Michael Pollan

Fall can busy in Kent, which has been described by Yankee Magazine as “an unbeatable pick for fall foliage … (a town) that pulses with culture, history, and a timeless community spirit.”

This Saturday the beauty of the town will have to compete with another attraction when celebrated author Michael Pollan signs his new book at James Barron Art, 17 Old Barns Road. There will be a reception from 3-6PM with the book signing taking place from 4-5PM.

Pollan's new book, How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence, is his 10th and explores how LSD and psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) are being used to provide relief to people suffering from difficult-to-treat conditions such as depression, addiction and anxiety.

It examines various altered states of consciousness, as well as the latest brain science and the thriving underground community of psychedelic therapists.

Other books penned by Pollan include Cooked, in which he explored the power of four classical elements—fire, water, air and earth—to transform raw materials into delicious things to eat; In Defense of Food, in which he argued we are increasingly worried about nutrition but content ourselves with a menu of “edible food-like substances”; and The Omnivore’s Dilemma, where he dissected not only the eating choices of modern Americans but also the threat those choices hold for the health of the environment.

In 2010, Pollan was named to the 2010 TIME 100, the magazine’s annual list of the world’s 100 most influential people. He was also awarded the Lennon Ono Grant for Peace by Yoko Ono in 2010. In 2009 he was named by Newsweek as one of the top 10 “New Thought Leaders.”