Praise for The Bigger Picture
"The Bigger Picture is an entertaining, insightful, and timely book. Beiner draws on the latest psychedelic science to explain how what we’re learning about these molecules can help us make sense of our social and political challenges in new ways, and he ties together research from a variety of different fields to present a compelling and nuanced argument as to why psychedelic science could change the world for the better." - Professor Robin Carhart-Harris
"If Pollan’s How to Change Your Mind was a guide for the curious, The Bigger Picture is a guide for the newly initiated... a balanced and insightful passage through the current psychedelic zeitgeist, a multi-perspectival journey that is critical, compassionate, and mind-expanding in equal measure." - Erik Davis
"The Bigger Picture adds substantial new information to our understanding of psychedelics and their potentially momentous significance to the world today. I highly recommend this carefully and convincingly argued, deeply thought-provoking and beautifully written book." - Graham Hancock
"Beiner is a wise and entertaining guide through the jungle of contemporary psychedelics, bringing much-needed critical thinking to the field." - Jules Evans
Alexander Beiner
I'm an author, journalist and facilitator focused on bringing new ways of seeing and being from the margins of culture into the mainstream. I do this through writing, and by creating transformative experiences that invite us to find ways to evolve and thrive in the chaotic times we live in. I'm the author of 'The Bigger Picture: How psychedelics can help us make sense of the world' and write a popular Substack, also called The Bigger Picture.
I'm an executive director of Breaking Convention, Europe's longest-running conference on psychedelic medicine and culture, and also co-created and co-facilitate a legal psilocybin retreat called Regenerative Stewardship. I was also one of the founders of Rebel Wisdom, a popular alternative media platform that ran from 2017-2022 and explored the cutting-edge of systems change and cultural sensemaking. Scroll down to learn more about my work, read my writing and see what events I have coming up.
Courses, Retreats and Events
As a group facilitator, I've designed and facilitated experiences for thousands of people around the world, both in person and online. I lead and develop leading-edge retreats, online courses and live experiences which have been covered by GQ, the Guardian and the BBC. In partnership with Natasja Pelgrom of Awaken the Medicine Within, I co-created and co-facilitate Regenerative Stewardship, a psilocybin retreat focused on leadership and self-development. I'm also one of the co-executive directors of Breaking Convention, Europe's largest conference on psychedelic science and culture. You can read about my latest online course, New Ways of Knowing, on my courses page.
In all of my facilitation and events work, I'm interested in discovering new kinds of inner development practices, bringing wisdom traditions together with cognitive science and psychology to create powerful experiences that transform. Not just our inner lives, but the connections between us and how we make sense of the world.
You can find regular articles, interviews, features and podcasts on my Substack. Sign up for free using this form.