{"title":"Michael Pollan","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMichael Pollan\u003c\/strong\u003e offers a compelling exploration of the complex relationship between humans and the natural world, blending \u003cem\u003ephilosophy, science, and food culture\u003c\/em\u003e. His works encourage readers to reconsider everyday choices about eating, plants, and the mind, merging insightful research with engaging storytelling to reveal deeper truths about health and environment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom practical guides on nutrition and cooking to thought-provoking examinations of consciousness and plant life, Pollan's books cross boundaries between \u003cem\u003ecooking, science, psychology, and personal development\u003c\/em\u003e. His accessible style makes complex ideas approachable for both adults and young readers alike.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"how-to-change-your-mind","title":"How to Change Your Mind","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eHow to Change Your Mind\u003c\/i\u003e by Michael Pollan takes readers on a fascinating journey into the often misunderstood world of psychedelics. Pollan, one of America's most esteemed writers, explores the complex history, the controversial science, and the potential future of mind-altering substances. By diving deep into the past and present research, Pollan reveals how psychedelics could potentially revolutionise our understanding of human consciousness and mental health.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe book starts by delving into the rediscovery of LSD in the 1940s, capturing the initial excitement among scientists and doctors about its potential therapeutic benefits. These early researchers believed psychedelics might offer profound insights into the human mind and help treat conditions like addiction and mental illness. However, the cultural upheaval of the 1960s brought a fierce backlash, leading to the criminalisation and cessation of further studies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn recent years, however, a quiet renaissance has begun. Researchers are cautiously reopening the doors that had been slammed shut, driven by a new wave of empirical studies examining the capabilities of substances like LSD, psilocybin, and DMT. Their findings suggest that these drugs, when used responsibly, could have significant benefits for mental health, including alleviating depression, anxiety, and PTSD.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePollan doesn't just recount the scientific and societal aspects of psychedelics; he also immerses himself personally into their effects. As a self-described 'reluctant psychonaut', he shares his first-hand experiences as a guinea pig in this groundbreaking research. His compelling narrative paints a vivid portrait of modern-day scientists and their renewed enthusiasm for exploring these substances' therapeutic possibilities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eHow to Change Your Mind\u003c\/i\u003e ultimately provides a hopeful perspective on what could be a paradigm shift in the way we understand and treat psychological conditions. Pollan's evocative prose makes complex scientific concepts accessible to readers, offering a captivating read that opens minds to new possibilities for the future of human consciousness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House Distribution","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45657950847212,"sku":"9780141985138","price":24.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780141985138.jpg?v=1724846829"},{"product_id":"cooked","title":"Cooked","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eCooked\u003c\/em\u003e, Michael Pollan embarks on a compelling journey to unlock the essence of one of the most fundamental human activities: cooking. With a meticulous blend of scientific curiosity and cultural exploration, Pollan delves into four classical methods of transforming raw ingredients into sustenance: cooking with fire, with water, with air, and with earth. As he immerses himself in each elemental technique, Pollan uncovers the rich history and profound significance that these methods have embedded in our culinary traditions and daily lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThroughout the book, readers are introduced to an array of characters from around the globe – seasoned bakers, pit masters, brewers, and chefs – each imparting their unique wisdom and stories. These encounters not only illustrate the diverse practices and philosophies surrounding food but also highlight the universal importance of cooking in shaping our diets, cultures, and identities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePollan artfully weaves philosophical insights with engaging narratives, offering fascinating facts and mouthwatering tales that range from the alchemy of fermentation to the craft of barbeque. By drawing connections between cooking and anthropological, biological, and sociological perspectives, \u003cem\u003eCooked\u003c\/em\u003e transcends the mere act of preparing meals, positioning it as a formative force that has profound implications on our health, habits, and heritage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCooked\u003c\/em\u003e invites readers to reconsider the significance of their kitchen routines and to appreciate the elemental magic of preparing food. It’s an enlightening read that challenges us to reconnect with the timeless practice of cooking and to savour the deep satisfaction it brings to our lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45691696021740,"sku":"9780141975627","price":30.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780141975627.jpg?v=1725547702"},{"product_id":"this-is-your-mind-on-plants","title":"This Is Your Mind On Plants","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom bestselling author Michael Pollan comes a radical challenge to how we think about drugs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOf all the many things humans rely on plants for, surely the most curious is our use of them to change consciousness—to stimulate, calm, or completely alter the qualities of our mental experience. In \u003cem\u003eThis Is Your Mind On Plants\u003c\/em\u003e, Michael Pollan explores three very different drugs—opium, caffeine, and mescaline—and throws the fundamental strangeness of our thinking about them into sharp relief.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eExploring and participating in the cultures that have grown up around these drugs, while consuming (or in the case of caffeine, trying not to consume) them, Pollan reckons with the powerful human attraction to psychoactive plants and the equally powerful taboos.