I grew up in the suburban world of D.A.R.E. programs and alarmist anti-drug PSAs, so I approached this book with knee-jerk skepticism. Won’t illicit drugs, save for marijuana, almost always lead to addiction? Aren’t most controlled substances inherently dangerous?

But Hart, a neuroscientist who specializes in drugs and addiction, met my ignorance with a series of thought-provoking arguments that led me to better understand why I feel so averse to drug use. Through his own experiences and research, he makes a compelling case for revising our mindsets about taboo substances, and the people who use them.