Reviews

High Society: The Central Role of Mind-Altering Drugs in History, Science, and Culture by Mike Jay

jexjthomas's review against another edition

4.0

Jay's exploration of the role of psychoactive substances in history, science, and culture is accessible and fun to read. Treating us to fascinating tidbits and gorgeous full color photographs, Jay compelling argues the centrality of the drug trade in the formation of global capitalism. Importantly, Jay shows how the way we view psychoactive substances, whether as medicine or drugs in the pejorative sense, is highly dependent on cultural context; as globalization increasingly turns the world into a monoculture, the prohibition of drugs which cannot be easily regulated, taxed, or otherwise profited from becomes an international concern--but by the time drug prohibition coalesced into an international effort, it had already failed; just as with the temperance movement and alcohol prohibition, demand is simply too high. Ultimately, this is a fascinating history presented in a clear, intelligent manner. Anyone interested in the history of psychoactive substances would get a lot out of this book.

booknooknoggin's review

3.0

An okay book about various drugs that the world consumes. Very broad as it included stuff like sugar,tea,coffee and tobacco etc.