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Good Chemistry: The Science of Connection, from Soul to Psychedelics
A psychiatrist and psychedelic researcher explores the science of connection--why we need it, how we've lost it, and how we might find it again. We are suffering from an epidemic of disconnection that antidepressants and social media can't fix. This state of isolation puts us in "fight or flight mode," deranging sleep, metabolism and libido. What's worse, we're paranoid of others. This kill-or-be-killed framework is not a way to live. But, when we feel safe and loved, we can rest, digest, and repair. We can heal. And it is only in this state of belonging that we can open up to connection with others.
In this powerful book, Holland helps us to understand the science of connection as revealed in human experiences from the spiritual to the psychedelic. The key is oxytocin--a neurotransmitter and hormone produced in our bodies that allows us to trust and bond. It fosters attachment between mothers and infants, romantic partners, friends, and even with our pets. There are many ways to reach this state of mental and physical wellbeing that modern medicine has overlooked. The implications for our happiness and health are profound.
We can find oneness in meditation, in community, or in awe at the beauty around us. Another option: psychedelic medicines that can catalyze a connection with the self, with nature, or the cosmos. Good Chemistry points us on the right path to forging true and deeper attachments with our own souls, to one another, and even to our planet, helping us heal ourselves and our world.
Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.
In this powerful book, Holland helps us to understand the science of connection as revealed in human experiences from the spiritual to the psychedelic. The key is oxytocin--a neurotransmitter and hormone produced in our bodies that allows us to trust and bond. It fosters attachment between mothers and infants, romantic partners, friends, and even with our pets. There are many ways to reach this state of mental and physical wellbeing that modern medicine has overlooked. The implications for our happiness and health are profound.
We can find oneness in meditation, in community, or in awe at the beauty around us. Another option: psychedelic medicines that can catalyze a connection with the self, with nature, or the cosmos. Good Chemistry points us on the right path to forging true and deeper attachments with our own souls, to one another, and even to our planet, helping us heal ourselves and our world.
Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.
Audio CD
Published June 16, 2020
About the author
Julie Holland
14 books101 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Dr. Julie Holland is a board-certified psychiatrist in New York City. From 1996 to 2005, Dr. Holland ran the psychiatric emergency room of Bellevue Hospital on Saturday and Sunday nights. A liaison to the hospital's medical emergency room and toxicology department, she is considered an expert on street drugs and intoxication states, and lectures widely on this topic.
Dr. Julie Holland is a board-certified psychiatrist in New York City. From 1996 to 2005, Dr. Holland ran the psychiatric emergency room of Bellevue Hospital on Saturday and Sunday nights. A liaison to the hospital's medical emergency room and toxicology department, she is considered an expert on street drugs and intoxication states, and lectures widely on this topic.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
August 3, 2020
Good Chemistry~~
Psychedelic drug therapy, monitored by experienced, medical professionals, has made a most welcome comeback in the twenty-first century throughout the world. Having been shut down in the Sixties because of uncontrolled, experimentation by celebrities like Timothy Leary and Cary Grant, the research went underground for decades. Now, led by esteemed psychiatrists with psychopharmacology panache like Julie Holland, MD, many clinical trials in the US are well underway. Holland's latest book ,Good Chemistry: The Science of Connection, From Soul to Psychedelics, reveals in detail why connection to ourselves, our partners, our community, our planet, and our universe is crucial and how psychedelics can help us to do that when nothing else really will.
I'm always interested in reading brilliant doctors like Holland who teach me more about the mysteries of the human brain and how the mind and body are inseparable partners invested in our flourishing. This book was not the first I'd read about the thrilling benefits of psychedelic drug therapy for I read Michael Pollan's book How To Change Your Mind last year.
Please note that the therapy is not just a blast from the past. Not a throwback to hippie culture. Our bodies evolved over millions of years with receptors or docks for psychedelic drugs to latch onto to help ease pain and depression, promote well-being in our soul, and support recovery from PTSD and dependence on opioids and alcohol, for example. Cancer patients facing imminent demise can face it more easily with the therapy.
Holland knows just why this happens and will tell us all about the good and bad sides of the “cuddly” hormone osytocin and how it interacts with our brain, damping down its fear center or amygdala, and helps us to connect in all the ways we need to.
I want to highlight what she said about our connection to Earth. Many climate change activists don't realize this, but people will only be turned off if the activist tries to scare or guilt a climate change denier. Holland wisely advises that we instill a feeling of awe in people so they may feel a connection with our global home and care how they treat it.
Perhaps we should also think of Earth as more than Mother Earth, hmm?
Maybe it's more of an All Earth Lives Matter kind of thing...
I highly recommend this book for all people who feel a great disconnect in their lives that nothing will fill. As Holland points out, psychiatry originally meant medical care for the soul. 'Psyche' in Greek means soul.. Let's hope our psychiatrists are soon allowed to help us restore our childhood souls and,, perhaps, even help people like me with an incomplete spinal cord injury to walk more easily because the damaged synapse connections have also been strengthened.
Julie Holland, perhaps too secular for theistic doctors, is obviously a down-to-earth kind of person who recommends listening to great music, taking quiet walks, and volunteering your time. But I connect with her. Soul is what you make it from your experiences. So take her advice and you'll rev up your oxytocin!
Psychedelic drug therapy, monitored by experienced, medical professionals, has made a most welcome comeback in the twenty-first century throughout the world. Having been shut down in the Sixties because of uncontrolled, experimentation by celebrities like Timothy Leary and Cary Grant, the research went underground for decades. Now, led by esteemed psychiatrists with psychopharmacology panache like Julie Holland, MD, many clinical trials in the US are well underway. Holland's latest book ,Good Chemistry: The Science of Connection, From Soul to Psychedelics, reveals in detail why connection to ourselves, our partners, our community, our planet, and our universe is crucial and how psychedelics can help us to do that when nothing else really will.
I'm always interested in reading brilliant doctors like Holland who teach me more about the mysteries of the human brain and how the mind and body are inseparable partners invested in our flourishing. This book was not the first I'd read about the thrilling benefits of psychedelic drug therapy for I read Michael Pollan's book How To Change Your Mind last year.
Please note that the therapy is not just a blast from the past. Not a throwback to hippie culture. Our bodies evolved over millions of years with receptors or docks for psychedelic drugs to latch onto to help ease pain and depression, promote well-being in our soul, and support recovery from PTSD and dependence on opioids and alcohol, for example. Cancer patients facing imminent demise can face it more easily with the therapy.
