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This is an unofficial workbook for This Is Your Mind on Plants by Michael Pollan designed to enrich your listening experience.

This Is Your Mind on Plant is a book-length account of Michael Pollan’s excursions (including one abstention!) into the history and issues of three diverse psychoactive drugs. It is the latest of many such works written by Pollan, who applies his inquisitive, journalistic mind to his own interpretations of each drug and the wider context in which they reside. A professor of Science and Environmental Journalism, Pollan’s approach is a three-pronged probe into opium, caffeine, and mescaline. He attempts to reframe our understanding of these psychoactive elements beyond the failed "war on drugs".

The author has chosen only the loosest of structures when it comes to organizing the book. Each part falls into its own rhythm. For the first part, he had chosen to release the full transcript of an article he wrote back in 1997 when the war on drugs was still in full swing. He includes redacted information about how he went about creating and administering opium, along with the effects he felt. Next, he takes us through his withdrawal from caffeine, and finally, he gives us an account of his encounters with mescaline and the San Pedro cactus.

His knowledge of the history in these chapters is enlightening. He deftly balances the mystery and mysticism around each of these drugs with a practical, scientific understanding of how they work without undermining the fascination that they continue to inspire.

In this workbook, we have shared some of the key anecdotes he provided and introduced a few of the characters he has conversed with during his research. There are many more anecdotes and chemical scientists, opioid experts, legal advisers, and shamans in the book itself. We have not had room for here, but you will get to know some of the most important figures in Pollan’s various journeys.