Good Chemistry: The Science of Connection, from Soul to Psychedelics
Written by Julie Holland
Narrated by Jean Ann Douglass
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
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.
Julie Holland
Julie Holland, M.D., is a psychiatrist who specializes in psychopharmacology and a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at NYU School of Medicine. An expert on street drugs and intoxication states, she was the attending psychiatrist in the Psych ER at Bellevue Hospital from 1996 to 2005 and regularly appears on the Today Show. The editor of The Pot Book: A Complete Guide to Cannabis and Ecstasy: The Complete Guide and the author of the bestselling Weekends at Bellevue, she lives in the Hudson Valley.
More audiobooks from Julie Holland
Cannabis and Spirituality: An Explorer's Guide to an Ancient Plant Spirit Ally Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Weekends at Bellevue Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
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Reviews for Good Chemistry
14 ratings2 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I was blown away; this book touches upon so many of the current issues, and yet it's so well-structured and has a great reading-flow to it.
There are in-depth explanations and personal anecdotes which make the book easy to read/listen to. At the same time, the scientific approach is undeniable, which I like and respect.
Highly recommended! - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5More evidence-based than other books I’ve read on the topic. Very clear.