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He is so nice of a professor, but what makes him different is his clarification in lecturing on some rather interesting subjects.

His lectures are interesting and sometimes off topic and he is very approachable.

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Hands down the best professor I've had in the past two years of college. Funny, very dedicated, and is one of those teachers that shows up during midterms and finals just to reassure people with his presence.

He's my favorite professor, he's very kind and clear, if there's a question he doesn't know the answer of. He'll look it up and tell the students the next time. His lectures are always interesting. He brings cool stuffs such as puffer fish to class.

This class was very interesting and I think he's a good professor. But they need to change the location of the lectures!! I recommend taking his class because you learn a lot of interesting facts that is useful in life.

Class is very interesting. He's quite a hippy so conservatives should be forewarned. The class is easy as long as you get blacklightening and do your assignments.

The best prof and class I've ever taken by far! The only professor that's kept me awake for lectures. You HAVE to take this class..even if you're not MCB major (mcb61 for non-majors)

this guy's great. very interesting lectures. only thing is the class is so damn easy you will probably miss half of them. (thanks black lightning).

The class I took is now offered under the name L&S 19. It was easy as all hell. Makes me wish I'd have chosen MCB 165 as my elective.

Best professor I've had!

Although a bit hard, I loved the class. It was very informative and the teacher makes everything really interesting. He shows videos,and brings visuals. Highly recommend taking this class.

He is one of those teachers that really does care about the students.

He is as clear as you can get. Black Lightening notes are highly recommended because he tests straight from what he says in lecture. Not much reading - just look at pics in text. DNA book is short. Tests = easy! He makes the class fun!

One of the most overrated professors at Berkeley, but he's certainly not bad. MCB 61 is a good class if you don't know anything, and are interested in drugs.

great

HE IS SO CUTE!! he is so enthusiastic and he loves what the subject. GREAT CLASS! p.s. we love his multi colored sweaters.

hes awesome.. nice class is enjoyable

A highly overrated teacher - he presents information without mentioning his biases; for instance, he suggests cognitiveliberty.org during a lecture mid-semester as a source for information. If one checks, he is on the board of directors for the org.

Enjoyable... Not the best, but certainly good!

Awesome professor!

Very straightforward. Interesting class. You learn a lot of cool stuff.

interesting material, well organized lectures

Awesome professor!! Has an untraditional way of teaching that keeps you interested. Very helpful, patient, knowledgeable. Not your typical canned professor. Professors don't just get overrated, he's good so no wonder students like him.

Presti is very interested in the material he is teaching and as a result makes the class very exciting. Everything is extremely clear and he takes the time to answer questions, even if they are silly (such as urban legends ones).

Awsome, awsome professor. Brilliant at relating science to humanity.

Hillarious. Comes to class in tie-dyed dress shirt and berkenstocks - really great at explaining things too

Great professor, interesting class. Relates material from class to stuff in real life. you should definitely take this class.

he's a very cool professor, definitely get BLLN for this class, don't even need to go, and just get the easy A. DO NOT BUY TEXTBOOK-u won't need it. material's interesting, easyeasy

presti is brilliant! lectures are very interesting, he relates material to real life stuff. funny, smart, patient, COOL!easy and very fair tests, fun assignments. order blln notes - exams primarily based on stuff said in lecture. definitely take his class even if you don't have to -great experience!

I love Dr. Presti...it is only a matter of time before we are married. But seriously though, he is the most adorable, fun teacher I've ever had. He really makes the material interesting.

Really good professor!! Plays songs before each lecture that link to the lecture theme! Midterms/Final all based on lecture, so if you read/study Black lightning you will get an A for sure! talks a lot on drugs and the senses, really interesting material, funny guy, quirky, but great lecturer!

I JUST LOVE DR. PRESTI..the best professor i've ever had here at Cal..easy class, mdtrms are based on his lectures..definitely but BLLN..he's an AWESOME lecturer...he totally rocks!

ditto to everything everyone said above. however, i suggest you dont get BLLN and just go to class, stay awake, and study the lecture notes because BLLN is too specific and retaining all the information right before tests is nearly impossible. good lecture notes should be better to study off of.

Very good professor that tries to make lecture interesting. Allows black lightning. Tests are pure memorization though, which is a pain. Homework is real easy and you do not really need to read the book. Cool guy.

