A really good day
how microdosing made a mega difference in my mood, my marriage, and my life
Überblick über A really good day
When a Harvard-trained lawyer microdoses LSD for 30 days, her depression lifts and her marriage transforms. Praised by The New York Times as "genuinely brave," Waldman's radical experiment sparked a national conversation about psychedelics' untapped potential for mental health treatment.
Kernthemen in A really good day
- psychedelic microdosing
- mood disorder management
- alternative mental health
- drug policy reform
- hormonal health
Zitate aus A really good day
She simply felt... good.
Desperate for what microdosers consistently reported: increased focus.
It was, indeed, a really good day.
Transition Days consistently emerged as the golden period of her experiment.
The effects felt natural rather than forced.
Personen in A really good day
- Ayelet WaldmanAuthor and subject of the microdosing experiment
- James FadimanPsychologist who developed the microdosing protocol
- Lewis CarrollPseudonym for the source who provided the LSD
Über den Autor
Über den Autor von A really good day
Ayelet Waldman, bestselling author of A Really Good Day: How Microdosing Made a Mega Difference in My Mood, My Marriage, and My Life, is an Israeli-American novelist and essayist renowned for her candid explorations of mental health, motherhood, and societal norms.
A former federal public defender and UC Berkeley adjunct law professor, Waldman intertwines her legal expertise and personal experiences into works like the memoir Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace and the novels Love and Treasure and Red Hook Road.
Her co-created Netflix series Unbelievable, a Peabody and Emmy-nominated adaptation, underscores her narrative authority. Waldman’s books, published globally in over a dozen languages, often challenge conventions—A Really Good Day chronicles her radical experiment with microdosing LSD to treat mood disorders, merging memoir with investigative journalism.
For readers of her other works, explore our summaries of Kingdom of Olives and Ash and Love and Other Impossible Pursuits.
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FAQ zu diesem Buch
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.
