A Really Good Day: How Microdosing Made a Mega Difference in My Mood, My Marriage, and My Life

by Ayelet Waldman

The true story of how a renowned writer’s struggle with mood storms led her to try a remedy as drastic as it is microdoses of LSD. Her revealing, fascinating journey provides a window into one family and the complex world of a once-infamous drug seen through new eyes. When a small vial arrives in her mailbox from "Lewis Carroll," Ayelet Waldman is at a low point. Her moods have become intolerably severe; she has tried nearly every medication possible; her husband and children are suffering with her. So she opens the vial, places two drops on her tongue, and joins the ranks of an underground but increasingly vocal group of scientists and civilians successfully using therapeutic microdoses of LSD. As Waldman charts her experience over the course of a month--bursts of productivity, sleepless nights, a newfound sense of equanimity--she also explores the history and mythology of LSD, the cutting-edge research into the drug, and the byzantine policies that control it. Drawing on her experience as a federal public defender, and as the mother of teenagers, and her research into the therapeutic value of psychedelics, Waldman has produced a book that is eye-opening, often hilarious, and utterly enthralling.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Psychology, Science, Health, Mental Health, Audiobook

258 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 10, 2017

About the author

Ayelet Waldman is the author of A Really Good Day: How Microdosing Made a Mega Difference in My Mood, My Marriage, and My Life, Love and Treasure, Red Hook Road and The New York Times bestseller Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities and Occasional Moments of Grace. Her novel Love and Other Impossible Pursuits was made into a film starring Natalie Portman. Her personal essays and profiles of such public figures as Hillary Clinton have been published in a wide variety of newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, Vogue, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. Her radio commentaries have appeared on "All Things Considered" and "The California Report."

You can follow Ayelet on Facebook and Twitter.

Love and Treasure is available for purchase here.

Reviews

[Julie Ehlers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will admit that I initially picked this up because I wanted some gossip about Ayelet Waldman and Michael Chabon's marriage, and I have to hand it to her—Ayelet was pretty forthcoming in that regard. What I wasn't expecting was that the personal tales of marriage, mental health, and microdosing would be interwoven with so much more general drug-related information. At first I wasn't too enthused when Waldman went from discussing her own personal experiences to talking about how LSD was developed, for instance, or the evolution of its reputation over the years. Eventually, though, I got used to the structure and began to appreciate all the knowledge on offer. Who knew there was so much misinformation out there about controlled substances? I'll be honest with you—I've never done an illegal drug in my life. No, not even that one. Not that one either. But now that I've read this, if someone showed up at my door with some LSD or MDMA (for personal use only!), well, I'd probably be more inclined to consider it than I ever would've been before. I owe that to you, Ayelet Waldman.

Waldman used to be a public defender and has even taught law-school classes on the "War on Drugs," so she had a lot of wisdom to provide in that regard as well. While I, like most people, believe the legal penalties for illicit drug use are mostly too harsh, I never really thought much about whether drugs should be legal or not (no, not even that one). Generally I think sitting around getting high is kind of a waste of time, so I just couldn't work up much interest one way or the other. I was as surprised as anyone when Waldman managed to convince me not only that the "War on Drugs" was a colossal failure (something I already suspected), but also that all drugs should be legalized, with the money formerly spent on the criminal aspect of it instead directed toward regulation and health care.

So there you have it. I decided to read this book out of sheer nosiness, and instead I experienced a total change of mind about a major issue. And I had a lot of fun doing it! Thanks, Ayelet Waldman!

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 I first heard about microdosing on the radio. My commute to work is relatively short so I tend to listen to news radio. Especially since the election I tend to avoid the news of TV, which seems to be full of he who shall remain unnamed, so the radio fills this news gap nicely. They were discussing how microdosing is helping those who are dying, anyway when I saw this book I was interested enough to want to read further into the subject. Plus, I loved Waldman's Love and Treasure and she is married to Michael Chabon, so this seemed like a win, win.

She has a extensive background in the drug culture, laws, and prosecution of those caught with drugs. So there is much information about the various drugs, past and present and I found this both informative and interesting. Much I was misinformed about, other things I never knew.

Interspersed is a memoir of sorts, the reason she wanted to try this, her mood swings, pain and feelings of insecurity and to be a better person. Her marriage is mentioned quite often, the problems with this and motherhood. Taking it day by day, she chronicles this month long experiment.