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn a unique blend of history, science, memoir, and reportage, Pollan shines a fresh light on a subject that is all too often treated reductively. In doing so, he proves that there is much more to say about these plants than simply debating their regulation, for when we take them into our bodies and let them change our minds, we are engaging with nature in one of the most profound ways we can.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis ground-breaking and singular book holds up a mirror to our fundamental human needs and aspirations, the operations of our minds, and our entanglement with the natural world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45692529279212,"sku":"9780141997339","price":26.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780141997339.jpg?v=1725565419"},{"product_id":"in-defence-of-food","title":"In Defence of Food","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eIn Defence of Food\u003c\/em\u003e, Michael Pollan embarks on a remarkable journey to unravel the complexity of the modern diet and offers a refreshing guide to reconnecting with the true essence of food. This insightful book challenges the prevalent culture of nutritionism—the reductionist approach to understanding food solely through its nutritional components—and instead advocates for a return to real, wholesome, and unprocessed foods.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs Pollan explores the intricate relationships between food, culture, and health, he shares a straightforward message encapsulated in seven simple words: \"Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.\" With a keen sense of historical context, he reminds us of the foods our ancestors thrived on, rejecting the industrialised products loaded with artificial ingredients and health claims that dominate supermarket shelves today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBy offering practical advice such as \"Eat at a table—a desk doesn’t count\" and \"Don’t buy your food where you buy your petrol,\" Pollan emphasises the importance of mindful eating and making conscious food choices. He encourages readers to seek out local farmers' markets, cook their own meals, and savour the experience of eating in a communal setting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIn Defence of Food\u003c\/em\u003e is more than just a dietary guide; it is a manifesto for cultivating a holistic and pleasurable relationship with food. Pollan's eloquent writing weaves together scientific research, cultural criticism, and personal anecdotes, presenting a compelling case for why we should embrace simplicity and tradition in our dietary habits.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor over two decades, Michael Pollan has been illuminating the intersections of human life and the natural world through his writings on food, agriculture, and gardening. His previous works, including \u003cem\u003eThe Omnivore's Dilemma\u003c\/em\u003e—a profound exploration of the ethics and ecology of eating—have garnered critical acclaim. \u003cem\u003eThe Omnivore's Dilemma\u003c\/em\u003e was notably named one of the ten best books of 2006 by the \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e and the \u003cem\u003eWashington Post\u003c\/em\u003e. Other distinguished titles by Pollan include \u003cem\u003eThe Botany of Desire\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eA Place of My Own\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eSecond Nature\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIn Defence of Food\u003c\/em\u003e is an essential read for anyone looking to rediscover the joys of eating well and living a healthier, happier life. It’s time to fall in love with food again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"A must-read ... satisfying, rich ... loaded with flavour\" - Sunday Telegraph\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45695424266476,"sku":"9780141034720","price":30.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780141034720.jpg?v=1725629259"},{"product_id":"food-rules-by-michael-pollan-9780141997025","title":"Food Rules","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 20 short books, Penguin Classics brings you the new canon of great environmental works.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOver the past 75 years, a new canon has emerged. As humans have driven the living planet to the brink of collapse, visionary thinkers around the world have raised their voices to defend it. Their words have endured, becoming the classics that define the environmental movement today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFood Rules\u003c\/em\u003e, Michael Pollan's wise and witty critique of the western industrialised diet, distils the wisdom of history and traditional cultures to three simple rules: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46342626083052,"sku":"9780141997025","price":17.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/14772233482238.jpg?v=1743925196"},{"product_id":"food-rules-by-michael-pollan-9780141048680","title":"Food Rules","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eA choral compendium of food wisdom\u003c\/em\u003e by the No 1 New York Times bestselling writer\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEat food. Mostly plants. Not too much.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eUsing those seven words as his guide, Michael Pollan offers this indispensable handbook for anyone concerned about health and food. Simple, sensible and easy to use, \u003cem\u003eFood Rules\u003c\/em\u003e is a set of memorable adages or 'personal policies' for eating wisely, gathered from a wide variety of sources—mothers, grandmothers, nutritionists, anthropologists and ancient cultures among them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether at the supermarket, a restaurant, or an all-you-can-eat buffet, this handy, pocket-size resource is the perfect manual for anyone who would like to become more mindful of the food we eat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor the past twenty years, Michael Pollan has been writing about the places where the human and natural worlds intersect—food, agriculture, gardens, drugs, and architecture. \u003cem\u003eThe Omnivore's Dilemma\u003c\/em\u003e, about the ethics and ecology of eating, was named one of the ten best books of 2006 by the New York Times and the Washington Post. He is also the author of \u003cem\u003eThe Botany of Desire\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eA Place of My Own\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eSecond Nature\u003c\/em\u003e and, most recently, \u003cem\u003eIn Defence of Food\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46500770676972,"sku":"9780141048680","price":19.