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The Bigger Picture: How Psychedelics Can Help Us Make Sense of the World Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 86 ratings

Can psychedelic drugs help us tackle the biggest problems we face globally? Can they heal the cultural, spiritual, and political wounds we’re wrestling with?

Psychedelics have hit the mainstream as powerful new mental health treatments. But as clinicians explore what these molecules can do for our individual minds,
The Bigger Picture goes further to illuminate how psychedelics can help us find new ways to make sense of and come through the crises we face around the world.

Drawing on the latest research, as well as his unique experience as a participant in a ground-breaking clinical trial investigating the potent psychedelic DMT, Alexander Beiner reveals:

  • the role of psychedelics in addressing global issues such as global warming, geopolitical instability, and political polarization
  • the dark side of the ‘psychedelic renaissance’ and ‘psychedelic capitalism’
  • what it takes to elicit huge personal and cultural transformation through psychedelics

Embark on a journey into The Bigger Picture – a new era of science and spirituality with the potential to radically transform our perceptions of ourselves, one another, and our life on this planet.

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Product details

Listening Length 7 hours and 50 minutes
Author Alexander Beiner
Narrator Alexander Beiner
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date June 13, 2023
Publisher Hay House UK
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B0BTV1V8HC
Best Sellers Rank #140,174 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#192 in Philosophy & Science
#445 in New Thought Spirituality
#1,833 in History & Philosophy of Science (Books)

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4.6 out of 5 stars
86 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book well-researched and insightful. They appreciate the author's clear writing style and find it an excellent value for money.

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6 customers mention "Research quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's research insightful and thorough. They appreciate the author's ability to connect information from philosophy, science, and spirituality. The book provides a comprehensive view of psychedelic experiences and their potential benefits for humanity. Readers praise the authors' mastery of topics including psychology, religion, spirituality, consumerism, and history.

"...and meaning despite nationality as Korean, it helps me to clarify things better. Thank you for your service." Read more

"...The breadth and depth of it and the authors’ incredible mastery of topics ranging from Jung and Gnostic Christian texts, to Amazonian ceremonial..." Read more

"Ali does a great job pulling together info across philosophy, science, and spiritual domains and tying them together coherently, in an original way...." Read more

"...With great clarity of mind, and profound insights, Alexander Beiner brilliantly articulates what he’s learned from his experience with psychedelic..." Read more

3 customers mention "Clarity of thought"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's clear thinking and profound insights. They find it an experienced, inspiring guide that is well-researched.

"...With great clarity of mind, and profound insights, Alexander Beiner brilliantly articulates what he’s learned from his experience with psychedelic..." Read more

"Beiner is a deeply knowledgeable, experienced, inspiring and articulate guide on this detailed and heartfelt consideration of psychedelics at this..." Read more

"New Frame, Ridiculously Well Researched and Articulated..." Read more

3 customers mention "Value for money"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book offers good value for money. They describe it as insightful and brilliant, saying it's just what the world needs.

"Excellent book! I anxiously awaited the release of this book and was not disappointed." Read more

"Brilliant, Insightful, & Just What the World Needs!..." Read more

"Outstanding book! Inspiring and compelling look back and forward...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2024
    I'm impressed to write a review. The book what it promises to give a bigger picture. For someone who studied deeply after having a worldview crisis and was deeply influenced by western thinkers such as Jordan Peterson, John Vervaeke, Erick Fromm, Carl Jung and possibly Robert Sternberg on love, relationship, consciousness, and meaning despite nationality as Korean, it helps me to clarify things better. Thank you for your service.
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2023
    Many of the reviews have already stated eloquently the value of this book so I will not add to the litany of its merits here - but I will state that I am recommending this book enthusiastically to pretty much everyone I know. The breadth and depth of it and the authors’ incredible mastery of topics ranging from Jung and Gnostic Christian texts, to Amazonian ceremonial practices the Internet and everything in between - simply cannot be conveyed in a review; you simply have to experience this book for yourself.