Love this guy. One of the best professors around. Absolutely engaging, knowledgeable, interesting, funny, down to earth. Keep on doing what you do Dave.

I thought this class was going to be easier.And I seriously thought I was going to be blown away by lecture, and well, I wasn't.Maybe it's because it was at 9:30 in the morning, but I did get pretty bored in lecture. And the midterms were a lot of memorization on some weird details at times.hwk easy

Dr. Presti is awesome! He is funny, interesting, and knows the subject. I just took notes in lecture (didn't do reading or use BLLN) and got A's on the midterms and breezed through the final with a few hours of studying. If you're interested in the subject, the class will be very easy. I highly recommend this professor.

definitely overrated, but still not bad. homework very easy. i think he's increased the difficulty of his tests over the years -- look out for details, and don't rely on BLLN because there's way too much there to try to absorb before a test. he's very liberal and knows his hard core drugs. behind the nice guy facade is considerable arrogance.

loved this class. his lectures are really clear and exams were fair. he clearly states what you should know for the exam. funny guy.

everything good about him has already been said. and it's all true. But just to add, I think he's probably a big stoner. It's awesome

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Greatest professor I have ever had, his lectures are clear and awesome. You can tell how much he loves what he is teaching. His midterms are challenging but fair, if you pay attention in lecture, they should be no problem. Take this and MCB 62(psych 119) no matter what your major is. LOVE THIS MAN!

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GREAT PROFESSOR! he's really one of the smartest people I know, and yet when he lectures he makes the material so easy to understand. Really interesting and quirky, a lot of fun to listen to! one term paper, 2 midterms and a final, but it's all based on lecture notes (get black lightning and study those, you'll be set!)

Awesome.

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His Class KICKED ASS!!! One cool dude.

overrated. pretty nice guy, but rather arrogant. tests require tedious memorization.

really fair test, interesting lecturer too...

These were the bombest classes I have ever taken!!!!!!!!

Loved it! very interesting material about drugs... fun lectures... semi-easy tests

definitely overrated. his class is pretty cool..makes science fun for those who aren't so into it. but go to his office hours and you'll find out he's not as nice as you'd expect...pretty arrogant guy.

Dr. Presti is an amazing person, makes studying drugs interesting. He knows a TON of information, totally loves talking how drugs that are illegal shouldn't be, but it's all a political plot for money. Exams are easy, all based on lecture, textbooks are weird, a few questions from them, otherwise this class is easy and fun!

Good lecturer with interesting material. His exams are actually deceivingly difficult, so watch out. Buy the Black Lightning notes, they will save you.

Really interesting teacher.

this professor is totally over-rated.. the material isn't difficult, and the exams are a bit nit-picky.. you still have to study for the class. the prof never returned e-mails and wasn't the cool guy i expected.. quite full of himself

Good professor, good class. what more is there to say?

Funny and interesting teacher. Very clear, INTERESTING TEXTBOOKS!!! I actually read them cover to cover! Such an interesting class- I loved it! It's pretty easy if you keep up with notes and study for tests.

Presti is the best teacher I have had at Berkeley, period. Solid, organized, clear, and responsive lecturer, good sense of wit and humility, no ego problems, up-to-date on recent chemical & political issues, admits when he doesn't know something, etc. Highly recommend taking MCB62 purely for your own enjoyment; I did. Very informative too.

really interesting and engaging lectures. awesome guy. if you understand and remember what happens in lecture, you'll do awesome on the midterms. the homework assignments and debates are pretty cool and easy.

Much more difficult than I thought it would be. TONS of memorization. Going over lecture notes after every week would be helpful, instead of trying to cram an overwhelming amount of info at once before tests because I tried, and it didn't work out so well. Seems like a nice enough guy, but yes, mcb 61 at least is pretty overrated.

Everyone said it would be an easy and interesting class but it was a lot of hard work. It was a big regret taking this class. MCB 62 seems to have good reviews for Presti but for MCB 61, it was just too much memorization. If you're an MCB major, this would be fine. If not, I would not suggest this class for fun.

Very eloquent and knowledgeable. I never went to class, but from reading the transcribed BlackLightning notes, I could tell he was an organized and articulate speaker. His exams are straightforward and not difficult if you simply read the material.

