What follows is a selection of articles I’ve written over the years, sort of a mix tape of my favorite stories organized chronologically. If you’re instead looking for the complete back catalogue, please click here.
The Psychedelic Renaissance
Playboy, March 18, 2010
This story is technically about the rebirth of psychedelic medicine— specifically the use of drugs like LSD and psilocybin (the “magic” in magic mushrooms) to treat intractable conditions like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and end-of-life anxiety in terminal cancer patients—but it’s mostly the tale of a very brave woman named Mara Howell and her quest to find God in the final days of her life.
Sympathy For the Devil
The LA Weekly, June 28, 2005.
When I started reporting this piece I believed the hype about steroids. Then I discovered I was wrong. Really, truly, astoundingly wrong.
The Heidi Chronicles
The LA Weekly, June 5, 2006
A lot of my friends think this is the funniest article I’ve ever written. I don’t know if that’s the case, but it’s definitely one of the strangest. It was supposed to be about ex-Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss’ attempt to open the world’s first all-male brothel in Las Vegas. It was supposed to be a lot of things. Let’s just say the reporting went sideways from the start, though sideways turned out to be the perfect way to tell this tale.
Wave Rider
New York Times Magazine, June 1, 2006
This was an essay adapted from my book West of Jesus.
Extreme States
Discover, June 24, 2005
We now know that mystical experiences are the product of standard biology. In fact, human beings seem designed to have such experiences. But why we’re designed that way—now that’s a different question.
Vision Quest
Wired, September 1, 2002
I had spent a year looking into artificial vision research. Some progress was being made, but scientists were still a very long way from restoring sight to the blind. Then I heard a rumor about a guy named William Dobelle, an outcast maverick inventor who claimed to have implanted a real life bionic eye into a real live human being.
You Are What You Drive
Details, December 1, 2002
My very peculiar deep dive into Los Angeles car culture.
My Life In A Suit
Details, September 1, 2002
Do the clothes really make the man is not the kind of question I ever thought I’d try to answer. Also turned out that answer was a lot more surprising than I’d ever expected.
The Genius Who Sticks Around Forever
The New York Times Magazine, June 11, 2000
There isn’t really a word for the vertigo associated with encountering truly futuristic technology—but there should be. Welcome to the world of downloadable consciousness.
The Surfing Rabbi
GQ, June 1, 2000
I was asked to write a travel story about surfing in Malibu, but then everything got a little metaphysical....
The President’s Nemesis
GQ, September 1, 1998
There is a very pervasive idea among liberals that the Christian right is a movement comprised of narrow-minded idiots. I used to believe that as well. Writing this story is what changed my mind.