It might surprise those people who know me to hear my thoughts on “How to Change Your Mind,” by Michael Pollan a book about LSD, magic mushrooms and other mind-altering drugs because I don’t drink or anything else of the like. And yet I found “How to Change Your Mind,” fascinating, and related to Michael Pollan, who seemed like a fairly normal guy exploring an interesting world.

While it does talk a lot about LSD, magic mushrooms, the book is clear that the experience of those drugs is not something that can be all that well explained in words, let alone on paper. But the people involved can be, and this book as a wide variety of interesting characters, some of who you have likely heard of like Timothy Leary and some who have been studying the drugs for decades and have found enough evidence that it could be useful for a wide range of mental disorders that the government has allowed for trials to help with things like PTSD and depression. Though perhaps the most interesting are the trials that show it can be effective in helping people with addictions.

As crazy as that may sound, even more crazy is the idea, or perhaps less depending on how much you know, is the idea that it can be used to experience a religious experience. But according to “How To Change Your Mind,” even atheists who take LSD find themselves more open to spirituality and many of the people who take it talk about it being a religious experience. And there is a fairly extensive history of the use of hallucinogenics in religious ceremonies.

What makes the book work though is that the entire thing is written from the point of view of the author and tells his story. From hunting mushrooms with one of the world’s leading experts to having those same mushrooms with his wife in their home and even discussing his heart troubles, this is a story that’s as much about him as anyone. That is impressive with the wide variety of interesting characters in the book.

I am unlikely to rush out and try LSD or eat a magic mushroom after this. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t worth reading. And I recommend it to anyone curious about this topic. I believe that understanding is vital as is challenging your own beliefs and this book challenged my beliefs about these drugs and made it clear to me that while they might not be for me they are useful for other people and if it can help someone with depression feel good for a day or help reduce the desire to smoke in people, then why shouldn’t they as adults be able to make that decision for themselves.