The class is amusing and full of anecdotes, which is fun to listen to but when it comes to studying time you're sometimes left wondering what you're supposed to know. For most part, he's very clear on what you're expected to do, which helps a lot. There is a fair amount of memorization (like any other mcb class) but exams are straightfoward

Never went to class but blacklightening shows that he's a very very good lecturer. Tests are really easy if you STUDY HARD for it. A lot of things to memorize but fairly easy class. I heard MCB62 is more interesting than 61, might want to consider taking that.

THis class is totally overrated. Really easy? Ha! It was ok. You have to really study the class to get a good grade. The Prof. was interesting though.

He loves what he teaches, which carries over to his students. I am not at all a science person, but I really like this class. Definitely take it, and you will learn a lot of interesting stuff.

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Didn't even take his class, but my gf said it was so interesting that I ended up auditing all year just to hear him lecture. He's extremely knowledgable, well traveled and loves his subject. Hilarious to see the pics in lectures of him standing next to pot fields in India, totally not the kind of thing you'd expect from him but he knows his stuff.

Loved his class. Test questions are a bit detailed but fair since he tells you beforehand that there isn't anything on the test that he didn't specifically mention in class.

OVERRATED. Class material was interesting, but Presti managed to make it seem dry and boring a lot of the time. Not a terrible class, but also not as great as people say it is.

Presti is amazing and I am still not surprised that he has his own cult. The man may not be above monotone, but his passion, humor, and intelligence makes up for that and more. The class could have been much less in the hands of someone else, but his personal experiences and insight made it much more. Definitly take a Presti course.

I had actually expected something much easier (like Muller's Physics for Future Presidents), and was surprised at how much harder the tests were. Still, there's some great information still use. Black Lightning Notes are a must, even if you go to lecture, as he uses them to make the exam. Still a good way to get your breadth out of the way.

Presti was truly dedicated to the students and the course material, and his respect for both showed. His tests required memorization of many details though, so some students weren't too happy about that. Overall, Drugs & Behavior was one of the more useful classes I have taken.

Presti is a cool guy. Drugs and the Brain is all about memorizing facts. If you like to memorize facts then this class will be very easy. Class was not as interesting as I thought it would be. Research project is fun and easy.

Professor Presti is an amazingly charismatic professor. Listening to his lectures is so interesting. Yes, Drugs & the Brain is exclusively memorization, but its perfectly doable. The research paper is easy. He is so passionate about his teaching; he makes every drug seem interesting.

It might be an easy A for be for MCB majors that like to memorize in the spare time. The projects are ridiculous and the exams require you to know the lectures in and out...Black lightning are KEY! The professor is the sweetest man in the world but it still does not mean you will get an A in his class. Material is pretty interesting.

Wow, Presti is a very great lecturer and some days, he has godly abilities to make it fun and exciting. Just listening to him about pokemon and communism is great. However, his tests are very hard to get an A as you need to know every single little detail! Concepts in the class are easy but prepare to be very detail oriented. Knowing EVERYTHING isk

This is an upper division MCB class. Yet, many of the questions test material so far from biology that you dont think it is important and therefore dont bother learning it. For example: knowning the direct translation of Hallucinogen in latin. He is ok in terms of a lecturer. But if you dont like memorizing stupid facts, like me, dont take it.

If you reread your notes from lecture, you should be able to get at least an A-. Also, take note of ALL the drugs he talks about, and don't fall into the trap of thinking it's an easy A since 50% of your grade is the 2 midterms and 39% is the final. But definitely take Presti's class! He even plays good music at the beginning of lecture.

This was the best class I've taken so far. If you're a person who loves how drugs alter the brain at the molecular level, then I strongly suggest you to take this course. It's a great class for those interested in psychiatry. plus, you learn that magical mushrooms grow in berkeley.

Apparently everybody loves this guy, but I don't see what the hype is about. He's not even a real prof- he's a lecturer, meaning that he's a cool teacher but doesn't actually do reasearch

the love of my life! the class was fascinating, fun and super easy to understand - it made me change my major. not to mention we got to handle a real brain!

loved the interdisciplinary approach, esp. b/c I was/am not a science major. learned about everyday drugs, including caffeine. TAKE HIS CLASS.