Holland knows just why this happens and will tell us all about the good and bad sides of the “cuddly” hormone osytocin and how it interacts with our brain, damping down its fear center or amygdala, and helps us to connect in all the ways we need to.
I want to highlight what she said about our connection to Earth. Many climate change activists don't realize this, but people will only be turned off if the activist tries to scare or guilt a climate change denier. Holland wisely advises that we instill a feeling of awe in people so they may feel a connection with our global home and care how they treat it.
Perhaps we should also think of Earth as more than Mother Earth, hmm?
Maybe it's more of an All Earth Lives Matter kind of thing...
I highly recommend this book for all people who feel a great disconnect in their lives that nothing will fill. As Holland points out, psychiatry originally meant medical care for the soul. 'Psyche' in Greek means soul.. Let's hope our psychiatrists are soon allowed to help us restore our childhood souls and,, perhaps, even help people like me with an incomplete spinal cord injury to walk more easily because the damaged synapse connections have also been strengthened.
Julie Holland, perhaps too secular for theistic doctors, is obviously a down-to-earth kind of person who recommends listening to great music, taking quiet walks, and volunteering your time. But I connect with her. Soul is what you make it from your experiences. So take her advice and you'll rev up your oxytocin!
October 17, 2021
I've read my share of psychedelic books and I'm far from a novice in the topic. I am a bit apprehensive about reading more books on the subject. Not only because I already know a fair bit, but also because honestly, most books about the topic are lazy. They take advantage of psychedelics renewed public interest, but they mostly just reach the same things: the discovery of psychedelics, the medical research, the counterculture, drug prohibition, and then the psychedelic renaissance of the 21st century. Not that is anything wrong with this, but it has been written about a million times.
However, this book captivated my eye and made me hope it would add something new, particularly the word connection on the title. It's one of the most important aspects of psychedelics but yet not emphasized enough.
While the typical topics I mentioned are cover, nevertheless the perspective is fresh. While psychedelics are the main theme of the book, she rightful understands why they are so powerful: the ability to feel connected. Both because of how much they bring this about in a psychedelic experience, but just as important: because we live in a society that is deeply disconnected, thus making the contrast even greater.
The book is surprisingly varied in its content and approach. Sometimes that was a positive, sometimes a negative. It had everything from neurochemistry, Holland's life history, stories from her patients, history, politics, and more. To be fair I found out a bit more personal than I would have liked.
Nevertheless, it does add human depth to the book, and I understand that it makes a better reading experience for most and easier to sell and market. The drug emphasis is also varied, covering not only the typical LSD and mushrooms but also MDMA and Cannabis, the latter of which is emphasized more than usual by the author.
What I liked the most was the underlying mechanisms of connection, which should be basic psychology knowledge but certainly isn't, and I have no idea why given its crucial importance. She seems to attribute this mostly to two factors, the first being the parasympathetic nervous system. It's a state associated with when we feel relaxed and safe. This contrasts with the sympathetic nervous system, which is associated with the fight and flight response. She argues that our modern lives are mostly lived with the sympathetic nervous system, deteriorating our mental health and making us feel disconnected.
The second is oxytocin, often known as the "love hormone". It's associated with bonding, particularly with your partner and close ones. The typical narrative of oxytocin is oversimplified, and I'm glad she took that into account, but nevertheless, its role in social connection cannot be missed.
The two factors aren't separate as perhaps I have implied here. They certainly work together, and oxytocin is part of the chemical mechanism behind the parasympathetic nervous system. Although certainly not the only one, is far more complex. It can be thought of as the antagonist of the sympathetic system, which relies heavily on adrenaline and cortisol. Towards the end of the book the default mode network was also heavily emphasized in relationship to egocentrism.
But as I previously mentioned, the book goes well beyond just neurochemistry. It also talks at a level close to everyday life: romance, sex, childbirth, child-rearing, etc. Of course, all are big factors for our social lives and our feeling of connection. It also mentions more minor aspects that may not immediately come to mind, such as hugs, cuddling, and eye contact. They're relatively simple social bonding actions but they shouldn't be underestimated.
However, while this is certainly at a level of everyday life and not directly talking about some neurotransmitters, it obviously has a very strong biological component. I liked that this was constantly emphasized throughout the book. This kind of discussion can often get into the typical new age spirituality, and while not directly opposed to it, it's important to realize the biological reality of this aspect of the human experience.
Despite these all having a biological underpinning, some factors do not, at least to a meaningful degree. Connection is not only a biologically influenced force in individuals, but it is also affected by the broader community. This is particularly relevant in our society.
We are not atoms independent of everything else, but we depend on relationships, and that has a big effect on our feeling of connection. This was even covered within a psychedelic paradigm. For instance, many examples were given of the role of couple's psychedelic therapy, or the effect of psychedelics not on the subject who took the substance but on their peers.
There were several aspects I did not like. I wasn't a fan of mixing politics into the book. Sometimes she was a bit too hippy for my taste, and most problematically, I found some of her claims exaggerated. While the science was overall solid, particularly in terms of mechanisms, some studies and examples were overplayed and the conclusion farfetched. The book at times also had an over self-help tone which I felt did not fit very well and undermined the better aspects of the book.
Despite these negatives, I still found the book enjoyable. If you're new to psychedelics it is a good book to get into the topic, and if you're not, you may still found her emphasis on connection interesting and refreshing. While psychedelics have enormous importance for psychiatry, it's crucial to remember why: they touch on the core of what it means to be human: connection, meaning, awe, spirituality and sacredness.
However, this book captivated my eye and made me hope it would add something new, particularly the word connection on the title. It's one of the most important aspects of psychedelics but yet not emphasized enough.
While the typical topics I mentioned are cover, nevertheless the perspective is fresh. While psychedelics are the main theme of the book, she rightful understands why they are so powerful: the ability to feel connected. Both because of how much they bring this about in a psychedelic experience, but just as important: because we live in a society that is deeply disconnected, thus making the contrast even greater.
The book is surprisingly varied in its content and approach. Sometimes that was a positive, sometimes a negative. It had everything from neurochemistry, Holland's life history, stories from her patients, history, politics, and more. To be fair I found out a bit more personal than I would have liked.
Nevertheless, it does add human depth to the book, and I understand that it makes a better reading experience for most and easier to sell and market. The drug emphasis is also varied, covering not only the typical LSD and mushrooms but also MDMA and Cannabis, the latter of which is emphasized more than usual by the author.