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/5288783482238.jpg?v=1748582339"},{"product_id":"the-botany-of-desire-young-readers-edition-by-michael-pollan-9780593531549","title":"The Botany of Desire Young Readers Edition","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy the bestselling author of \u003cem\u003eThe Omnivore's Dilemma\u003c\/em\u003e, this is Michael Pollan's ingenious companion book about the surprising and close relationship between people and plants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this entertaining young readers edition of the environmental studies classic, Michael Pollan demonstrates how people and domesticated plants have formed a reciprocal relationship. He links four fundamental human desires—sweetness, beauty, energy, and control—with the plants that satisfy them: the apple, the tulip, coffee, and the potato. In telling the stories of four familiar species, Pollan illustrates how the plants have evolved to satisfy humankind's most basic yearnings. And just as we've benefited from these plants, we have also helped them to thrive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Botany of Desire\u003c\/em\u003e is perfect for STEM-focused young readers who want to learn more about:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003ehuman history, biology, and environmentalism\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eclimate change and its impact on our relationship with plants\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003egardening and the human-plant relationship\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46696901017836,"sku":"9780593531549","price":37.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/8305283482399.jpg?v=1753693114"},{"product_id":"the-omnivores-dilemma-by-michael-pollan-9781408812181","title":"The Omnivore's Dilemma","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat shall we have for dinner? Such a simple question has grown to have a very complicated answer. We \u003cem\u003ecan\u003c\/em\u003e eat almost anything nature has to offer, but deciding what we \u003cem\u003eshould\u003c\/em\u003e eat stirs anxiety.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eShould we choose the organic apple or the conventional? If organic, local or imported? Wild fish or farmed? Low-carb or low-cal?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs the American culture of fast food and unlimited choice invades the world, Michael Pollan, in \u003cem\u003eThe Omnivore’s Dilemma\u003c\/em\u003e, follows his next meal from land to table, tracing the origin of everything consumed and the implications for ourselves and our planet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHis astonishing findings will shock all who care about what they put on their plate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46998738895084,"sku":"9781408812181","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/16232503482689.jpg?v=1763229637"},{"product_id":"a-world-appears-by-michael-pollan-9780241813690","title":"A World Appears","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the best-selling author of \u003cem\u003eHow to Change Your Mind\u003c\/em\u003e, a pioneering search for consciousness in the brain and beyond.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhen it comes to consciousness, there is one point scientists, philosophers, and artists all agree on: it feels like something to be ourselves. And yet, the fact that each and every one of us has a subjective experience of the world continues to be one of the greatest mysteries in nature. How is it that our mental operations are accompanied by feelings, thoughts, and a sense of self? What would studying the inner life scientifically even look like?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhat began for Michael Pollan as a startling awareness of his own consciousness soon evolved into a deeper fascination with this strange and elusive phenomenon. In \u003cem\u003eA World Appears\u003c\/em\u003e, Pollan traces the unmapped continent that is consciousness from several radically different perspectives—scientific, philosophical, spiritual, historical, and psychedelic—to see what each has to teach us about this fundamental fact of our lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHere Pollan ventures beyond the brain labs attempting to find neural explanations for our felt reality and discovers the latest cutting-edge advances in the field. He introduces us to plant neurobiologists studying nature's surprisingly complex intelligence; neuroscientists and psychoanalysts attempting to engineer feeling into AI; and novelists recreating our slippery stream of consciousness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePollan's dazzling exploration of consciousness uncovers a world far deeper than our everyday reality—and perhaps even beyond it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House Distribution","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47033615450348,"sku":"9780241813690","price":38.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780241813690.jpg?v=1764236125"},{"product_id":"the-botany-of-desire-by-michael-pollan-9780747563006","title":"The Botany of Desire","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA farmer cultivates genetically modified potatoes so that a customer at McDonald's half a world away can enjoy a long, golden french fry. A gardener plants tulip bulbs in the autumn and in the spring has a riotous patch of colour to admire. Two simple examples of how humans act on nature to get what we want. Or are they?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhat if those potatoes and tulips have evolved to gratify certain human desires so that humans will help them multiply? What if, in other words, these plants are using us just as we use them?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn blending history, memoir and superb science writing, Michael Pollan tells the story of four domesticated species - the apple, the tulip, marijuana and the potato. All four plants are integral to our everyday lives and Pollan demonstrates how each has thrived by satisfying one of humankind's most basic desires.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWeaving anecdote and science, Pollan takes the reader on a journey through the landscape of botany and desire in \u003cem\u003eThe Botany of Desire\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47599138734316,"sku":"9780747563006","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780747563006-the-botany-of-desire.jpg?v=1777974159"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/michael-pollan.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}