Presti is awesome! Very engaging professor and a great and approachable guy overall. Very interesting subject material, and tests are fair despite what some ppl have said - you just need to study. i did not study much and still got an A.

The class was too hyped up by a lot of people. Professor wasn't a very interesting speaker, but the course material was fun. Drugs and the Brain.

I have taken two classes with professor Presti, both of which were fascinating. He is crystal clear and the lectures are organized well. Perhaps I say that because I am very interested in the topics he teaches. Either way, if you study, there is no way you should get a C or D on one of his exams, they just are not that difficult.

Presti is definitely my favorite professor here. He has such extended knowledge about SO MANY THINGS, and he is the best lecturer I've had yet at Berkeley. He's interesting, and his tests are easy if you study for them. Basically everything that's in the test he talks about in lecture, unless he specifies otherwise.

He is an INCREDIBLE professor. Take his classes, but don't expect to get a good grade, I'm a straight A student, and received a C in his class-not due to a lack of effort or interest either. You have to memorize EVERYTHING. He really is the best prof though, and everyone should have the privilege of learning from him! Take it P/NP.

he's the best, no doubt

The man is a genius and the best lecturer that I have ever heard!!! Highly, highly recommend.

Presti is amazing! He loves what he teaches, is incredibly knowledgeable, and makes you love it too. Don't fret over what people say about his tests - just make sure to get the black lightening notes. They really are key to getting an A in the class - and if you study them well, you'll probably get one.

Presti is AMAZING! He cares about his students and listens to what they have to say. He offers new perspectives on music, psychology, and philosophy and leaves his students with something interesting to think about as they leave class. REMEMBER: Class is discussion based,so the more you put into the class, the more you will get of it.

Love this guy!! The class was so interesting. He made every lecture worth while. Tests are very detailed oriented. TAKE DRUGS AND THE BRAIN!

I don't understand how people keep saying MCB 61 has ridiculously detailed tests. The averages for our two midterms were both 81%... so obviously this class is extremely easy compared to others. If you simply buy black lightning notes, you don't have to go to lecture or read the book. He's a good lecturer and is very interesting.

Tests ARE very detailed. The reason why the average is high (81%) is because everyone is studying crazy over the details. The class is similar to Bio1B in that respect.

Presti is uber informative and pretty funny if he's comfortable with the response from his students. The side notes and insights into his other research is the icing on the cake. The good kind of cake ;)

He's a great lecturer... he makes the topics very interesting. However, I feel that his tests are too difficult. He expects you to remember a LOT of information, and I could never fully keep up on it. His tests are multiple choice and fill-in the blank, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's easy...unless you're good at memorizing stuff.

Stay on top of things if you're going to take this class... not an easy A... or B.

Presti is amazing!! The class is easy as long as you keep up with the readings (pretty short & interesting), and go to lecture. The class is really interesting, and Presti made the class fun, and I learned a lot from it. Highly recommend it! I could tell everyone in the class loved him and enjoyed lectures & the material!

By FAR the best teacher I have had. He is SO funny and really enjoys teaching. And he knows the material forwards and backwards. At review sessions, he can answer ANY question, no matter the obscurity. And the information in the class is so interesting. TAKE THIS CLASS (or anything else with him as a teacher).

I wish Professor Presti was my uncle and could come to holiday dinners at my house. Seriously. This guy is amazing. He is so lighthearted, funny, and really knowledgeable about the brain. He has an extremely impressive background and experience in the history and science of drugs, as well. BRILLIANT! YOU MUST TAKE HIM BEFORE YOU LEAVE CAL!!!

I had no expectations going into this class but it ended up being one of my favorite classes at Cal! Presti was very interesting and helpful, and the exams were straight forward and not that difficult, but you should study the reader and your notes (there was no textbook). *Note: this is the upper div of the drugs and the brain class.

Dr. Presti is a real-life genius, & SO sweet, charming, & fatherly. I'm an English major & got A's in MCB61 and 62, so don't be put off by its listing as an "MCB" course! Both classes were LIFE-CHANGING: informative, thought-provoking, poetic...there's no way to express their value in 350 words. DON'T LEAVE CAL W/O A PRESTI CLASS!

