Carl Hart Bücher

High Price is the harrowing and inspiring memoir of neuroscientist Carl Hart, a leading researcher in the field of drug addiction, who grew up in one of Miami’s toughest neighborhoods and, determined to make a difference as an adult, tirelessly applies his scientific training to help save real lives. WINNER OF THE PEN/E. O. WILSON LITERARY SCIENCE WRITING AWARD Young Carl didn't see the value of school, studying just enough to keep him on the basketball team. Today, he is a cutting-edge neuroscientist—Columbia University’s first tenured African American professor in the sciences—whose landmark, controversial research is redefining our understanding of addiction. In this provocative and eye-opening memoir, Dr. Carl Hart recalls his journey of self-discovery, how he escaped a life of crime and drugs and avoided becoming one of the crack addicts he now studies. Interweaving past and present, Hart goes beyond the hype as he examines the relationship between drugs and pleasure, choice, and motivation, both in the brain and in society. His findings shed new light on common ideas about race, poverty, and drugs, and explain why current policies are failing.

Dr. Carl L. Hart, a leading expert on the effects of recreational drugs, openly shares his personal experiences with drug use, balancing it with a fulfilling life as a professional and family man. In his work, he draws on extensive research and personal insights to argue that the criminalization and demonization of drug use, rather than the substances themselves, have caused significant harm in America, particularly in perpetuating structural racism. Hart’s perspective evolved from his early research, which aimed to prove that drug use led to negative outcomes. However, he found that the evidence contradicted his initial hypothesis. Working within the well-funded framework of the American war on drugs, he witnessed how facts were manipulated to fuel fear and maintain funding, resulting in the incarceration of marginalized communities. This book challenges prevailing narratives, suggesting that, when used responsibly, drugs can enhance our lives. Hart acknowledges the controversy his views may provoke, emphasizing the need for a broader discussion about drug use beyond the focus on its dangers. This vital conversation is a crucial step toward understanding and reevaluating the role of drugs in society.