.

I’m a firm believer that books are called to you at a time when you’re ready for them and sometimes that timing syncs with world events. It certainly felt like that with this one! 💜

#bookstr