Author, Human History on Drugs: An Utterly Scandalous but Entirely Truthful Look at History Under the Influence
This week on “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Ira dives into the wild, eye-opening world of history and drugs with Sam Kelly, author of the provocative new book, Human History on Drugs: An Utterly Scandalous but Entirely Truthful Look at History Under the Influence.
In this candid and engaging conversation, Sam shares how a childhood fascination with history evolved into a full-blown quest to uncover the untold stories behind some of humanity’s most transformative — and mind-altering — moments. From deep dives into dusty archives to late-night internet rabbit holes, Sam balanced digital sleuthing with old-school research to bring long-buried facts to light. He discusses the earliest and most recent figures he studied, and explores the complex question: Have drugs helped or hindered us through history? (Spoiler: it’s a mixed bag.)
The episode also touches on some riveting highlights — including the secret behind Washington’s famously unsmiling portraits, government drug testing without consent, and the common thread between the Beatles, Steve Jobs, and Pope Leo XIII. Sam argues that drugs are tools — powerful ones — and that education and awareness are essential. He also explains why he chose not to pursue a Ph.D., how writing this book broke him free from academic constraints, and why history, when told right, is anything but boring.
Sam Kelly, a history graduate from Stanford University, is on the autism spectrum and his interest and passion for history has become an almost physical compulsion. He loves to dig up forgotten and weird stories from the past and spends hours uncovering every last stubborn detail. As a deep believer that history can be as exciting as any Marvel movie, Sam aims to— whether on TikTok or through a book—make history both engaging and accessible to all. Human History on Drugs is his first book.