Book · 2026 · Science
A World Appears
A Journey into Consciousness
- mentions
- 18
- people
- 7
- podcasts
- 5
- episodes
- 6
- critical mentions
- 0
Michael Pollan, the book is called A World Appears. Honestly, it's I I would en- encourage and recommend for every single one of you who are fascinated by this conversation, fascinated by Michael's other work to read it because it's it's the most riveting reading I've done in a long time.
Jay Shetty · On Purpose with Jay Shetty · Feb 2026 Listen at 1:18:09 What they say about it
- Explores consciousness“a journey into consciousness”3
- Discusses book content“you talk about how”2
The best things said about it
In his new book, A World Appears, A Journey Into Consciousness, the science writer Michael Pollan takes a tour of those efforts, of those theories, of those experiments, of those psychedelic trips and meditation retreats.
This is an odd book in some ways in that I don't know if this is very selling, but you'll know less at the end than you do at the beginning. But it's a fun ride.
Michael Pollan The Joe Rogan Experience · Mar 2026 There was a great part of book, I think it's in the early part of the book, where you talk about how you had a teacher who said that you can boil biology down, the human body down to $4 worth of chemicals.
There's one interesting thing in the book, many interesting things, but one that I seized on, where you said that I think what is it? The belief, uh, in consciousness is an escape hatch for materialism.
Where and when it comes up
Most mentions, by podcast
7 people who brought it up
Why people recommend it
A World Appears by Michael Pollan is a non-fiction work that explores human consciousness, the self, and the boundaries of mystical and meditative experiences. Arthur Brooks recommended the book on The Rubin Report while discussing the nature of human consciousness alongside the ideas of philosopher William James. Jay Shetty strongly recommended the title on On Purpose with Jay Shetty during the end-of-episode segment, calling it the most riveting reading he had experienced in a long time and encouraging everyone fascinated by the subject to read it. Joumana Khatib also recommended the non-fiction book on The Book Review as an exciting early release. Gilbert Cruz discussed the book on The Book Review, explaining that it takes readers on a tour of scientific theories, experiments, psychedelic trips, and meditation retreats. Michael Pollan appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience alongside Joe Rogan to discuss the inspiration behind the text, noting that it emerged from his explorations with psychedelics and meditation. Pollan described the project as an unusual and fun ride that leaves readers with more questions than answers by the final page.
Every mention
Arthur Brooks And so, you know, William James, the great American philosopher, he talked about the me self and the I self… 1
Recommended
“And so, you know, William James, the great American philosopher, he talked about the me self and the I self and and this is kind of, you know, all the new stuff like Michael Poland's book. Have you had him on your show yet? No, I haven't had him on yet. We've got he's on the master list, so hopefully”
Jay Shetty Michael Pollan, the book is called A World Appears. Honestly, it's I I would en- encourage and recommend fo… 1
Recommended
“Michael Pollan, the book is called A World Appears. Honestly, it's I I would en- encourage and recommend for every single one of you who are fascinated by this conversation, fascinated by Michael's other work to read it because it's it's the most riveting reading I've done in a long time.”
Joumana Khatib So, this is a world appears, a journey into consciousness by Michael Pollen. 1
Recommended
“So, this is a world appears, a journey into consciousness by Michael Pollen.”
Alex Kantrowitz He is the author of the book A World Appears, a journey into consciousness, that is out this week from Peng… 6
Discussed
“He is the author of the book A World Appears, a journey into consciousness, that is out this week from Penguin Press.”
Discussed
“There was a great part of book, I think it's in the early part of the book, where you talk about how you had a teacher who said that you can boil biology down, the human body down to $4 worth of chemicals”
Discussed
“Yeah, no, I I read that I read that in the book and I thought that was like a terrific potential experiment.”
Discussed
“So, let's talk about one of those efforts that you do write about in your book, one that is known. It was called I think free energy fighter”
Discussed
“There's one interesting thing in the book, many interesting things, but one that I seized on, where you said that I think what is it? The belief, uh, in consciousness is an escape hatch for materialism.”
Discussed
“All right, the book is a world appears. Michael, first of all, thank you for taking that mushroom trip. I'm glad it sparked the book and thank you for coming on the show to speak about it.”
Michael Pollan So, basically it yeah, the book grew out of the psychedelic experiences and some meditation experience. 6
Discussed
“So, basically it yeah, the book grew out of the psychedelic experiences and some meditation experience.”
Discussed
“And uh this is a this is an odd book in some ways in that I don't know if this is very selling, but uh you'll know less at the end than you do at the beginning. But it's a fun ride.”
Discussed
“And but I don't think it holds up when you think about it uh hard enough.”
Discussed
“I profile somebody in the book named King Sun Man who's trying to build a robot cuz he understands you need a body to be conscious and you need a vulnerable body.”
Discussed
“I'm I'm I'm freely I'm giving it to plants as you know as you know having read the book.”
Discussed
“I realized I couldn't write a book about consciousness without delving into this and that it was really a very interesting uh phenomenon.”
Joe Rogan So, um this new book, what inspired it? What what got you to I mean, you you've kind of explored consciousn… 2
Discussed
“So, um this new book, what inspired it? What what got you to I mean, you you've kind of explored consciousness a little bit with your psychedelic book, yeah. How to change your mind.”
Discussed
“And you talk about it in your book where the the two gentlemen who had the bet? Yeah.”
Gilbert Cruz In his new book, A World Appears, A Journey Into Consciousness, the science writer Michael Pollan takes a t… 1
Discussed
“In his new book, A World Appears, A Journey Into Consciousness, the science writer Michael Pollan takes a tour of those efforts, of those theories, of those experiments, of those psychedelic trips and meditation retreats”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (3: passing, ad reads, own books)
Passing
“And most recently, the book A World Appears, A Journey Into Consciousness.”
Passing
“His latest book came out earlier this year and it's called A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness.”
Plugged
“In his new book, "A World Appears: A Journey Into Consciousness," the science writer Michael Pollan takes a tour of those efforts, of those theories, of those experiments, of those psychedelic trips and meditation retreats, and he keeps finding himself in stranger and stranger territory deeper inside the mystery.”