Subscribe
The Library Store
Donate Now
ALOUD

Michael Pollan

In conversation with Lera Boroditsky
Date: Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Time: 7:30pm
Location: Aratani Theatre
Event-Image_Michael-Pollan-LFLA
Back to Calendar

Reservations are available here.

In this #1 New York Times bestseller, Michael Pollan offers a mind-bending investigation into the medical and scientific revolution taking place around psychedelic drugs—and the spellbinding story of his own life-changing psychedelic experiences as he set out to research the active ingredients in magic mushrooms. Blending science, memoir, travel writing, history, and medicine, How to Change Your Mind is a triumph of participatory journalism through Pollan’s discovery of how these remarkable substances are improving the lives not only of the mentally ill, but also of healthy people coming to grips with the challenges of everyday life. Sharing his deep dive into altered states of consciousness, Pollan discusses this unexpected new frontier in our understanding of the mind, the self, and our place in the world.

Frequently asked questions

Back to Calendar

Co-presented with JACCC

Michael Pollan

Michael Pollan is the author of eight books, including How to Change Your Mind, Cooked, Food Rules, In Defense of Food, The Omnivore’s Dilemma and The Botany of Desire, all of which were New York Times bestsellers.  A longtime contributor to the New York Times Magazine, he also teaches writing at Harvard and the University of California, Berkeley where he is the John S. and James L. Knight Professor of Science Journalism.  In 2010, Time magazine named him one of the one hundred most influential people in the world.

Lera Boroditsky

Lera Boroditsky is an Associate Professor of Cognitive Science at UCSD and Editor in Chief of Frontiers in Cultural Psychology. She previously served on the faculty at MIT and at Stanford. Her research is on the relationships between mind, world, and language (or how humans get so smart).

Location
This program will take place at the Aratani Theatre of the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center, at 244 S San Pedro St, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

Parking
Parking is available in multiple lots around the theatre. Note that many lots are cash only. Click here for specific lots and directions.

All tickets and books are non-refundable. Pre-signed copies of the featured book, How to Change Your Mind, will be distributed the night of the program. Please note there will NOT be any book sales on-site and will only be available for purchase via Eventbrite.

630 W. Fifth St.
Los Angeles, CA 90071

213.228.7500

info@lfla.org

Subscribe to our newsletter

Name(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
About Us
Programs
Calendar
Support Us
Library Store
Los Angeles Public Library
Contact Us
Financials
Core Values and Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Reservation Policy
Donors Privacy
Privacy Policy

© 2025 Library Foundation of Los Angeles

Subscribe

Library Store

Donate Now
Stay Connected
Stacy-Lieberman_headshot_President-and-CEO_LFLA

Stacy Lieberman

As President and CEO of the Library Foundation of Los Angeles (LFLA), Stacy Lieberman is an innovative and inclusive leader whose career dwells at the intersection of arts and culture, lifelong learning, storytelling, and equitable access. Stacy guides the Foundation’s philanthropic and public-facing priorities to serve the Los Angeles Public Library, embracing the notion that libraries are beacons of democracy where everyone is welcome. She works intentionally with community leaders, donors, and internal and external strategic partners to raise awareness and resources for the Library and its life-changing initiatives.

With more than 20 years of experience as a senior executive, Stacy has left an indelible mark on iconic L.A. arts, non-profit, and educational institutions such as The Broad, the Autry Museum of the American West, and the Skirball Cultural Center. Building on an early career in book publishing, she has dedicated her professional life to sharing stories and broadening the reach of public institutions to welcome visitors and students of all ages and backgrounds to experience educational, arts, and cultural opportunities.