Found this well written, very honest, and well done. I wish her and her family well. Sometimes life is such a struggle and I applaud her efforts to try to improve what areas she can

[Ilana (illi69) · Rating 5 out of 5]

An update: I read this book, and wrote the bulk of this review in 2017 shortly after its release. It gave me a lot to think about. I felt strongly that microdosing might be a viable solution for me, as I have been treatment resistant for the 20 years since I've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and because I spent more than a decade since a major burnout in 2007, living with constant clinical depression, unalleviated by antidepressants and various therapies.

I've been microdosing psilocybin, now easy to source online in Canada, for a month now (as of the beginning of March 2020) and find myself in a much better place. I don't think I can ascribe this solely to the psilocybin, as I was already feeling much more motivated than what had become my "usual" for a couple of months before that, but I do find myself drifting away from what has been a constant funk and miserable existence. There are other contributing factors for my improved state, such as having disassociated myself from an abusive narcissistic parent in the last couple of years. But I'm finding that my mentality these days is closer to the one I have when I'm slightly "hypomanic", which usually means I'm filled with lots of creative ideas and enjoy living & people, and never have enough hours in a day... and not so interested in sleeping those days away.

This probably closely resembles a base state for many people, but in my case, having had to deal with trauma and genetic predisposition to anxiety and negative thinking, it comes as a blessing. Like dark clouds clearing away and allowing me to see things in full colour again. I haven't told my shrink about this "medication adjustment" yet, because I wanted to see results before mentioning a form of therapy that isn't yet officially accepted medically nor legally, though I did tell my neurologist recently, who seemed unsurprised and had read studies on the subject and said some people had found it helpful in treating cluster headaches, but not migraines, which is what I consult him for.

In any case, I intend on continuing with this experiment, to see whether it continues helping me find a relatively stable state of contentment and productivity over several seasons. I don't recommend this to anyone unless they are well informed and are aware of the legal risks, and would NOT want any minors to take any of what I say as encouragement to experiment with drugs while their brain is still developing. I made that mistake in my teens and I'm certain it hasn't helped my mental wellbeing in the long run, and am truly grateful I never fell on a "bad batch" to turn me into a permanent psychotic mess. Nowadays, when society is divided by polar opposites on so many levels, the gift of relative sanity and stability is probably the biggest and most desirable luxury anyone can give themselves.

***

This book came to my attention a few months before its release, when a caring friend mentioned that it might be of interest to me. This friend, along with most people who know me, was aware that I struggle daily with my mood disorder, and she was right in thinking I'd be curious to learn about a radically different approach to 'self-medication'.

Ayelet Waldman, like me, has taken just about every pharmaceutical drug available on the market, AND suffered all the accompanying side-effects. Treating a mood disorder such as bipolar disorder is complicated business and usually involves a whole drug cocktail to stabilize both the highs and lows. Approaching menopause, Waldman found that she was becoming more and more out of control, and the feeling she was putting her marriage at risk with repeated angry outbursts along with suicidal thoughts prompted her to seek a solution.

Having studied a book on the subject of microdosing which provided helpful guidelines, and not least of all, having procured a small vial of LSD from a mysterious source, she decided to become her own research subject for a month-long trial which involved taking minute amounts of LSD every three days and journaled any changes she was able to perceive over this period. At the kind of doses she was taking (about one-tenth of a standard hallucinogenic dose), the user experiences no hallucinatory effects whatsoever. Instead, she describes the overall effect of the experience as providing a feeling that one is more focused, more in control and with the general impression that one is just having... a really good day.

Waldman makes it very clear that she is by no means a typical drug user and that in fact, with her background as a Federal public defender, she is probably more cautious than most. She did a lot of reading and research on LSD to discover that it is actually a relatively safe drug and that one is unlikely to ever overdose on it. Furthermore, she was very much against the idea of 'tripping out' or getting high in any way. The doses she was taking did not produce psychotropic effects, which leads Waldman to make some very good points on the merits of legalization of drugs, which might be beneficial for treating individual who do not respond to other pharmaceutical drug regimens. She makes good points on why there is a need replace the ineffective and ultimately racist 'war on drugs', and develop a more practical approach to drug use, to, among other things, allow for more clinical trials and ultimately to give adults a right to decide for themselves whether they would like to alter their consciousness with drugs or not.