What I liked the most was the underlying mechanisms of connection, which should be basic psychology knowledge but certainly isn't, and I have no idea why given its crucial importance. She seems to attribute this mostly to two factors, the first being the parasympathetic nervous system. It's a state associated with when we feel relaxed and safe. This contrasts with the sympathetic nervous system, which is associated with the fight and flight response. She argues that our modern lives are mostly lived with the sympathetic nervous system, deteriorating our mental health and making us feel disconnected.
The second is oxytocin, often known as the "love hormone". It's associated with bonding, particularly with your partner and close ones. The typical narrative of oxytocin is oversimplified, and I'm glad she took that into account, but nevertheless, its role in social connection cannot be missed.
The two factors aren't separate as perhaps I have implied here. They certainly work together, and oxytocin is part of the chemical mechanism behind the parasympathetic nervous system. Although certainly not the only one, is far more complex. It can be thought of as the antagonist of the sympathetic system, which relies heavily on adrenaline and cortisol. Towards the end of the book the default mode network was also heavily emphasized in relationship to egocentrism.
But as I previously mentioned, the book goes well beyond just neurochemistry. It also talks at a level close to everyday life: romance, sex, childbirth, child-rearing, etc. Of course, all are big factors for our social lives and our feeling of connection. It also mentions more minor aspects that may not immediately come to mind, such as hugs, cuddling, and eye contact. They're relatively simple social bonding actions but they shouldn't be underestimated.
However, while this is certainly at a level of everyday life and not directly talking about some neurotransmitters, it obviously has a very strong biological component. I liked that this was constantly emphasized throughout the book. This kind of discussion can often get into the typical new age spirituality, and while not directly opposed to it, it's important to realize the biological reality of this aspect of the human experience.
Despite these all having a biological underpinning, some factors do not, at least to a meaningful degree. Connection is not only a biologically influenced force in individuals, but it is also affected by the broader community. This is particularly relevant in our society.
We are not atoms independent of everything else, but we depend on relationships, and that has a big effect on our feeling of connection. This was even covered within a psychedelic paradigm. For instance, many examples were given of the role of couple's psychedelic therapy, or the effect of psychedelics not on the subject who took the substance but on their peers.
There were several aspects I did not like. I wasn't a fan of mixing politics into the book. Sometimes she was a bit too hippy for my taste, and most problematically, I found some of her claims exaggerated. While the science was overall solid, particularly in terms of mechanisms, some studies and examples were overplayed and the conclusion farfetched. The book at times also had an over self-help tone which I felt did not fit very well and undermined the better aspects of the book.
Despite these negatives, I still found the book enjoyable. If you're new to psychedelics it is a good book to get into the topic, and if you're not, you may still found her emphasis on connection interesting and refreshing. While psychedelics have enormous importance for psychiatry, it's crucial to remember why: they touch on the core of what it means to be human: connection, meaning, awe, spirituality and sacredness.
September 14, 2022
Really could have done without the unnecessary political narrative c/o the author that added absolutely nothing to an otherwise decent book on neurochemistry. Ugh.
December 7, 2023
Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me. I hoped to read about (1) scientific studies, clinical trials, and case studies of the many patients she has seen and (2) what connectedness is and how to foster it. In other words, I was hoping to read about the (1) SCIENCE of (2) CONNECTION!
Instead, through this book i read about (1) MUSINGS on (2) PSYCHEDELICS. I read reflections and only-sometimes-scientifically-supported comments about psychedelic drugs and other psycho-active drugs. Much of the book deals with the author’s experiences using drugs, the author’s reflections on her childhood experiences and also her current marriage, and musings about how psychedelic drugs can treat all kinds of ills. Sometimes she referenced case studies of her patients (good) or scientific trials (better!) but many- I would even say most- of the assertions either simply weren’t scientific at all or didn’t refer to scientific studies.
By the way, psychedelics are totally fascinating. Clearly psychedelics have a massive and mostly untapped potential to treat many diseases. If I had known this book was all about psychedelic drugs rather than the science of connection, I still would have happily picked it up! BUT if I had known how little science there would be, I certainly would not have started reading.
The author does not exactly present herself as a reliable narrator, which compounds the problem that many of her claims about psychedelics are anecdotal or unsupported by science (as far as I know). If someone I really trust makes a lot of unsupported claims, I’m still happy to read and trust those claims. Maybe they forgot to stick in a citation. But if someone who is a passionate pro-drug advocate who named her daughter “Molly” makes a lot of unsupported claims about the drug mdma (street name… molly ), well, let’s just say I’m not inclined to trust her. For example, she describes in long detail how a patient’s four-year-old self emerged in a therapeutic session of mdma (molly) usage- and the author made some conclusions about how that helped her expose and confront childhood trauma. Honestly, I don’t know that evidence supports this approach as a psychologically healthy approach! Either way- not interesting to read!
By the way- I hope it’s just a coincidence- but she literally named her daughter after a drug? Mdma = Molly? I suppose there are worse names out there but that’s a weird set of pressure to put on your child.
Finally, I found myself tripping up over double standards / sexism in this book. I may be unfair in noticing these moments, but:
(1) the author chastised new moms for “rushing back to work” (no such chastisement for new dads)
(2) the author described watching a young mom gazing at her phone on the subway while her toddler acted upset. THE TODDLER’S FATHER was “trying to distract” the toddler. The author concluded that it was so obvious to her that the mother needed to put down her phone and engage with the toddler! Um, WHAT?!? The toddler’s father was RIGHT THERE.
(3) the author is extremely pro natural birth, breastfeeding, and removing all medicalization from birth. Look, I get it- that may be what I want someday too!- but birth is, statistically, very risky. It’s tough for me to read a DOCTOR making these strong claims without caveats.
Anyway- clearly this wasn’t the book for me, but it does make me want to find a book that IS about the science of connection or even just the science of psychedelics!
Instead, through this book i read about (1) MUSINGS on (2) PSYCHEDELICS. I read reflections and only-sometimes-scientifically-supported comments about psychedelic drugs and other psycho-active drugs. Much of the book deals with the author’s experiences using drugs, the author’s reflections on her childhood experiences and also her current marriage, and musings about how psychedelic drugs can treat all kinds of ills. Sometimes she referenced case studies of her patients (good) or scientific trials (better!) but many- I would even say most- of the assertions either simply weren’t scientific at all or didn’t refer to scientific studies.
