Featuring michael pollan and based on his bestselling book, this special takes viewers on an eyeopening exploration of. A thoughtprovoking, industryminded, and polarizing perspective on the neurocircuitry of human desire and compulsion. Michael pollan promises a plants perspective of the world in the botany of desire and delivers a book about human nature. It is both highly informative and thoughtprovoking. Very accessible to the layman without the dumbing down of so many other documentaryscience series that has become all too standard. Aug 20, 2015 the biology of desire by marc lewis, 9781610394376, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The twohour documentary, to be broadcast on wednesday on many. A thoughtprovoking, industryminded, and polarizing perspective on the neurocircuitry of. The classic novel about doctors greys anatomy before greys anatomy. Marc lewis is a neuroscientist and exaddict who challenges what he sees as the overmedicalisation of addiction, providing a detailed account of the brain processes and some moving stories of.
Lewis reveals addiction as an unintended consequence of the brain doing what its supposed to doseek pleasure and reliefin a world that. But in the biology of desire, cognitive neuroscientist and former addict marc lewis makes a convincing case that addiction is not a disease and shows why the disease model has become an obstacle to healing. The botany of desire viewers guide provides a synopsis of the film and offers discussion questions about each of its four chapters. Addiction is not a disease, toronto neuroscientist marc lewis. The book s main aim here is to challenge mainstream opinion that addiction is a disease and it certainly achieves that end. The botany of desire brings michael pollans bestselling book to pbs, showing how human desires are an essential, intricate part of natural history. The biology of desire why addiction is not a disease. I actually was doing a youtube search one day to watch a documentary on. Popular documentary books meet your next favorite book. The botany of desire examines this relationship by telling the stories of four plants that ensured their survival and expanded their habitat by satisfying our most basic yearnings. The insistent visuality of archaeology is a key stimulus for the imaginative and creative interpretation of our encounters with the past. The search for the gay gene and the biology of behavior is a 1994 book by the geneticist dean hamer and the journalist peter copeland, in which the authors discuss hamers research into the genetics of homosexuality.
Apr 07, 2015 the botany of desire is a documentary based on the book by michael pollan. One finishes the biology of desire with a greater understanding of the striata and an appreciation for the argument that we may be thinking about addiction all wrong. Author marc lewis joins the agenda to discuss why he believes society needs to rethink how it treats addiction. Unpacking the difficulties in definition and treatment provided by the disease model, and supporting his claims with recent neuroscientific findings, lewis suggests that addiction is another natural instance of the brain reconfiguring its response to a salient. May 26, 2015 the biology of desire is a powerfully scientific book that tackles the mainstream notion of addiction being a disease in a very interesting sense. Marc lewiss new book neatly links current thinking about addiction with. Instead, lewis writes about addiction in a general way, specifically focusing on the ways that the. In gripping accounts of true cases, surgeon atul gawande explores the power and the limits of medicine, offering an unflinching view from the scalpels edge. The psychiatric establishment and rehab industry in the western world have branded addiction a brain disease. The psychiatric establishment and rehab industry in the western world have branded addiction a brain disease, based on evidence that brains change with drug use. John lehmannglobe and mail marc lewis himself was a drug addict. The new yorker we can give no higher praise to the work of this superb science writerreporter than to say that his new book is as exciting as any youll read.
An unnatural history 1988 is a 47minute documentary film about the introduction of cane toads to australia. Pollan presents case studies that mirror four types of human desires that are reflected in the way that we selectively grow, breed, and genetically engineer our plants. The washington post marc lewis offers a unique perspective on how addiction is seen through the famously misleading. Reviews of the botany of desire april 30, 2001 pollan shines a light on our own nature as well as our implication in the natural world. A plantseye view of the world is a 2001 nonfiction book by journalist michael pollan. Toward a biological poetics andreas weber received. Whats new in films and television on netflix, crave. The botany of desire by michael pollan teachers guide.