I would not say this is a 'general interest' book. I had a keen interest in it because it treats on a subject that is very close to me, but I can imagine someone expecting to read about wild LSD experimentation will be sorely disappointed. My high rating reflects the interest level I had in the information this book procured, and it left me thinking I might be a candidate for this kind of treatment.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take an over-medicated, moody, middle-aged mother of four, add a month of experimental microdosing with LSD and it makes for A Really Good Day by Ayelet Waldman. This mesmerizing memoir of mental exploration tackles the taboo topic of drug use in our society, the frightening rise of prescription pills and the devastating addictions developing during the War on Drugs. A rollicking ride through the realm of self-realization, Waldman’s creative quest for sanity is painfully honest, hysterically funny and deeply human. I loved it!

[Brett Benner · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'd have to macrodose to read much more of this woman whine. Reading about how microsdosing lsd has been a tremendous aid to her is fine for a Rolling Stone article, but stretched out into book form only meant spending more time with a woman who bares her neurotic psyche like a drunk party guest who has a bad case of verbal diarrhea and no censor. No thanks.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Underwhelming. 2.5 stars rounded up because it was such a fast read.

Ayelet Waldman chronicles her 30-day journey of microdosing with LSD in an attempt to improve her mood. Along the way, she shares snippets of policy, history, and other drug lore in seemingly random fashion. If you have no previous knowledge of these subjects, or would be interested in microdosing for similar reasons, you may get more out of this book. It's essentially one long anecdote. Seasoned psychonaut that I am, her neurotic fear of altering her consciousness (and the need to underscore this repeatedly) was an angle that I could not relate to and that became tiring after a while.

I would instead nudge you towards other drug-related books which cover similar ground but with broader appeal and stronger scaffolding: How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us about Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence by Michael Pollan, Drug Use for Grown-Ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear by Karl Hart, and Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction by Maia Szalavitz.

[Lesley Vandernoot · Rating 1 out of 5]

Talk about a book not matching its reviews! I think maybe a dose of something was required whilst reading. Waldman is a self-indulgent, navel gazing, whiner. I realize this is a memoir of sorts, but the way she over-analyzes every single tiny feeling she is having, as if she is a new mother in awe of her newborn, is beyond annoying. Then to have her tell us, essentially, that meth has gotten a bad rap...uh thanks for the insight honey, I'm sure Walter White appreciates it.
I disliked this book intensely.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I debated between 4 and 5 stars -- I enjoyed this book very much. Ayelet Waldman's quest for a better mood, less volatility, and a happier existence overall rivals any self-help book I've encountered. I'm not sure if it's because we are the same age, because we are equally neurotic, because we have both lived with PMDD, but her unflinching and often funny voice resonated a lot with me. For example, the part when she thinks her daughter has gotten a new tattoo on her neck that signifies "meh" -- and immediately wants to jump on the next plane to somehow rectify this. Oh my. I have been there, (much to my own daughter's chagrin and resentment). While some people will view this memoir as ever so much navel gazing, to me it was wonderful. Perhaps people who suggest AW needs to get out of her head, volunteer more, think less, etc. haven't suffered from a mood disorder, or maybe they've figured it all out. Ruminating, obsessing, self-flagellating, feeling guilty and ashamed -- that is the stock in trade of the dysphoric life. And, I'd guess, those might be good qualities for a writer to possess. I'll seek more of AW's work. She made me laugh, taught me a great deal about the shameful war on drugs and the history of drugs, and ultimately made me feel like I have a sister-in-arms out there. I doubt I'll be microdosing any time soon, though. Here in the heartland of the US, they'd probably send you up the river, if you're not an accomplished writer with a solid legal career and a pretty fabulous life. Alas.

[Esil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think what I liked most about A Really Good Day is pretty idiosyncratic, but I definitely liked this one – especially as an audio. Ayelet Waldman has spent much of her life going up and down in mood. This affects her relationship with her husband author Michael Chabon, her interactions with her four children, her ability to write and her overall well being. She has had a number of diagnoses. She has tried all sorts of prescribed medications. And more recently she tried micro dosing LSD – which means taking tiny does of LSD to improve her mood without hallucinations. Ostensibly, her book documents her 30 day experiment with micro dosing. In reality, her book covers a vast and somewhat erratic terrain of topics – her family history, her relationship with her husband, her children, the history of the war on drugs, her prior work as a public defender, how parents talk to children about drugs, whether drugs should be legalized, the daily effects of micro dosing, the public reaction to some of her earlier writing, the body of research on LSD and on many other drugs, etc… And that’s what I loved about A Really Good Day. It was like having a one sided conversation with someone smart, funny, opinionated, knowledgeable about a wide range of topics, and a bit neurotic – but in a good way – at least in small doses. It was an added bonus to hear Waldman speak in her own animated voice. It made me think about why I often like non-fiction more than fiction these days. Many writers of non-fiction seem unconstrained by genre, gracefully dealing with a mix of topics through a subjective lens, blending history, science, memoir and free floating thoughts. Not everyone can pull it off. But Waldman certainly had me paying attention. In terms of micro dosing, it sounds like she’s onto something but that wasn’t actually the most interesting aspect of the book as far as I’m concerned. Thanks to a couple of GR friends and their positive reviews without which it would never have occurred to me to read this one.

[Nissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I totally want to try the protocol. Also a really interesting peek into the war on drugs, the history of drug use, and research about drug safety. More robust review to come.

My Netgalley review: A fascinating story of the war on drugs, the history of drug use and criminalization, and a suburban woman's self experimentation. I particularly loved her struggles with how to talk about drugs with her children, and Waldman lets you in on her inner monologue extraordinarily well. I came into this book having heard just a little about microdosing, but I found the accounts of drug criminalization and the war on drugs even more fascinating. Whether or not you've done drugs or are interested in doing drugs, this is a well researched and entertaining book, mostly about LSD. An excellent addition to most nonfiction collections.

[Viv JM · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a very readable and occasionally very funny account of the author's month long experiment with microdosing with LSD in an attempt to alleviate her mood swings (originally diagnosed as bipolar and later as PMDD). Along the way, she delves into the history of LSD, research into its benefits and the effects of the ill-fated "war on drugs". I found it an engaging and interesting book.

[Elyse Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

FABULOUS AUDIOBOOK!!!!!!

..........IF AYELET WALDMAN read the phone book --I'd be happy! I'd feel a rush of excitement- warmth - pleasure - and PURE LOVE for this woman!!!! I may be a little bias ....I know Ayelet. I love this Israeli-American Bay Area Jewish spitfire-of-a woman!
I've read many of Ayelet's books and essays. "Red Hood Road" is my favorite---( a page turning novel), and "Love and Treasure" a great historical novel.
I especially love Ayelet's autobiography short story in "The Modern Jewish Girl's Guide to Guilt". It's a terrific collection of short stories by gifted ( already successful), female Jewish authors. All great women writers!! Inspiring true stories by female authors. It's still one of my favorite books - great introduction into many female authors. Ayelet tells about her history with the Israeli Army - parents etc. in that book.

For me -this 'non-fiction' 'audiobook- is INCREDIBLY ENJOYABLE - playful at times -( belly-warm-humor), - AWESOME BOOK. Paul listened to most of this audiobook with me -and loves Ayelet too. It's informative- well researched- and persuasive.
If you thought LSD was the drug that sent people jumping out of windows - the most dangerous drug on the market -- you'll come away with your thoughts shifted.

Ayelet talks about Moods - troubles - marriage - kids - her father - her mother - control issues - depression - yelling - bipolar- sleep- work -pain - conflicts - risky behaviors- her frozen shoulder- emotional triggers - law cases she worked on -
communication crimes - pharmaceutical failures - 'war-on-drugs'.....sleep-away camps - colleges - heroine addictions - parenting - anxiety- peer pressures -
and HER experience- research - and drug productivity of LSD.....'microdosing'.

Ayelet is real - informative-- 'enlightening' --- adorable and enjoyable - bright as a whip!!!
Her research points towards microdosing as being SAFE with many benefits on well being. It's clear more research needs to be done - but the results really are 'working'. Some of the researchers think microdosing is safer than many of the antidepressants on the market today.
So why does LSD have such a bad name? Ayelet talks about this and the history of LSD. Many myths are being thrown out the window. The drug war was first directed at immigrants. There is an unbelievable amount of misinformation.
"LSD HAS POLITICAL BAGGAGE".

It's amazing how many 'myths' Ayelet dives into -- so that by the time I was done listening to this audiobook- I was ready to stand up and cheer and be an advocate!!!

Ayelet >>>> I'll see you in June!!!!
Ayelet: your fans who still associate you with 'Bad Mother' ( as in Bad)... those crazy people....
can now just see you as a druggie instead! (they'd still be crazy).
YOU ROCK!!!

[Rachel León]

I love Ayelet Waldman and her nonfiction is especially incredible. She writes with so much unflinching honesty that it's hard not to rally behind her, no matter what she's writing about.