By the way, psychedelics are totally fascinating. Clearly psychedelics have a massive and mostly untapped potential to treat many diseases. If I had known this book was all about psychedelic drugs rather than the science of connection, I still would have happily picked it up! BUT if I had known how little science there would be, I certainly would not have started reading.
The author does not exactly present herself as a reliable narrator, which compounds the problem that many of her claims about psychedelics are anecdotal or unsupported by science (as far as I know). If someone I really trust makes a lot of unsupported claims, I’m still happy to read and trust those claims. Maybe they forgot to stick in a citation. But if someone who is a passionate pro-drug advocate who named her daughter “Molly” makes a lot of unsupported claims about the drug mdma (street name… molly ), well, let’s just say I’m not inclined to trust her. For example, she describes in long detail how a patient’s four-year-old self emerged in a therapeutic session of mdma (molly) usage- and the author made some conclusions about how that helped her expose and confront childhood trauma. Honestly, I don’t know that evidence supports this approach as a psychologically healthy approach! Either way- not interesting to read!
By the way- I hope it’s just a coincidence- but she literally named her daughter after a drug? Mdma = Molly? I suppose there are worse names out there but that’s a weird set of pressure to put on your child.
Finally, I found myself tripping up over double standards / sexism in this book. I may be unfair in noticing these moments, but:
(1) the author chastised new moms for “rushing back to work” (no such chastisement for new dads)
(2) the author described watching a young mom gazing at her phone on the subway while her toddler acted upset. THE TODDLER’S FATHER was “trying to distract” the toddler. The author concluded that it was so obvious to her that the mother needed to put down her phone and engage with the toddler! Um, WHAT?!? The toddler’s father was RIGHT THERE.
(3) the author is extremely pro natural birth, breastfeeding, and removing all medicalization from birth. Look, I get it- that may be what I want someday too!- but birth is, statistically, very risky. It’s tough for me to read a DOCTOR making these strong claims without caveats.
Anyway- clearly this wasn’t the book for me, but it does make me want to find a book that IS about the science of connection or even just the science of psychedelics!
August 16, 2020
We are wired to find connection pleasurable, to reward a state of unity - because thats how we survive
Loneliness is the health equivalent of being obese or smoking 15 fags a day. And is responsible for our opioid epidemic. There are more veteran suicides than veteran war deaths- this has been true for the last 20 yrs. Suicide rates are higher than ever across all demographics (and particularly among white men)
SSRIs numb you to the reality of your life and make it so you loose the motivation to fix the things in your life that arent working. They make is difficult to fall in love and keep a mate. They make you not mind that you are disconnected.
Our fight or flight (sympathetic) nervous system is not the key to our survival. It is for an animal in the jungle. Ours is the parasympathetic system. This “protect and connect” (parasympathetic) system runs alongside the sympathetic system. It is our natural state of balance, its relaxed, safe, like taking care of a baby or being taken care of, of orgasm, of being among friends, of comfort, or being in awe.
To flip into “para”:
Breath through left nostril
exhale slightly longer than Inhale
Do nothing
Do yoga - tie the mind to the body
Sing
Float
Hug yourself and stroke your arms downward
Your body knows . shame splinters you, you needs to “come together” and have a unified self. Self hatred comes from a split in the self somewhere. Dont move away from experiencing your own emotions. Articulate them to yourself so you can connect with yourself
Each couple needs to harmonize. There is a balance in yourself, in your partnership, in families, in tribes, societies, ecosystems
Ego disintegration may be easier with another.
If our religion is based off on salvation, our chief emotions will be fear and trembling, if our religion is based on wonder, our chief emotion will be gratitude - jung
Loneliness is the health equivalent of being obese or smoking 15 fags a day. And is responsible for our opioid epidemic. There are more veteran suicides than veteran war deaths- this has been true for the last 20 yrs. Suicide rates are higher than ever across all demographics (and particularly among white men)
SSRIs numb you to the reality of your life and make it so you loose the motivation to fix the things in your life that arent working. They make is difficult to fall in love and keep a mate. They make you not mind that you are disconnected.
Our fight or flight (sympathetic) nervous system is not the key to our survival. It is for an animal in the jungle. Ours is the parasympathetic system. This “protect and connect” (parasympathetic) system runs alongside the sympathetic system. It is our natural state of balance, its relaxed, safe, like taking care of a baby or being taken care of, of orgasm, of being among friends, of comfort, or being in awe.
To flip into “para”:
Breath through left nostril
exhale slightly longer than Inhale
Do nothing
Do yoga - tie the mind to the body
Sing
Float
Hug yourself and stroke your arms downward
Your body knows . shame splinters you, you needs to “come together” and have a unified self. Self hatred comes from a split in the self somewhere. Dont move away from experiencing your own emotions. Articulate them to yourself so you can connect with yourself
Each couple needs to harmonize. There is a balance in yourself, in your partnership, in families, in tribes, societies, ecosystems
Ego disintegration may be easier with another.
If our religion is based off on salvation, our chief emotions will be fear and trembling, if our religion is based on wonder, our chief emotion will be gratitude - jung
January 11, 2023
Wasn't what I was expecting. Reading it became painful as the author decided to keep spouting off her personal opinions on random subjects, without any of said opinions actually contributing to the content in any meaningful way. Seemed messy, as if it lacked the focus necessary to actually convey any message at all. I almost gave this a single star. If you're looking for a good book on psychedelics and mental health, read How To Change Your Mind.
January 14, 2024
When social media - Facebook and its ilk - roared into being, it was supposed to make us all happier and more connected, a big happy connected community. That’s exactly what did not happen. In the United States, there is a loneliness epidemic, a crisis of anxiety, fear and hopelessness, a suicide epidemic. Whether social media is completely at fault - the impending doom of climate change and authoritarian government may have a little bit do with this - the fact remains that a whole lot of people out there are sad as fuck. Julie Holland’s book gives us connection as a way to help ease the pain of life in the 21st century. There is a science of connection and its importance to our well being as individuals and in turn as communities. Holland makes a good argument that psychedelics are the key to finding connection. She convinced me with her arguments. I especially liked how each chapter is devoted to a different, important connection - to self, to a partner, to family, to the community, to the earth, and finally to infinity and cosmos itself. For me at least, these kind of scientific psychology books can be slow going, which has more to do with me and less to do with Holland’s writing. But i made it to the end, and I’m more learned because of it in this area.
April 11, 2024
Got about 70 percent in and DNF. Some of the science was interesting, I just don’t like people shoehorning their political beliefs into a book that should be strictly factual.
