A Really Good Day by Ayelet Waldman Summary

A Really Good Day chronicles Waldman’s 30-day experiment with microdosing LSD to treat her severe mood swings and PMDD. Blending memoir, science, and drug policy analysis, it explores psychedelics’ therapeutic potential while dissecting societal stigma around illegal substances. The book interweaves personal struggles with research on neurochemistry and harm reduction.

This book appeals to readers interested in mental health alternatives, psychedelic research, or drug policy reform. It’s ideal for those seeking candid memoirs about mood disorders, parents navigating family dynamics, or anyone curious about microdosing’s effects on emotional regulation.

Yes – Waldman’s mix of humor, vulnerability, and rigorous science offers fresh perspectives on psychedelics. While some criticize its personal tangents, the book sparks critical conversations about mental health treatment and drug criminalization. It’s particularly valuable for those exploring alternatives to traditional antidepressants.

Waldman takes sub-perceptual doses (10-20 micrograms) every three days, tracking changes in mood, focus, and relationships. She reports reduced irritability and increased emotional clarity, contrasting this with antidepressants’ side effects. The protocol follows James Fadiman’s psychedelic research framework.

Some reviewers note Waldman’s privileged perspective as a wealthy, white author risking minimal legal consequences. Others find her self-disclosure excessive, particularly regarding marital tensions and menstrual cycles. Critics argue she oversimplifies complex drug policy issues.

The memoir challenges stereotypes by framing microdosing as pragmatic self-care rather than countercultural rebellion. Waldman juxtaposes her professional success as a writer/lawyer with her private chemical experiments, normalizing discussions about treatment-resistant mood disorders.

The book details LSD’s 1938 synthesis by Albert Hofmann, its 1960s therapeutic research, and subsequent demonization. Waldman critiques the War on Drugs’ impact on psychedelic science, highlighting modern studies revived by institutions like Johns Hopkins.

Waldman analyzes microdosing’s impact on her relationship with novelist Michael Chabon and their four children. She documents reduced conflicts and increased patience, while acknowledging ethical concerns about hiding illegal drug use from family.

As a former federal defender, Waldman dissects LSD’s Schedule I classification and unequal enforcement. She contrasts her low arrest risk with marginalized communities’ disproportionate penalties, advocating for decriminalization and medical research.

While Pollan focuses on clinical trials and philosophy, Waldman offers a personal, practice-oriented account. Both critique drug prohibition, but Waldman emphasizes microdosing’s daily life applications over mystical experiences.

Waldman cites emerging research on psychedelics for depression, PTSD, and cluster headaches. She references Roland Griffiths’ Johns Hopkins trials and MAPS’ MDMA studies, while acknowledging the need for more microdosing-specific data.

The book stresses harm reduction:

• testing substances for purity
• using precise doses
• avoiding hallucinogenic effects

Waldman warns against unsupervised use by adolescents or those with psychotic disorder histories.