Caffeine by Michael Pollan

Caffeine: How Caffeine Created the Modern World by Michael Pollan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I didn't quit caffeine to test out what Pollan is saying, but I did drink extra coffee while listening to this audiobook and I just remembered another study that said that coffee makes you extra-persuadable... hmm. Well, I enjoyed the book and I am persuaded. Nonetheless, I am going to keep drinking coffee because I'm addicted and I choose to cherry-pick the evidence of longer-lived coffee drinkers.

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How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan

How to Change Your Mind: The New Science of Psychedelics by Michael Pollan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Really interesting book. Though it's central theme is psychedelics, it's topic is really consciousness, the experience of being, the fear of death, willpower, and mental illness. The book was well-written as Pollan never disappoints. I definitely found new information and the book definitely challenged some of my assumptions about the world.

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The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan

The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I first read this book in 2007, I gave it 4 stars. Since then I've read other books on the farming-industrial complex, and on a reread I found a lot to appreciate about this book in particular. It's a well-researched, thorough look at different ways we can choose to eat an omnivore diet. It talks about the corn industry, the chicken/egg industry, the beef industry, small sustainable farms and farmers' markets, and hunting and gathering in America.

My reread reminded me to pay more attention to what I'm eating since after 10 years I've slipped back a little to including some processed foods in our diet again.

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Cooked by Michael Pollan

Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation by Michael Pollan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The book is divided into four categories that are a bit of a gimmick: fire, water, air, and earth. In reality, the chapters should be: barbecue, cooking styles requiring water, bread, and fermentation, really mostly beer. Highlights include why white bread is the devil and not all wheat bread is really wheat bread. It does inspire me to try to make my own bread or at least bake more.

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In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan

In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a simple, straightforward, short explanation of what you should be putting into your body and why. Basically, real food, mostly fruits and vegetables, and not too much food. If only following this advice were as easy as learning it.

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The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan

The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World by Michael Pollan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In order to illustrate the very close relationship between certain plants and humans, Pollan uses the examples of apples (I will be drinking more hard cider), tulips, marijuana, and potatoes. It's a bit slow in places, especially the tulip chapter. The marijuana chapter is very entertaining and informative, and the potato chapter is the most terrifying.

I might reread Omnivore now as it's been a decade since I read it, and I didn't then have the same background info I have now. Also, this book encourages a lot of Pinker and Dawkins reading, so I might do that as well.

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