September 15, 2022
The subject of this book, the importance of human connection and how psychedelics can influence it, is such an important subject for our western culture. I appreciated the expertise of the author and her dedication to researching the subject. You can feel this book was a labor of love. Gave it 4/5 because it was hard to read at times.
Read
October 4, 2020need to reread, didn't get to full finish but really enjoyed this
July 27, 2021
This book was good, and I learned a lot! It basically argues that all of the problems of the world can be explained by a lack of connection: a connection to the self, to others, and to the world. Particularly, Holland highlights the importance of staying in "para" (and not in a constant fight-or-flight mode) and how the neurotransmitter oxytocin plays a significant role in the ability to connect.
She also advocates for the use of psychedelics in therapeutic and non-therapeutic settings, arguing that these can help us create new connections in the brain and leave our ego behind, resulting in a deeper connection with the things around us. I completely agree! This book reminded me a lot of Pollan's "How to Change your Mind" and presented a lot of complimentary information.
Holland writes with a sense of humor and tells a story, but almost always backs up her ideas with studies. I felt that the first half of the book was stronger than the second, and one of my favorite parts was regarding male and female pheromones:
"Men, for example, appear to be able to sense ovulation via pheromones. In one study, lap dancers at a club in Albuquerque saw their tips spike on days they were ovulating and drop significantly during their periods."
...
"Women have a subtler take...When presented with a choice of sweaty T-shirts that men had slept in for several consecutive nights, women preferred ones from men whose immunse systems were significantly different from their own."
She also advocates for the use of psychedelics in therapeutic and non-therapeutic settings, arguing that these can help us create new connections in the brain and leave our ego behind, resulting in a deeper connection with the things around us. I completely agree! This book reminded me a lot of Pollan's "How to Change your Mind" and presented a lot of complimentary information.
Holland writes with a sense of humor and tells a story, but almost always backs up her ideas with studies. I felt that the first half of the book was stronger than the second, and one of my favorite parts was regarding male and female pheromones:
"Men, for example, appear to be able to sense ovulation via pheromones. In one study, lap dancers at a club in Albuquerque saw their tips spike on days they were ovulating and drop significantly during their periods."
...
"Women have a subtler take...When presented with a choice of sweaty T-shirts that men had slept in for several consecutive nights, women preferred ones from men whose immunse systems were significantly different from their own."
Read
August 8, 2023Dope, dope, dope. Excellent book. I love reading :') Julie is so fly (A decadent psychopharmacologist, psychiatrist but also an exquisite researcher) & I would allow her to join my friend group np ! ;)
Overall, and on a personal note, I mostly resonated with the introduction of the book because I thought that it gave the most influential -for me. Apart from that I just feel that the other chapters are practical guides. Someone that already knows about psychedelics or brain chemistry may not find this book as resourceful, I have no preexisting knowledge on this subject so this was kind of revolutionary for me. I also feel that Julia speaks about this subject in a high-level manner.
My favourite chapters were Inroduction and Chapter 6.
Beloved quotes : "The first half of life focuses on developing a healthy ego, the second half is letting go of it." & "If fear is closed, then love is open."
Questions this book leaves me w : When does 'cognitive flexibility' become 'cognitive whiplash' ? & What were the patients spiritual views b4 psychedelics ? & How is it possible to exercise 'openness' w/o the use of psychedelics ?
I will share my notes (non proofed) :
Introduction : A Unified Theory -This was a sad read for me. Primarily because it exposed me to the severity of human loneliness & explains the despair of humankind. Julie Holland is a very sensitive person; she can detect these feelings of despair and loneliness in people and that was a part that stood out the most to me.
The key to survival lies in the flip side of SNS, the PSN. Rest and digest.
PSN natural state of balance : falling in love, caring for a baby, giving comfort, or getting.
Flipping over into 'Para'.
1. Breath through the nose.
2. Do nothing. Meditation is dilating the spaces between thoughts. -Cool !
3. Do some yoga – It means to yoke or bind.
4. Singing :’)
5. Floating – in the lake/pool. It’s a heart-opening exercise. The mind feels free of boundaries.
6. Havening. -Aw. -Using affirmation with the word ‘love’ could prompt the idea of love the idea of heartbreak or loss.
Progression from isolation to oneness – Experience union to something larger than ourselves.
Chapt. 1 - Rubbing your figers to your lips is a grounding exercise. Cultivating openness all by yourself. A high percentage of mirror neurons are fired from movements of the lips which are closely linked to food, language and kissing -Makes sense.
Micro and Macro dosing : How they are used to help her clients (Tina & David)
Stimulants and psychedelics differ in their ability to engender divergent thinking allowing to make creative leaps through looser associations.
Describing these MDMA sessions with Maria, the exchange of energy between two people & describing Davids case.
Neuro Plasticity (My favorite).
Dismantling fear. Suppression of our desires. Disowning ourselves.
Tina’s letter to Julia :’) -Cute.
Regiment for long-term maintenance in mental health & Bringing the scattered self back to oneness. Embodiment :
1. Be present
2. Unplug
3. Feel
4. Journal
5. Make art
6. Dance
7. Breath through our nose
8. Connect
9. Make joy a priority
10. Silence
11. Do nothing
Chapt. 2 - Okokok so this chapter was mostly about relationships with partners. Again, I think this was a nice intuitive ‘handbook’ for understanding and developing lasting love with someone. So this is good.
I liked how she made a connection to Yoga. She used Yoga as a metaphor for a lot of what she was trying to describe that would happen in the mind. For ex. Psychological flexibility (so gangster btw) Can be referenced as Yoga - We can stay calm in a difficult pose if we breathe through our nose. The hardest postures are the ones we need the most, they reveal where we are weaker or less valuable which is no different in a partnership. Psychological flexibility correlates with resilience and adaptability -physical and mental well-being.
Novelty seeking. Balancing the Ying n' Yang between partnerships. State of flow together - Ego disillusion. Pro-Social behaviour.
People can lust many at one time but they can only love one.
!! Therapists should be professional reflectors !!
Chapt. 3 - Primary subject is Oxytocin. Julie explains the science of fetus growth, giving birth & motherhood. There are tips for parenting in this Chap. as well -Like 'plant parenting' adding occasional psychedelic use when you're not parenting. In this section, she also discusses the cognition of an individual with autism and the comparison : Cognitive empathy, and emotional empathy.
High social cognition : Octopus has cognitive empathy.
cerebral cortex : Language, memory and consciousness.