It was praised as a wellwritten discussion of science that properly acknowledged the limitations of. Michael pollan presented his lecture as the 20022003 avenali chair in the humanities at the townsend center for the humanities, uc berkeley. Best biology movies top 27 biologythemed movies biology. Psychoanalysis and ethics in documentary film 1st edition. This book is not an academic work in the normal sense. An intravenous drug user gets ready to injects heroin into his arm with a needle in vancouvers downtown eastside january 28, 2009. Informed by this book, youll see how neuroscience explains addiction as a part of life. Aug 23, 2016 the biology of desire says a lot about the brain mechanisms underpinning addiction but, to its credit, does not stop there. Why addiction is not a disease, marc lewis challenges the dichotomy of brain disease theories of addiction. That said one must know some biochem to understand biology yet one need know nothing of biology to understand chemistry, so in that respect i suppose it is a more inclusive field. The author presents a solid case of how addiction works, using captivating narratives of addicts, eloquently illustrating their suffering while shedding a spotlight on the underlying reasons using.
The neuroscience of addiction was his documentary, and it. Lewis reveals addiction as an unintended consequence of the brain doing what its supposed to do seek pleasure and relief in a world. In his book michael pollan focuses on four plants that has been under artificial selection by humans for quite different functions such as sweetness apple, beauty tulip, intoxication cannabis and high calorie content potato. Lewis theories about addiction recovery and some of his research findings, the piece is not put together like a standard academic book. Through the vivid, true stories of five people who journeyed into and out of addiction, a renowned neuroscientist explains why the disease model of addiction is wrong and illuminates the path to recovery. Why addiction is not a disease, argues that considering addiction as a disease is not only wrong, but also. Collection of 84 biology documentaries, free to watch, including natures great events 2009, the blue planet seas of life 2001, killer algae 2001, dna 2003, and life in the undergrowth 2005.
Pollans first book to be adapted for television and, he says, his favorite of all his works. The botany of desire tv movie 2009 the botany of desire. Jul 14, 2015 while definite fodder for debate, the author remains firm in his belief that in order to fully process the addiction spectrum, we must gaze directly at the point where experience and biology meet. Sep 09, 2009 featuring michael pollan and based on his bestselling book, this special takes viewers on an eyeopening exploration of. The biology of desire says a lot about the brain mechanisms underpinning addiction but, to its credit, does not stop there. Oct 25, 2011 michael pollan presented his lecture as the 20022003 avenali chair in the humanities at the townsend center for the humanities, uc berkeley. Friedrich schlegel, kritische schriften, in german history in documents and images, ed. Marc lewis says the disease model of addiction is wrong and has become an obstacle to healing. The four plants are apples, tulips, cannabis, and potatoes. The wide theoretical sweep of the book includes careful study of notions developed by other writers such as butler, levinas, badiou and zizek. But in the biology of desire, cognitive neuroscientist and former addict marc lewis makes a convincing case that addiction is not a disease, and shows why the disease model has become an obstacle to healing. The botany of desire questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on the botany of desire. The botany of desire is an rewarding movie about how certain plants effect our lives and.
The new york times pollan has a wideranging intellect, an eager grasp of evolutionary biology and a subversive streak that helps him to root out some wonderfully counterintuitive points. The neuroscience of addiction was his documentary, and it was in this that he mentioned he had a book. Unfortunately, the book is somewhat befuddled with random themes and instruction that become more confusing as one goes on. Archaeologys visual culture explores archaeology through the lens of visual culture theory. It should be required reading for anyone considering a career in medicine. Presently, he speaks and blogs on topics in addiction science, and his critically acclaimed book, memoirs of an addicted brain. Miracle planet is a sixpart documentary series, coproduced by japans nhk and the national film board of canada nfb, narrated by christopher plummer seiko nakajo in the original japanese, which tells the 4. While supervising a small group of interns at a major new york medical center, dr. Why addiction is not a disease, which you can read here. The guide is intended to serve as a tool that a range of.
