Most Delicious Poison: The Story of Nature's Toxins--From Spices to Vices

Nature is filled with toxic chemicals that are both deadly and surprisingly integral to our daily lives. From caffeine and capsaicin to opioids and psilocybin, these substances, produced by plants, fungi, and microbes, have shaped human evolution, medicine, and culture. The story behind these toxins reveals a co-evolutionary "arms race" between species, as animals and humans evolved ways to cope with or exploit these chemicals. Drawing on cutting-edge science in evolution, chemistry, and neuroscience, this exploration explains how nature’s poisons have influenced everything from human health to the course of history, reshaping how we interact with the world around us.

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