Giving the octopus (asocial creature) MDNA -really cute experience, the octopus was giving the other octopus hugs :') The outcome of the research essentially proved that it is possible to 'employ'
Chapt. 4 : Connecting w others - She mentions some research that is happening in Canada - in Saskatchewan with physicians of color & Indigenous practices in psychedelics.
The power of music, singing, & humming. Group mind (this also probably happens in sports too).
Our digital environment is designed to divide us (interesting, I don't believe it is).
Chapt. 5 : Connection with the earth.
Julia brings up the word "Querencia" which is a Spanish word used for where the bull goes to rest. This is cool because 'querencia' is so beautiful. Flexible and resilient, and death is a natural part of the life cycle. Not becoming too attached to the coming and going of things.
Chapt. 6 : Connection w the cosmos.
Ego disintegration, the void, the vast boundlessness.
The antidote to mortality is "love" - loving the people around you and loving life.
The mystical experience is really where science and spirituality interface,
A lifetime of integration.
Before taking psychedelics : Assess the changes you can make in your life w/o, conversations that need to be had, relationships that need to be repaired, meditate, and spend time in nature. It's better to have these things in place before taking psychedelics. In weeks following the mystical experience some people have aggressive thoughts, and the integration of psychedelics is essential to living with these experiences.
Held, believed and seen.
Julia also talks about her own experiences with death in this chapter which I think is very refreshing.
Overall, and on a personal note, I mostly resonated with the introduction of the book because I thought that it gave the most influential -for me. Apart from that I just feel that the other chapters are practical guides. Someone that already knows about psychedelics or brain chemistry may not find this book as resourceful, I have no preexisting knowledge on this subject so this was kind of revolutionary for me. I also feel that Julia speaks about this subject in a high-level manner.
My favourite chapters were Inroduction and Chapter 6.
Beloved quotes : "The first half of life focuses on developing a healthy ego, the second half is letting go of it." & "If fear is closed, then love is open."
Questions this book leaves me w : When does 'cognitive flexibility' become 'cognitive whiplash' ? & What were the patients spiritual views b4 psychedelics ? & How is it possible to exercise 'openness' w/o the use of psychedelics ?
I will share my notes (non proofed) :
Introduction : A Unified Theory -This was a sad read for me. Primarily because it exposed me to the severity of human loneliness & explains the despair of humankind. Julie Holland is a very sensitive person; she can detect these feelings of despair and loneliness in people and that was a part that stood out the most to me.
The key to survival lies in the flip side of SNS, the PSN. Rest and digest.
PSN natural state of balance : falling in love, caring for a baby, giving comfort, or getting.
Flipping over into 'Para'.
1. Breath through the nose.
2. Do nothing. Meditation is dilating the spaces between thoughts. -Cool !
3. Do some yoga – It means to yoke or bind.
4. Singing :’)
5. Floating – in the lake/pool. It’s a heart-opening exercise. The mind feels free of boundaries.
6. Havening. -Aw. -Using affirmation with the word ‘love’ could prompt the idea of love the idea of heartbreak or loss.
Progression from isolation to oneness – Experience union to something larger than ourselves.
Chapt. 1 - Rubbing your figers to your lips is a grounding exercise. Cultivating openness all by yourself. A high percentage of mirror neurons are fired from movements of the lips which are closely linked to food, language and kissing -Makes sense.
Micro and Macro dosing : How they are used to help her clients (Tina & David)
Stimulants and psychedelics differ in their ability to engender divergent thinking allowing to make creative leaps through looser associations.
Describing these MDMA sessions with Maria, the exchange of energy between two people & describing Davids case.
Neuro Plasticity (My favorite).
Dismantling fear. Suppression of our desires. Disowning ourselves.
Tina’s letter to Julia :’) -Cute.
Regiment for long-term maintenance in mental health & Bringing the scattered self back to oneness. Embodiment :
1. Be present
2. Unplug
3. Feel
4. Journal
5. Make art
6. Dance
7. Breath through our nose
8. Connect
9. Make joy a priority
10. Silence
11. Do nothing
Chapt. 2 - Okokok so this chapter was mostly about relationships with partners. Again, I think this was a nice intuitive ‘handbook’ for understanding and developing lasting love with someone. So this is good.
I liked how she made a connection to Yoga. She used Yoga as a metaphor for a lot of what she was trying to describe that would happen in the mind. For ex. Psychological flexibility (so gangster btw) Can be referenced as Yoga - We can stay calm in a difficult pose if we breathe through our nose. The hardest postures are the ones we need the most, they reveal where we are weaker or less valuable which is no different in a partnership. Psychological flexibility correlates with resilience and adaptability -physical and mental well-being.
Novelty seeking. Balancing the Ying n' Yang between partnerships. State of flow together - Ego disillusion. Pro-Social behaviour.
People can lust many at one time but they can only love one.
!! Therapists should be professional reflectors !!
Chapt. 3 - Primary subject is Oxytocin. Julie explains the science of fetus growth, giving birth & motherhood. There are tips for parenting in this Chap. as well -Like 'plant parenting' adding occasional psychedelic use when you're not parenting. In this section, she also discusses the cognition of an individual with autism and the comparison : Cognitive empathy, and emotional empathy.
High social cognition : Octopus has cognitive empathy.
cerebral cortex : Language, memory and consciousness.
Giving the octopus (asocial creature) MDNA -really cute experience, the octopus was giving the other octopus hugs :') The outcome of the research essentially proved that it is possible to 'employ'
Chapt. 4 : Connecting w others - She mentions some research that is happening in Canada - in Saskatchewan with physicians of color & Indigenous practices in psychedelics.
The power of music, singing, & humming. Group mind (this also probably happens in sports too).
Our digital environment is designed to divide us (interesting, I don't believe it is).
Chapt. 5 : Connection with the earth.
Julia brings up the word "Querencia" which is a Spanish word used for where the bull goes to rest. This is cool because 'querencia' is so beautiful. Flexible and resilient, and death is a natural part of the life cycle. Not becoming too attached to the coming and going of things.
Chapt. 6 : Connection w the cosmos.
Ego disintegration, the void, the vast boundlessness.
The antidote to mortality is "love" - loving the people around you and loving life.
The mystical experience is really where science and spirituality interface,
A lifetime of integration.
Before taking psychedelics : Assess the changes you can make in your life w/o, conversations that need to be had, relationships that need to be repaired, meditate, and spend time in nature. It's better to have these things in place before taking psychedelics. In weeks following the mystical experience some people have aggressive thoughts, and the integration of psychedelics is essential to living with these experiences.
