7 p.m. (PT) | Goethe-Institut Los Angeles

Join the Thomas Mann House and the Goethe-Institut Los Angeles for a thought-provoking discussion with Berlin-based bestselling author Norman Ohler, Charles Grob, a leading expert in psychiatry and pediatrics at UCLA’s School of Medicine, and Los Angeles-based writer and freelance editor Kate Wolf. Inspired by Ohler’s research-driven book Tripped (HarperCollins, 2024), this conversation will delve into the complex history, evolving perceptions, and groundbreaking research surrounding psychedelics. 

LSD began as a groundbreaking pharmaceutical developed by the Swiss company Sandoz in the 1940s, initially heralded for its potential in mental health treatment. However, its promise was quickly overshadowed by widespread abuse and government experiments in mind control, leading to prohibition and a lasting stigma. But is LSD’s current legal status still justified, or should it be reconsidered in light of new research? 

What actually happens in the brain—specifically in the neocortex—when one takes LSD? Is it a dangerous substance or a powerful neuro-enhancer? Could it be a valuable tool for treating mental illness and trauma? 

Author Norman Ohler explores these questions in his latest book, Tripped, which contextualizes the complex history of LSD. His personal perspective—his mother microdoses LSD to manage her Alzheimer’s—intersects with the extensive research of leading scientist Charles Grob, whose clinical studies examine the therapeutic potential of psychedelics in treating anxiety and other conditions. Together, their insights challenge long-standing misconceptions and open up a fascinating discussion on the past, present, and future of LSD. 

Ohler’s Tripped is currently being adapted into the documentary TV series LSD for Mom. 

This event is presented in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut Los Angeles. 

Please RVSP here.

Participants

Norman Ohler is a Berlin-based novelist and filmmaker known for his research-driven storytelling. His 2017 nonfiction book Blitzed – Drugs in Nazi Germany became a New York Times bestseller and has been translated into 32 languages. One of his latest books, Tripped (2024), explores the history of LSD and serves as the basis for the upcoming documentary series LSD for Mom. Ohler’s work uncovers hidden histories, blending investigative research with compelling narratives. His most recent release, Der Zauberberg (2024), published by Diogenes, is inspired by Thomas Mann’s classic novel and explores profound questions about life, society, and the nature of human existence. 

Charles S. Grob, M.D. is a Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at UCLA School of Medicine and a leading researcher in psychedelic studies. Since the early 1990s, he has conducted clinical research on psychedelics, including the first modern study on psilocybin for advanced-cancer anxiety. His work also explores the effects of MDMA and ayahuasca. Over the last 30 years, he has published extensively on psychedelics and co-edited multiple books on the subject. Dr. Grob is a founding board member of the Heffter Research Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing research on classic psychedelics for mental health treatment. 

Kate Wolf is a writer and editor based in Los Angeles. She is a founding editor of The Los Angeles Review of Books, where she currently serves as editor-at-large and co-hosts and produces its weekly podcast, The LARB Radio Hour. Her writing has appeared in exhibition catalogues, anthologies, and a range of publications, including Bidoun, Bookforum, Art in America, The Nation, n+1, East of Borneo, and Frieze. From 2011 to 2016, she created and edited Night Papers, an artists’ newspaper in collaboration with Night Gallery. Her work has also been featured on KCRW and McSweeney’s program, The Organist. 

Presented in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut Los Angeles.