Waldman suffers from bipolar disorder and this new book outlines her thirty day experiment taking microdoses of LSD in lieu of pharmaceuticals. She combines personal stories with statistics, so the book is a blend of memoir and a well-researched challenge of the war on drugs. I'd be willing to bet any rating under 4 stars is from readers who wished the book was more of a memoir as yes, it does become research heavy. But I thought the balance was actually pretty perfect. This book got me thinking and taught me a lot, while also offering a personal account to an interesting experiment. A really good book, indeed.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ayelet Waldman has long been "held hostage by the vagaries of mood." She's combatted her mercurial nature with a "shit-ton of drugs" that goes on for half a page and reads like the advance battalion of some YA dystopian sci-fi novel with names like Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac, Zoloft, Cymbalta, Effexor, and more. All legal but not altogether effective.

Desperate to alleviate not only her own suffering but the suffering of the people she loves that have had to deal with her fractured moods she embarks on a 30 day microdosing trial with 10 micrograms of LSD on every third day.

Understand that Ayelet is the type of person I can't handle at close quarters. She's the oversharing dinner guest prone to tangents and manic bouts of neurosis. At 52 she's the "totally basic" woman in line ahead of you at Starbucks ordering a skinny vanilla latte that seems a misspelled name away from demanding to speak with the manager.

In other words she's fallible and entirely human. She's not hiding behind a pose or putting herself at a scientific journalist's remove. She'll drop her credentials as a federal public defender, a consultant for the Drug Policy Alliance, and a law school professor but also cop to her affluent white privilege that lets her partake, and write about, a Schedule 1 drug.

And while we'll get books from Michael Pollan talking about the efficacy of psychedelics to treat depression, addiction and end of life anxiety, or breathless articles about how techbros are hacking their productivity with microdosing I like Waldman's approach.

Microdosing helped with her chronic shoulder pain, increased her productivity and leveled out her moods to the point her kids even comment on her new chill. She's the soccer mom, the PTA chair, the Facebook user clipping articles on her timeline - in other words the perfect vector to begin the process of normalizing these long maligned drugs.

[Marika · Rating 4 out of 5]

What lengths would you go to feel better? Celebrated author Ayelet Waldman, describes in detail her battle with a crippling mood disorder and how current medications have failed her. Waldman describes in a humorous, down to earth narrative how she discovered microdosing, or the use of LSD in therapeutic microdoses, doses so tiny that there are no perceptual changes. (no tripping) Readers will decide for themselves if the LSD helps Ayelet with her mood disorders, and will also find themselves laughing at the comical ways that she procures the LSD. Honest memoir about the often taboo subject of depression and other mood disorders.

Note: I received a free review copy of this book and was not compensated for it.

[Girl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really like Waldman's voice. In fact, I'm probably going to read another book by her right now.

Unfortunately, this book didn't really work for me. There is too little substance to the memoir part, and too much focus on background research. Whenever the book went back to the memoir / personal anecdotes, it was very enjoyable and readable. But then there is the history of LSD, the history of drug research, the background info on prison system of the US. Eh. Pass.

[Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evaluation based on advanced copy. I found the book exceptional in it's description of the history of so called illegal drugs and the absurd laws regarding personal use. I'm reluctant to give a higher total rating because of a lack of knowledge of personal challenges that may lead an individual to consider self micro-dosing with LSD. The book is well written and well researched.

[Ben Gutierrez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ayelet Waldman chose to take a dose of LSD over the course of a month and write about it. Microdosing (taking amounts that operate at levels below awareness) has started to come into the public consciousness and its the perfect time for a detailed personal account.

I heard her speak in a City Arts and Lectures and here is the spoiler: 10 micrograms of LSD taken every third day had positive effects and scarcely any side effects. She became more measured in her response to everyday trials and found that her interactions with her family and friends were consistently better. She was more productive with her writing.

The book is a great look at what could be possible if we stop stigmatizing drug use, and explore the possibility of relieving suffering instead punishing people that are in pain.

[Jess Dollar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It's a totally fascinating self-experiment book on micro dosing LSD for help with depression, anxiety, and PMDD. It's funny and real and interesting.

If you want to read more on how psychedelics are being used by mental health researchers and practitioners, read Acid Test next. I'm so excited for the future when people have access to these safe, effective therapies.

[mairead! · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVELOVELOVED. Fascinating, funny, frustrating, thought making. Obsessed -- grateful I had a campus commute today with extra time to read. Super recommend for both the war on drugs perspectives and personal experience log. Best non-dragon book I've read in a while. Super recommend for a commute, pondering read.