Held, believed and seen.
Julia also talks about her own experiences with death in this chapter which I think is very refreshing.
March 10, 2021
I really enjoyed this! Essentially, it’s an highly readable overview of the latest research in neurology and psychology (and a few other fields!) related to connection. Holland covers a huge range of different relationships / life circumstances, from social media to parenting, psychedelics to sex, global warming to breathing, partisan politics to pets.
I think this would make a great introduction for anyone wants to wade into the science.
I think this would make a great introduction for anyone wants to wade into the science.
August 10, 2020
This book was captivating, a fascinating and accessible explanation of the psychology and history of drug legality. In addition to a fascinating dive into the scientific study of the effects of psychedelic medicines, this book taught me a lot about our search for meaning and our connection to nature.
February 22, 2022
Ugh, I thought this was going to be so awesome, but it just wasn't. I found myself getting mad about some of the statements and opinions early on, so I tried to keep going. No, this just wasn't for me.
October 21, 2020
Beautiful and timely read.
July 14, 2020
Good science and excellent writing. this book was informative, educational, and personally helpful.
October 31, 2021
The author reviews the effects and treatments of cannabis, psilocybin, ayahuasca, micro-dosing with mushrooms and LSD. How psychedelics can unleash creativity and decrease suffering. Creativity, enabled by psychedelics, comes from increased connectivity in the brain between areas that don’t usually communicate. The same thing can happen on a personal level - to connect with parts within ourselves that seem lost or open new avenues of discussion with our partners. We can also chose to connect more fully with our families or other people outside our usual circles. All these ways in connecting more deeply lead to a deep healing. The author talks about the connection of humans with nature and that we need to keep Earth safe in order to keep ourselves safe but not by spreading fear of destruction but instead instill a feeling of awe and connection in the people. Empathy, connection, talking to a friend, music, going outside are ways to help with feeling down.
Some insights for me from the book:
Unified theory of connection - loneliness doesn’t come from not having people around you but from being unable to communicate the things that seem important to you. - Carl Jung
Our flight or fight (sympathetic) nervous system is not the key to our survival anymore (but it is for the animals in the wild). Now it is the parasympathetic system - protect and connect, which works along the sympathetic system. It is our natural state of balance, relaxed, safe, comfort, taking care of or being taken care of, being among friends, orgasm, being in awe. To get into parasympathetic state, breath through left nostril and exhale slightly longer than inhale. With this one nostril breathing the left lung expands more than the right. Then the heart gets more oxygen and works less. Slows the heart rate and is called slow breathing. Other ways are to do nothing, do yoga (tie the mind to the body), sing, float, hug yourself.
Conflict is where growth is trying to happen.
Dopamine is less about pleasure and more about fixing onto and driving rewarding behavior. It’s the chemical of tenacity.
Oxytocin can promote generosity to in-group members but also spiteful behavior towards outsiders of the group. We have inherit social categorization and intergroup bias. It seems that oxytocin amplifies the success or failure of the original attachment bond. Suggesting that for those with insecure attachments the addition of oxytocin might just bring more of those initial negative experience. Oxytocin is double edged sword - makes you kinder to your group but more aggressive to those outside.
Reversal learning is when an animal or a person is trained to respond one way and subsequently trained to reverse the reward values. The behavior that was previously rewarded is now punished and vice versa. It is used as a test for cognitive flexibility. Psychedelics help to accelerate reversal learning. This can be helpful in treating addictions.
The antidote to mortality is love. Loving people around you, loving life, yourself, caring, connecting, being present. Loving every minute you have and not dying before you die. A lot of people get that from psychedelics.
The psychedelic experience teaches you about how to live your life. People finding their personal religion - that thing that will sustain you through all the difficult points in your life. And that is the most radical thing about psychedelics - they give every single individual the empowerment to access the divine in themselves, there is no intermediary. That is also the scariest aspect. It is a lot of power that you are reminding individuals that they have. This power is also responsibility.
Connecting with natural beauty can induce awe. And awe can reduce narcissism - helping us to feel small. Psychedelics can temp down that narcissism by temporary quieting the default mode network. Psychedelics can help us to unlearn (reversal learning). They can help us become a little less neurotic and a lot more open. Can help us to rediscover parts of ourselves that we have buried or have lost touch with.
Some insights for me from the book:
Unified theory of connection - loneliness doesn’t come from not having people around you but from being unable to communicate the things that seem important to you. - Carl Jung
Our flight or fight (sympathetic) nervous system is not the key to our survival anymore (but it is for the animals in the wild). Now it is the parasympathetic system - protect and connect, which works along the sympathetic system. It is our natural state of balance, relaxed, safe, comfort, taking care of or being taken care of, being among friends, orgasm, being in awe. To get into parasympathetic state, breath through left nostril and exhale slightly longer than inhale. With this one nostril breathing the left lung expands more than the right. Then the heart gets more oxygen and works less. Slows the heart rate and is called slow breathing. Other ways are to do nothing, do yoga (tie the mind to the body), sing, float, hug yourself.
Conflict is where growth is trying to happen.
Dopamine is less about pleasure and more about fixing onto and driving rewarding behavior. It’s the chemical of tenacity.
Oxytocin can promote generosity to in-group members but also spiteful behavior towards outsiders of the group. We have inherit social categorization and intergroup bias. It seems that oxytocin amplifies the success or failure of the original attachment bond. Suggesting that for those with insecure attachments the addition of oxytocin might just bring more of those initial negative experience. Oxytocin is double edged sword - makes you kinder to your group but more aggressive to those outside.
Reversal learning is when an animal or a person is trained to respond one way and subsequently trained to reverse the reward values. The behavior that was previously rewarded is now punished and vice versa. It is used as a test for cognitive flexibility. Psychedelics help to accelerate reversal learning. This can be helpful in treating addictions.
The antidote to mortality is love. Loving people around you, loving life, yourself, caring, connecting, being present. Loving every minute you have and not dying before you die. A lot of people get that from psychedelics.
The psychedelic experience teaches you about how to live your life. People finding their personal religion - that thing that will sustain you through all the difficult points in your life. And that is the most radical thing about psychedelics - they give every single individual the empowerment to access the divine in themselves, there is no intermediary. That is also the scariest aspect. It is a lot of power that you are reminding individuals that they have. This power is also responsibility.
