This playful testament to and consideration of the high life from the pseudonymous Right finds laughs and inspiration in his experience—as a fortysomething husband and father and productive member of society—with marijuana. “Cannabis has been a positive influence in my life,” he declares, offering comfort and connection that other common ways to meet those needs, like religion, have never yielded him. A smart early passage contrasts more socially accepted ways of unwinding with what he argues weed users get from their herb. Partaking, Right states, “results in funny, crazy, and intense discussions” and “insane connections with anyone around,” while ensuring users get “a great night’s sleep” and wake up “totally refreshed and ready to tackle the day like the king or queen that you are.”

That exemplifies the tone of this loose, high-spirited book. Telling the story of how embracing weed during the pandemic brought him peace he never knew he could have—and possibly saved his marriage—Right makes a case for pot without overpromising or resorting to Freshman Composition canards. Charming occasional sidebars from Right’s wife, here called Alexandra, back up his claims while gently, amusingly offering a second perspective. A thumbnail history of pot and some speculation about the nature of the soul prove less illuminating than his frank, insightful rundown of marijuana’s effects on him personally. Right writes movingly of it helping him feel more open to other people, more aware of individual steps in everyday processes, and more in touch with his own thoughts.

Most powerfully, both husband and wife describe the shutting down of the “elevator music” that plays in their heads, those ambient worries and concerns. A cleverly structured chapter documenting misadventures while high, including an out-of-body experience, is often laugh-out-loud funny, while the more speculative material (Are we living in a simulation? What happens after we die?) is most involving when connected to life and family. Unless, perhaps, the reader is high.

Takeaway: This celebration of life with marijuana is most persuasive on stress relief and human connection.

Great for fans of: Amanda Siebert’s The Little Book of Cannabis, Michelle Lhooq’s Weed.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A