Neuroscientist marc lewis takes a different approach to addiction in the biology of desire. Description of biology of desire by marc lewis pdf the biology of desire. In the biology of desire, marc lewis takes a different. A surgeons notes on an imperfect science by atul gawande. With minor exceptions, we do not help addicts and they do not help themselves by ministering directly to their brains.
Balm investigates the nature of this projection of the visual, reve. Featuring michael pollan and based on his bestselling book, this special takes viewers on an eyeopening exploration of the human relationship with the plant world, seen from the plants point of. In telling the stories of four familiar plant species that are deeply woven into the fabric of our lives, pollan illustrates how they evolved to satisfy humankindss most basic yearnings and. Feb 09, 20 if the book is based on the documentary then it could be a companion book that was designed to be purchased with the documentary if it was available on video. I actually was doing a youtube search one day to watch a documentary on the science of addiction and this is where i found marc lewis. Jun 11, 2015 but in the biology of desire, cognitive neuroscientist and former addict marc lewis makes a convincing case that addiction is not a disease, and shows why the disease model has become an obstacle to healing.
Chemistry is very inclusive of physics so i suppose in an indirect way physics is also part of biology. If the book is based on the documentary then it could be a companion book that was designed to be purchased with the documentary if it was available on video. Aug 14, 2015 neuroscientist marc lewis takes a different approach to addiction in the biology of desire. The botany of desire is a well made pbs documentary adaptation of michael pollans book discussing humanitys interactions with four different plantsthe apple, the potato, the tulip, and marijuanaover the ages. May 19, 2020 marc lewis concedes the conception of addiction he proposes in his new book, the biology of desire. For the botany of desire pbs television documentary guide. Robert marion asked three of them to keep a careful diary over the course of a year. Apple is one of the first trees that has been cultivated and maintained through grafting by people. Mar 11, 2017 but in the biology of desire, cognitive neuroscientist and former addict marc lewis makes a convincing case that addiction is not a disease, and shows why the disease model has become an obstacle to healing. While definite fodder for debate, the author remains firm in his belief that in order to fully process the addiction spectrum, we must gaze directly at the point where experience and biology meet. Cane toads were introduced to australia with the aim of controlling a sugar cane pest, the cane beetle, but they overmultiplied and became a serious problem in the australian ecosystem. This impressive book connects the authors own practice as documentary filmmaker with a range of theoretical reflections drawn mainly from psychoanalysis in the lacanian tradition. Lewis stresses throughout this unorthodox but enlightening book, people learn to be addicts, and, with effort, they can learn not to be addicts.
The book that helped make michael pollan, the new york times bestselling. The botany of desire brings michael pollans bestselling book to pbs, showing how human desires are an essential. The biology of desire is a powerfully scientific book that tackles the mainstream notion of addiction being a disease in a very interesting sense. The neuroscience of addiction was his documentary, and it was in this that he.
Reviews pollan shines a light on our own nature as well as our implication in the natural world. Aug 01, 2015 through the vivid, true stories of five people who journeyed into and out of addiction, a renowned neuroscientist explains why the disease model of addiction is wrong and illuminates the path to recovery. Lewis reveals addiction as an unintended consequence of the brain doing what its supposed to do. The botany of desire is obviously trying to entice people into watching a film about something that sends most people to sleep. Inverting the natural tendency to believe that people are somehow outside of nature, he asserts that plants manipulate our desires to help them survive and proliferate that we are, in essence, rendered human bumblebees. The biology of desire by marc lewis, 9781610394376, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Through the vivid, true stories of five people who journeyed into and out of addiction, a renowned neuroscientist explains why the disease model of addiction is wrong and illuminates the path to recovery the psychiatric establishment and rehab industry in the western world have branded addiction a brain disease, based on evidence that brains change with drug use. The botany of desire is a documentary based on the book by michael pollan. Chemistry is much less intuitive than biology for instance.