Favorites:
"For as long as I can remember, I have been held hostage by the vagaries of mood. When my mood is good, I am cheerful, productive, and affectionate. I sparkle at parties, I write decent sentences, I have what the kids call swag. When my mood swings, however, I am beset by self-loathing and knotted with guilt and shame. I am overtaken by a pervasive sense of hopelessness, a grim pessimism about even the possibility of happiness. My symptoms have never been serious enough to require hospitalization, nor have they ever prevented me from functioning either personally or professionally, but they have made my life and the lives of the people whom I love much more difficult."

"The problem with self-blame is that it launches a vicious cycle. It makes me despondent, and when I am despondent I lash out at my husband. Which makes me feel worse. Which makes me lash out. Which makes me feel worse. And so on and so forth, with the sharp threads of my shame spiral screwing a hole right through our relationship. The cognitive behavioral therapist I have lately been seeing tells me that conflict is a dynamic. Couples react to one another in an infinite, closed loop, and thus one person is no more culpable than another. She insists that my self-reproach is a barrier to happiness, both my own and ours as a couple."

"My persistent failure to control my impulses is one of the main reasons I keep trying different therapies. I want to increase the time between psychological trigger and reaction. I need only as long as it takes to take a single breath, enough of a hesitation to activate my superego and soothe the immediate agony of id. A moment to stop and ponder the question: what is the sensible reaction to this provocation, not the most pleasurable?"

"I have always been excitable, impulsive, and easily agitated. There is no quality I admire so much and possess so little as equanimity."

"Conflict: It definitely feels like some people are more annoying than they need to be, and some of those people live in my house."

"Sure, I’m volatile and mercurial, but I’m also fun. Yes, I’m occasionally bitchy, but I’m also sweet. I’m opinionated, but I’m willing to admit when I’m wrong. It is suddenly so obvious that what I need to do is just get out of my own way and enjoy my marriage and my life."

To do, note to future self: "print out a copy of Safety First: A Reality-Based Approach to Teens and Drugs, a thoughtful, research-based harm-reduction guide for teens, parents, and educators, written by Marsha Rosenbaum, Ph.D., and published by the Drug Policy Alliance."

[Kressel Housman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this book with a bit of a misconception. I knew it was about microdosing, the new trend of taking a small dose of a psychedelic chemical like LSD or psilocybin, but I thought the title was literal and that the author was going to describe a single day on which she microdosed. It turns out that she went on a month-long preprogrammed schedule of drug use with days on and days off. The book also explores other subjects I’ll get into, but my misunderstanding led me to an analogy that tickles me, so I’m eager to share it.

Advocates of microdosing argue that psychedelic chemicals are better mood-enhancers and lead to more psychological insight than the prescription drugs that people typically take for mental health today. Psychedelics also have fewer unpleasant physical side effects and would therefore be good replacements. Personally, I’m inclined to agree. A microdose is too small to cause hallucinations, yet it did improve the author’s mood. And as many who’ve taken a trip on a full hit will attest, it can be a positive, life-changing experience that’s more effective than years of therapy.

So here is where my misconception about “A Really Good Day” comes in. It reminded me of Professor Slughorn’s introduction to Felix Felicis, the lucky potion in the Harry Potter series. Slughorn said he took it only twice in his life, but those were “two perfect days.” Frequent use, he warned the students, would result in recklessness.

That is what I think about psychedelics. They are here on this earth for their healing potential but can wreak havoc when abused. Therefore, take only once or twice in a lifetime. Or, as this book puts it, taking psychedelics is all about “set and setting:” how much you take and the surroundings you’re in when you take them. You don’t want to take too much, and you’ve got to make sure to surround yourself by things that will make you happy when you do. And even if you decide you will never take psychedelics, not even in a microdose, setting is everything in a normal, happy, drug-free life, too.

As I said, the book covers more than the author’s trips and mood changes. She talks about her life before microdosing and its concomitant challenges, particularly her mood swings and her marriage. She was also an attorney in drug enforcement for a while, so she’s got plenty to say about how punitive the system is and has suggestions for its reform. There’s also a thorough section on the history of psychedelics, from its discovery to the boom of the 60’s to the research happening right now. I really liked the mix of personal narrative with historical and scientific information. The author struck the right balance and didn’t overdo either side.

