Undisciplined

Isn't that just like plants, using a guy named "Pollan" to spread their message?

adlai

Thank you, NYT and Google algos, for bringing it to my attention

 -- about opium, mescaline, and coffee -- was wonderful few-pages-before-bed reading. I'm looking forward to treating this more spiritual one the same way.

in the age of AI, can't you make at least something mildly decent?

At least the US one is somewhat better, though bland:

with feelings, not thoughts. Feelings are the language in which the body talks to the brain.

 We forget that brains exist to keep bodies alive, and the way the body gets the brain’s attention is with feelings. So if you think feelings are at the center of consciousness, it’s very hard to imagine how a machine could rise to that level to have feelings.

"this is one of the beautiful things about psychedelics — when they work, there is this sense of dissolution of self. The walls come down, and you feel part of nature. You feel love."

Consciousness is more relevant now than it even was 10 or 20 years ago, as something to think about, protect and nurture  [...] every psychedelic experience is different. You never go back to the same place. That’s why I think it’s a great thing to do on or around your birthday, to sort of take stock of your reality and what the issues are. I had an experience not too long ago that kind of rocked me.

The other reason I think we’re not close to it is that everything that machines know, the data set on which they’re trained, is information on the internet. They don’t have friction with nature. They don’t have friction with us. Some of the most important things we know are about person-to-person contact, about contact with nature — this friction that really makes us human.

HealthAndFitness

BooksAndArticles

Michael Pollan has a new book out, [*A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness*](https://https://www.amazon.com/World-Appears-Journey-into-Consciousness/dp/198488199X)




***Thank you, NYT and Google algos, for bringing it to my attention***

I like Pollan's writing, his _This Is Your Mind on Plants_ -- about opium, mescaline, and coffee -- was wonderful few-pages-before-bed reading. I'm looking forward to treating this more spiritual one the same way.

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Also, that is an _UGLY-ASS_ cover... Britain, _what tha fuck are you doing?_ 
in the age of AI, can't you make at least something mildly decent?

![](https://m.stacker.news/129889)

At least the US one is somewhat better, though bland: 

![](https://m.stacker.news/129888)


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Some quotes from the NYT puff interview:

> the origin of consciousness is **with feelings, not thoughts. Feelings are the language in which the body talks to the brain.** We forget that brains exist to keep bodies alive, and the way the body gets the brain’s attention is with feelings. So if you think feelings are at the center of consciousness, it’s very hard to imagine how a machine could rise to that level to have feelings.


"this is one of the beautiful things about psychedelics — when they work, there is this sense of dissolution of self. The walls come down, and you feel part of nature. You feel love."
---


> Consciousness is more relevant now than it even was 10 or 20 years ago, as something to think about, protect and nurture  [...] every psychedelic experience is different. You never go back to the same place. That’s why I think it’s a great thing to do on or around your birthday, to sort of take stock of your reality and what the issues are. I had an experience not too long ago that kind of rocked me. 



And obvs on AI: 
> The other reason I think we’re not close to it is that everything that machines know, the data set on which they’re trained, is information on the internet. They don’t have friction with nature. They don’t have friction with us. Some of the most important things we know are about person-to-person contact, about contact with nature — this friction that really makes us human.