Connecting with natural beauty can induce awe. And awe can reduce narcissism - helping us to feel small. Psychedelics can temp down that narcissism by temporary quieting the default mode network. Psychedelics can help us to unlearn (reversal learning). They can help us become a little less neurotic and a lot more open. Can help us to rediscover parts of ourselves that we have buried or have lost touch with.
March 1, 2021
I enjoyed this book thoroughly. After spending some time with Julie at Esalen last year, I'd really been interested in reading one of her books and I'm glad I started here. It's good timing to be reading about his subject matter of connection given how easy it is during this pandemic, now a year in, to feel so isolated. Dr. Holland has shared something very personal and very powerful in exploring ways in which we can find and nurture the connection with ourselves, others, nature, and the cosmos. She breaks down the science of our neurochemistry in ways that are easy to follow. If you've ventured into Michael Pollen's writing on psychedelics and the nature of the mind, this also builds on that in a more meaningful way, in my opinion. I'm highly recommending this book now to folks I know who are interested in the subject matter, especially considering how current the findings are that are covered regarding the science. Good chemistry, great stuff, and helpful tools are to be found in these pages.
March 4, 2021
This follows in the footsteps of some of my other book club readings (most notably, “How to Change Your Mind” by Michael Pollan), as I’m fascinated by the research being done into plant medicines, from both a scientific and cultural perspective. This book goes a bit further afield, exploring our relationships to each other, the earth, and the cosmos. “Connections” is the overall theme and thread running throughout: connecting with our true selves and our own sense of being, connections to others (psychologically and physically), connections to the environments that surround us (communities, nature, energies/spiritually), and our connection to the meaning we make and take from our place in the vast unknowingness that is the universe, consciousness, and life. All that being said, it’s a very approachable book, and a good introduction for many of these ideas. Recommended.
October 15, 2021
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is heavy on science, but with a friendly and relatable perspective that I found easy to read. I learned so much about our brain chemistry and the compelling research that has been done on the use of psychedelics for mental health treatment. The book references many interesting studies and other books that I am excited to read next.
I am currently on a journey toward healing and I found this book to be very relatable. I have read quite a few "self help" books, but this one is on the short list of books I would buy just to have on my shelf to lend to others who are struggling. It's not the kind of book that makes you feel warm and fuzzy and like you're going to wake up better tomorrow. It's realistic and provides practical tips while instilling hope that future treatments will help us all heal faster and with longer lasting success.
I am currently on a journey toward healing and I found this book to be very relatable. I have read quite a few "self help" books, but this one is on the short list of books I would buy just to have on my shelf to lend to others who are struggling. It's not the kind of book that makes you feel warm and fuzzy and like you're going to wake up better tomorrow. It's realistic and provides practical tips while instilling hope that future treatments will help us all heal faster and with longer lasting success.
December 30, 2020
This book made my commuting to work so pleasant! I have always been interested in the topic but it has been fascinating to read how psychedelics work as a form of therapy. The layout of the book is great and very clear as it builds up from connection to self all the way to connection with the cosmos. The language is scientific and yet very clear, funny and quite easy to follow. I would totally recommend this book as it is eye opening not only as an individual but also how we connect and function as a community in such relevant topics like climate change. If you are even more interested in the topic, you can watch the "Goop Lab" on netflix as one episode is dedicated to the use of Psychedelic drugs as a form of therapy.
April 6, 2024
This was such an enjoyable read! I came for the research on psychedelics (I love reading about it), but I actually wound up being waaay more fascinated by the author’s explanations of how our brain chemicals influence and promote various types of connection. I found myself being able to thoroughly understand (and hopefully empathize more!!) with how brain chemicals & hormones drive love/lust and create undesirable/irrational patterns of behavior and thinking. Really fascinating! Packed with information & research but highly readable. I definitely recommend.
September 16, 2020
"Good Chemistry" is centered around the positive outcomes for people in need of different treatment methods for mental illness or those who are searching for deeper connections in their lives. I appreciated the science behind Holland's research, and there are many similarities between this book and Michael Pollan's book. Unfortunately, Holland's discussions are based around heteronormativity and privilege. I think there are more interesting books out there.
December 22, 2020
Enjoyed this book and also read Michael Pollen’s book on same topic. I wish both of them would have spent more detail on how to become a particular in psychedelic therapy. I know much of it is still illegal and is being used in clinical trials but since it is starting to become more mainstream and acceptable what steps does one take who would like to use it for therapeutic use? The theme of connection is very strong and I found it helpful and interesting.
June 25, 2021
I thought I was reading a book about breath until the 40% mark. I thought it was weird how it had such a long intro about psychedelics. It was a book that made me long to do mushrooms and have give birth. But also....not at all. It did make me reach out and touch the friend that sat next to me while I read it. and maybe stay off my phone a bit more while I was with friends. So that's lovely.
"Who you are and what you believe are two separate things."
"Who you are and what you believe are two separate things."
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
January 18, 2022Such an interesting topic.
Difficult to read because of chapter lengths (1.5 hrs per chapter in the audiobook) and no labeled sub topics (at least in the audiobook) between chapters.
Also, no prelude to chapters (or titles) makes it difficult to understand what to expect from each chapter, and no summary at the end of any chapter makes it seem like there is nothing worth remembering after finishing a topic.
Difficult to read because of chapter lengths (1.5 hrs per chapter in the audiobook) and no labeled sub topics (at least in the audiobook) between chapters.
Also, no prelude to chapters (or titles) makes it difficult to understand what to expect from each chapter, and no summary at the end of any chapter makes it seem like there is nothing worth remembering after finishing a topic.
March 17, 2023
There are times I pick up books like this and am immediately annoyed. But Julie Holland is amazing at acknowledging her own biases, yet balancing that with really good information. She gives practical information on how to touch base with your soul with AND without psychedelics. I truly appreciated the moments she talked about our own bodies chemistry and the chemicals we produced. Truly fascinating!
May 26, 2023
This book is an incredible read on so many levels. First, its structure is wonderful: the concentric circles that start with the self and little-by-little until the book moves to the planet and then the ethereal is a great way to explore the various roles that psychedelics have played in human life as well as the fascinating studies being done about their medicinal and spiritual uses. It's a great companion piece to Michael Pollan's work on the subject.
July 15, 2021
I enjoyed most of this as psychedelics have always intrigued me and opened my own mind when I’ve consumed. My thoughts are always open and so connected, often changing the way I perceive the world for a while afterward. Certain areas of this book I found myself skimming, as I found some of it quite dry especially at the end. All in all, was worth reading.
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