The people who would most likely be interested in this book are people who probably have actual experience with psychedelics. Certainly, you have to be open enough to having your mind expanded to the point of entertaining the possibility that psychedelics don’t drive everyone crazy, even if you can’t accept the next step, which is that they’re actually healing. But I think the author makes a good case for them, and so I hope the research continues. . . with all due caution.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

A REALLY GOOD DAY caught my eye because, well, I thought it looked funny. An upper-class, middle-aged mom with a history of mood disorders embarks on an experimental therapy utilizing the (in)famous psychedelic LSD.

If you're imaging PTA meetings transforming into Salvadore Dali paintings, that's not what you'll find here. Waldman takes the tiniest of doses--meant to tweak her mood and productivity, not go onto a full-blown trip. That said, there's still funny stuff to be had here, and some gravely serious subjects as well.

For lack of a better term, I at time marvelled at how "California" the author's setting and values were. Many of the attitudes and places she describes are lightyears away from what I live alongside in small-town America. I think I laughed hardest when Waldman described a radio-inspired conversation with one of her children, because I had asked the EXACT SAME QUESTION as a child:

Child: "Mom, when he sings, 'I get high with a little help from my friends,' is he talking about getting high on drugs?"
Waldman: "Well, yes, he is." (Cue serious discussion about drugs and why people use them.)

My mom's response: "He's talking about getting high on life, not on drugs." :D Contrast this also with Waldman's "harm reduction" approach to drug and alcohol use by her teen and young adult children, including a pact that they won't get in trouble if they're drinking and call her for a ride home, instead of riding with an intoxicated driver. For my 21st, I ordered a frozen daiquiri while dining with my parents at the now-defunct chain restaurant Chi-Chi's; my dad stormed out into the parking lot in a rage and refused to come back inside until I had intercepted the waiter and cancelled my drink order. (Ah, memories!)

But back to the book. The author shines when she's talking about the history of drugs and their prohibition, as well as her experiences as a lawyer fighting for poor and often minority clients caught in the crossfire of the cruel War on Drugs. Plus, I always appreciate a shoutout to misophonia, which I have, and which can be difficult to describe to others. I loved when Waldman shared that she spent her childhood meals with her hands over her ears because her dad's chewing panicked her so. As for me, I would ask repeatedly, "Do you think we could turn on some music?" with an increasingly freaked out expression in the same situation.

That said, I can understand why others have been a bit exasperated with A REALLY GOOD DAY. When Waldman isn't talking about the interesting asides described above, she's stuck on herself, which can be both boring and intrusive. She opens each chapter with a diary-like cataloguing of her mood, productivity, bodily pain, and so forth. She describes her intimate life with her husband and their various arguments over upper-class things--such as who gets the writer's studio--which was rather off-putting and uncomfortable. And frankly, I don't understand how anyone who suffers from misophonia could have four children in the home without intentionally deafening oneself.

[furious · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it. I loved everything about this book: I loved the author (full disclosure: I was predisposed to love her, because she lives in my town, shops at my bookstore sometimes, and because she is married to ((probably)) my favorite living writer: Michael Chabon), I loved the prose style (I'd never read her work, despite the previously-mentioned reasons I have to be predisposed to liking/loving her), I loved the subject matter, I loved the results. Any memoir-ish nonfiction book can be judged (imo) on whether or not you'd like to be friends with the author/subject, and this book is a resounding YES. So if you're reading this, Ayelet, get in touch.

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I apologize for my absence. I have apparently reached the age when body parts begin to fail suddenly and inexplicably. Somehow what should have been an

[Magdelanye · Rating 4 out of 5]

...the drug creates a kind of hyperconnectivity in the brain allowing unrelated and usually discrete regions to communicate. P41

We hear a lot about the deleterious effects...a reflection of bias, not of fact. Researchers see effects...because they anticipate seeing effects.... p76

An impeccable researcher herself, Ayelet Waldman was intrigued by all of the controversy. A busy and accomplished author, editor, wife and mother, she was also prey to debilitating mood swings and her sleep wasn't that restful either.

I began this experiment because my moods have not only made me unhappy, they have damaged the people around me. Families are hostages to the moods of their members. P212

Nervous but determined, AW signed up for a month long course of treatment. This book is an account of her experience following the protocols, a microdose of LSD every 3 days. Not enough to trigger its hallucinogenic effects, but immediately felt in subtle ways.

As the experimental month winds to its conclusion, AW finally comes to agree with her doctor:
The important thing...is not what is going on inside my brain, but that I feel better. P41

Along the way, less anxious and more productive, she comes to her own conclusions.

