Hosted by October Gallery with Allen Lane.

“the mind is far vaster, and the world more alive, than I ever suspected”

Join us for the trip of a life time - an illuminating evening in conversation with Michael Pollan, the bestselling author of some of our greatest thinking on human nature and nutrition. In mid-life, he turns his attention to one of the most intriguing stories of the 20th century – how psychedelics changed the western world and why they may yet hold the key to our mental health.

His new book is investigative journalism at its finest, a sweeping and often thrilling ride that is both a serious work of history and science and a personal experience of some of the most potent substances known to man. Pollan investigates the renaissance in serious psychedelic research in the US and UK today, meets the thriving underground community of therapists who have worked throughout this period of prohibition, and explores the wider use of psychedelics today – by Silicon Valley professionals, seekers hoping for a mystical or religious experience, and terminal cancer patients who have had their fear of death diminished or eliminated by a single psychedelic experience.

“Right now we are in the midst of a renaissance of research… it may that we are prepared to have a more sane conversation about this than we did in the 60s” Michael Pollan

Michael Pollan will be in conversation with Dr David Luke, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Greenwich and renowned psychedelic researcher.

For 25 years Pollan has been writing pioneering, genre-busting books about how we live today. His no.1 international bestselling books include The Omnivore's Dilemma, In Defence of Food and Cooked (also a successful Netflix series). Time magazine has named him one of the hundred most influential people in the world.

The bar will be open from 6:30pm.