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The Bigger Picture

How Psychedelics Can Help Us Make Sense of the World

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The Bigger Picture

By: Alexander Beiner
Narrated by: Alexander Beiner
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About this listen

 Can psychedelic drugs help us tackle the biggest problems we face globally? Can they heal the cultural, spiritual, and political wounds we're wrestling with?Psychedelics have hit the mainstream as powerful new mental health treatments. But as clinicians explore what these molecules can do for our individual minds, The Bigger Picture goes further to illuminate how psychedelics can help us find new ways to make sense of and come through the crises we face around the world.Drawing on the latest research, as well as his unique experience as a participant in a ground-breaking clinical trial investigating the potent psychedelic DMT, Alexander Beiner reveals:- the role of psychedelics in addressing global issues such as global warming, geopolitical instability, and political polarization- the dark side of the 'psychedelic renaissance' and 'psychedelic capitalism'- what it takes to elicit huge personal and cultural transformation through psychedelicsEmbark on a journey into The Bigger Picture a new era of science and spirituality with the potential to radically transform our perceptions of ourselves, one another, and our life on this planet. History & Philosophy Philosophy Science Spirituality Socialism Capitalism

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Critic reviews

‘Although they will perhaps always remain mysterious, psychedelics have also always invited us – and our ancestors – to heed the teachings they have to offer, to reconsider our place in the universe, and to recognize the enigma of our own existence. The Bigger Picture adds substantial new information to our understanding of psychedelics and their potentially momentous significance to the world today. I highly recommend this carefully and convincingly argued, deeply thought-provoking and beautifully written book.’ –Graham Hancock

‘The Bigger Picture is an entertaining, insightful, and timely book. Beiner draws on the latest psychedelic science to explain how what we’re learning about these molecules can help us make sense of our social and political challenges in new ways, and he ties together research from a variety of different fields to present a compelling and nuanced argument as to why psychedelic science could change the world for the better.’ –Robin Carhart-Harris, Founder of the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London, and Director of Psychedelics Division, Neuroscape, UCSF

‘Beiner is a wise and entertaining guide through the jungle of contemporary psychedelics, bringing much-needed critical thinking to the field’. –Jules Evans, author of Philosophy for Life and Director of the Challenging Psychedelic Experiences Project
All stars
Most relevant
This picture is all encompassing and draws together a wealth of information including our great thinkers of today. An excellent balance of the experiential, and the facts and reality of our options for exploring our unconscious and other worldly states. Brilliantly delivered. A must read as part of our 21st century education.

Superb crafting and informative

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This book from Alexander Beiner is an excellent guide to helping you to change your perspective. It manages to be both practical and with enough referencing should you wish to explore further.

Excellent guide to changing your perspective

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this really is vital reading for the times we are living in! a genius work of synthesis which invites us all to do the work that psychedelics lays before us to overcome the “big crisis” we all face. i leave this book feeling implored to take the first step. thank you alexander beiner!

transcendent and transformative!

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I have been waiting for this book to be written! The performance and narration is engaging and flows beautifully, keeping the listeners' attention as he tackles huge concepts, drops influential ideas and with glittering prose, describes the ineffable. The author/narrator gets his ego out the way as he asks really important questions about where we go from here, how to navigate the challenging realities of society and social media, the importance of coherently putting our minds towards whole planetary solutions as climate change and moral polarisation bears down on us. He offers practicable tools, gleaned from experience as a psychonaut and compassionate, inquisitive mind, and gives insight into cutting-edge research in psychedelics, ethics and philosophy. I particularly enjoyed his descriptions of entities and visions experienced as a subject of the DMTX experiment at Imperial College. A must-read for both initiates and experienced psychonauts and anyone interested in positive pathways forward through the cacophony of the modern digital world.

Elegant and engaging, AB asks all the right questions!

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I have listened to a lot of book on this subject and this was by far the best one. A very well-informed and broad-minded outlook on psychedelics, how they relate to cultural theory, therapy, indigenous practices, and how they inform our responses to current affairs and recent political climate. Super interesting!

Great book

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