I have felt different and I have been different. Whether the microdose or the placebo effect..I have had many days at the end of which I looked back and thought That was a really good day. P214

In addition or perhaps due to her positive experience, she has come to realize

The war on drugs and the war on crime are the most recent manifestations of an impulse to punish, control, and exploit poor people. P58

How wonderful that AW now has the zest to share this story.

[Rachel Aranda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high expectations for this book as I had been recommended it by a school friend who is huge fan of alternate methods being researched (some not yet acknowledged by the FDA) to treat certain illnesses and the success that can come (and does) from the studies. I was interested in learning more, so I got this book to read. It's a shame, as it turns out, that none of what Waldman's experiences and particular illnesses (frozen shoulder syndrome and hormone issues while preparing to have her period) while using macrodosing applied to me. Not to mention the rather shady way she had to go to get/find her dose(s). Sorry but I don’t trust strangers sending me drugs through the mail. What I can say is that Waldman’s narrative was interesting and her voice is pretty good, but it wasn’t enough to keep me interested for long periods of time. I had to stop listening multiple times.

This book follows the author for 30 days as she experiments with micro dosing LSD to treat a mood disorder that she was unsuccessful in treating with conventional medicine. A lot of good information concerning the use of illegal drugs to treat medical problems as a safer alternative. Interesting read if you are into that sort of thing. While I appreciated the background of past and current psychedelic use, I would have much rather preferred a more comprehensive book about the subject of microdosing. She's doing her part to reduce the stigmas around psychedelics and mental health so it’s commendable.

Rating this book is difficult because it's an okay book but this book wasn’t my cup of tea. I found myself zoning out while listening to this book out of boredom. I ended up returning this book even though I bought it as an Audible Daily Deal.

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, this could have been a great book on the subject of LSD microdosing. Instead, it's an emotional vomit bag from someone with lots of issues, and she's letting us know that microdosing LSD seems to be helping more than the all the other drugs she's tried.

The logical layout of the book is as confused and scrambled as she professes her thoughts and feelings to be. The first chapter of the book is about her inner turmoil and emotional struggles and also her period. With a really strong emphasis on her period and corresponding hormones. I'm not making this up. Then she goes into the history of "LSD 25", and honestly, I thought maybe the book got off to a bad start and this was the "real book". I kept on reading thinking the book was going to get better. I was wrong.

Here's how the book goes (in a nutshell): She writes the book like she's talking to a high-dollar, Beverly Hills therapist. She's laying on the classic, Freudian couch staring up at the ceiling. She's holding a glass of some Napa Valley vintage (perfect room temperature of course) and pouring out her "upper-class white woman's blues" to some guy with thick-rimmed glasses who's doing a poor job of pretending to give a shit, but the wine buzz prevents her from picking that up. Mixed among and between the frivolous personal issues are little "mini essays" on the history and pharmacology of LSD and other hallucinogenic drugs - with an emphasis on therapeutic application.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part memoir, part research journal, part advocate for change... there are a lot of angles to this book.

I do enjoy Ayelet's writing, though previously I had only read her mystery novels. She is self deprecating, honest, and funny.

In the end, A Really Good Day advocates for the end to the war on drugs. It encourages focus more on research and regulation, instead of criminalization. First of all, as her anecdotes from her days as a public defender illustrate, the criminalization unevenly and unfairly targets the poor and the non-white. But as important are these two facts: a) Some legal drugs are more harmful than illegal drugs, and b) legalizing drugs makes it easier to implement harm reduction, and may very well decrease abuse and crime associated with addictions... and even addiction itself.

The research and facts cited are impressive, though sometimes it got a bit old, as I was already on board and didn't need persuading. The journal of her own cautious experiment is interesting. And her parenting philosophies and family stories make me happy.

Spoiler alert: She does not have any useful advice on how to obtain LSD microdoses, in case you were hoping to try this at home. But she does have useful advice on how to make sure what you do get your hands on is not laced with something dangerous!

3.5 stars

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this in a Goodreads giveaway.
I was entertained and informed. If only the draconian drug laws of the country were reformed, more people would benefit from microdosing. I am fortunate to live in a state that at least views cannabis as a more helpful than harmful substance so my dog can be given CBD to treat his allergies and seizures.

[Ida · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this book! a look at the use of drugs as mood stabilizers combined with a brief history of the war on drugs and why it isn't working. written by a neurotic Jewish wife and mother of four who is unabashedly unapologetic... what's not to like?