    Most highly recommended.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2023
    Ali does a great job pulling together info across philosophy, science, and spiritual domains and tying them together coherently, in an original way. If you are interested in how psychedelics can be helpful individually or collectively, this book provides a frame that anyone can follow. My view is that this book is ideal for someone who has had psychedelic experiences but isn't totally sure what to do with them or the ways to integrate and build upon them
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2023
    I just opened the book and couldn’t stop reading I’m so intrigued by the stuff this man talks about in his book
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2023
    This is the most important book on psychedelics to come along in a long while. With great clarity of mind, and profound insights, Alexander Beiner brilliantly articulates what he’s learned from his experience with psychedelic states of mind, and how his deep understanding can be helpful in addressing some of the most pressing problems that humanity is facing today. Immensely fascinating, throughly researched, and personally expressed, this extraordinary book couldn’t possibly be more timely. Beiner is one of the super-brave subjects in the extended state DMT study at Imperial College, and his page-turning adventures will have you teetering on the edge of your seat, but more importantly what he’s learned may hold the key to help save our precious world from the wayward course of our misguided species. Extremely highly recommended!
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2023
    Beiner explores science, psychology, religion, spirituality, consumerism, history and modern social issues. Well researched and referenced he develops a thesis of how carefully guided psychedelic experiences may serve humanity in "authentic human connection as well as connecting to what lies beyond us." He does not not present psychedelics as a "magic bullet" but more of a possible reset button. This is not self help this is humanity healing and Beiner makes it clear it's as much being in the muck as it is in the stars. I put the book down with an impulse to be more present and trust being authentic with those I encounter.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2023
    Beiner is a deeply knowledgeable, experienced, inspiring and articulate guide on this detailed and heartfelt consideration of psychedelics at this particular time in our journey on this planet. While he does present many interesting studies, quotes, and both personal and historical anecdotes, he ties all those things beautifully into the present tense and the options/opportunities - and challenges - we have before us in the here and now. Highly recommended.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2023
    Excellent book! I anxiously awaited the release of this book and was not disappointed.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • MarCzi
    5.0 out of 5 stars Important book for the future of humanity
    Reviewed in Germany on February 5, 2024
    The book invites the reader into the DMT studies at London imperial college. There are many important new ideas about the realm they study and insights about the nature of human connection and so on. Must read for everyone interested in humanity and / or psychedelics.
  • Newty1977
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books on Psychedelics
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 12, 2023
    The media could not be loaded.
    I thoroughly enjoyed this book so devoured it in 5-days. I’ve read quite a few books on psychedelics from “How to Change Your Mind” by Michael Pollan , to “The Psychedelic Experience” by Timothy Leary, “The Doors of Perception” and “Heaven and Hell” by Aldous Huxley, and this was a very unique read.

    Ali has a very engaging writing style and he truly takes the reader on a journey, with vivid descriptions of his own psychedelic experiences but also a neat summary as you progress through the book, to recap on what has been covered and where we are headed. I quite liked that as a writing style and felt it was a good way to keep the reader engaged. Ali outlines that we are — whether we like it or not — all on a psychedelic journey, in so much as they’re slowly becoming mainstream as billions pours into research and efforts to de schedule them as illegal substances, with the aim of using them for healing and wellbeing. However, he rightly points out the dangers of doing so and how the profit motive all so often pollutes. It is essential psychedelics are respected and used in the right way, with correct set (mindset), setting, dose, support, and integration, whether for recreational use, spiritual insights & connection, or healing. There are very real dangers associated with the drugs if any of these elements are not respected.

    Ali covers a lot of ground, from the psychological, mystical and theological aspects of psychedelics, to — as may be expected — questioning the very nature of being and reality, of consciousness itself. Many of these things we don’t truly understand but it’s important to cover the ground. Any analysis of psychedelics should draw upon the work of prominent Swiss psychologist & psychotherapist Carl G Jung, who Ali refers to frequently throughout the book. Jung is famed for his study of dreams and his own mind — published in The Black Books as well as Liber Novus (the Red Book) — within which he details the findings of his years of self analysis of his own mind through dreams. This was a process that bordered on madness and we must understand the perils of peering into our own minds and the darkness that resides in the subconscious, and - in Jungian psychology - what’s referred to as “the shadow”. This is the repressed aspects of our mind that we all must work upon and seek to integrate to become whole and balanced humans. Psychedelics can help us do this but with the right framing, care and attention. I’ve experienced Shadow work with Ali, on personal growth weekend intensives that he previously run with David Fuller, who he mentions in the book. This free upon his extensive training and knowledge around the field of Jung’s work and integration (it did not include psychedelic use). Making this connection to Jung is, I believe, an essential part of the narrative around safe and positive psychedelic use, but — like the author — I am concerned that the profit motive will cloud these issues and lead to misuse and problems. Changing public perceptions around taboo areas like drug usage becomes eminently more challenging when there is misuse and profiteering. Ali is also right to draw the readers attention to the ceremonial usage of these ‘plant medicines’ within indigenous cultures throughout the world and the need to be respectful towards them and their origins rather than the all too common exploitation.

    All in all, this is a well researched and interesting book that was both enjoyable and educational.
  • Elise Wardle MA, Jungian Psychotherapist
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Bigger Picture
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 27, 2023
    The title, of course, is absolutely perfect! This book most definitely gives us a peek at where we are as a species, how to navigate ourselves safely through an insane world and how we grow and develop towards change on a personal and collective level. Psychedelics offer us a pathway towards consciousness, personal and collective change and Beiner offers the reader snippets of his own learning through his journeys during clinical trials, research at al. A thoroughly readable and enlightening book highly recommended for all no matter whether an established psychonaut or skeptic! Loved it. Thanks Alexander.
  • Margot
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written and SO enlightening!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 6, 2023
    I thought I might find this subject and science behind it to be quite daunting. However, I was very pleasantly surprised and found The Bigger Picture to be fascinating and extremely informative. I even followed up with the Audible version so I could listen to the author narrating it himself while I was out walking!
  • David R.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good.
    Reviewed in Germany on September 19, 2023
    An inspiring and thought-provoking read! The interweaving of personal story interviews and research is very well done.

    But to my feeling the author tries to cover a few ideas too much, which makes it slightly messy and overboarding.

    So on the one hand this book really covers all the important ideas of our time. On the other hand I think with a more focussed approach and some good editing this could have been an instant classic.

    4 Stars