Michael Pollan (Author)

The book’s author is a respected, award-winning writer of investigative non-fiction. On one level, his primary perspective and apparent intention are associated with that aspect of his background; he researches his subject, analyzes what he finds, and offers both commentary and interpretation in ways that are primarily objective and journalistic. On another level, though, his secondary perspective and intention are fueled and shaped by a curiosity that goes beyond an interest in just the facts. As he himself admits in the Prologue, he is curious about not only what has happened in terms of research into psychedelics, and what other people have experienced that triggers such intensive research; he is also curious about how psychedelic use might affect him personally.

That said, Pollan retains a sense of journalistic objectivity throughout the entire book, even when it comes to consideration of his own experiences. There...