Presti is such a sweet, funny guy! Definitely NOT an easy A. 85%+ of your grade is based on exams and they are pretty detailed. It's a lot of memorization, and some of the questions are tricky. The final was harder than what I had expected. The GSIs write the tests, so not his fault. Buy the ASUC notes and not the book. Lectures aren't mandatory!

Great professor, very smart, very funny. I learned so much from him. Definitely take any class with him - you won't regret it.

He is truly an inspiring teacher. I've enjoyed listening to him because he not only lectures, but also tells stories. His tests are pretty detailed, so you need to know cold hard facts, but it's easy to tell which of the detailed questions he'll be testing you on because he'll reiterate them throughout lectures. Take mcb61 with him!

took mcb 61 and 62. loved him. great teacher, passionate about his field. tests are def detailed so get the lecture notes. really, memorize everything. it's doable tho. easy hw assignments. lecture helps but if you miss it, just get someone elses notes. take one of his classes! drugs and the brain if it's not required for your major!

This class was the easiest upper division MCB class I ever took at Cal. The class is average difficulty compared to Psych classes. You should take detailed notes during lecture.

This class was one of the easiest classes I've taken at UC Berkeley, but I can see how it might have been more difficult for someone who wasn't familiar with the sciences. I didn't study for the midterm and barely studied for the final and was able to pull off an A. The professor is very approachable the material was very interesting.

Despite all the negative comments, you can tell Prof. Presti really does his best to try and make this class enjoyable for everyone. He's a very sweet man and you'll enjoy the material. Lot's of memorization, but nothing impossible. Buy the lecture notes, go to class, study and you'll be fine :)

Decent professor, lecturing reminds me of a very nice, knowledgeable uncle. Can get boring and off topic at times though. Exams were detailed MC questions and short answers (no sample tests surfing around), but easy if you take good notes in class and study them (not ASUC notes, because they often contain errors)

Presti is an excellent professor. He is funny, helpful, and passionate about what he's teaching, which makes it all the more enjoyable to learn. Midterms were relatively easy if you reviewed the notes and key concepts. Would definitely recommend taking any one of his classes just for the experience of having him as a professor.

presti is a baller. hes awesome, drugs and the brain is an amazing class. exams/hw are super easy, term paper is actually fun to do, and he genuinely loves to teach about the subject. his crazy outfits are also a plus. textbooks are basically useless for the class though, although interesting to read. hes a great guy though

Presti is incredible. Drugs & the Brain gives you whatever you put in. If you just want an easy MCB class or simply think it'll be super chill to study drugs, you might not be satisfied. But it's a very honest, comprehensive class and Presti is an accessible, brilliant guy. Read the textbooks; you don't need them for an A, but they are excellent.

Very interesting class, very interesting professor. You're guaranteed to leave everyday with at least one fun fact you can share with your friends. Presti is an adorable science professor who wears awesome shirts and has a lot of passion for this subject. Extremely easy to do well if you're good at memorization. But don't buy the textbooks!

I agree with what everyone else said. He's amazing. Take his class.

What else can be said about Presti? He is the man, one of the best profs Ive ever had! Very engaging and full of fascinating facts and history...as well as some neurochemistry. Highly recommended!!!

I LOVE PRESTI!

I sat on the 15th row, and I heard Dr. Presti perfectly well. His lectures are extremely engaging; the material covers the essentials of molecular & cell biology, and it's easily applicable to phenomena we commonly observe (such as the physical reactions of a person getting angry, or a person becoming stoned). He's very approachable! Loves his job.

Some people love him, some people think this class is a useless snooze. It's an easy class, but not necessarily an easy grade (minimal hw, maximal cramming). He's an adorable man but I thought this class was a waste of time. You do learn some fun facts, but I could sum them up in about 15 minutes.

This man is my hero. He is an extremely interesting lecturer with an exciting life with relevant stories to tell, incorporates current events, chose a really interesting book though you only need to read it for fun (anything he tests over he goes over in class). Take it as upper div not lower, the only difference is the length of an easy paper

I learned a lot about drugs in Presti's "Drugs & the Brain," not so much about the brain. Very interesting textbook often went more in-depth than his lectures, which were paced very slowly. Easy homework and tests. I put a lot of effort into my term paper and was disappointed in not receiving any sort of comments, just a grade.

Presti really loves his job and makes you want to be passionate about the subject. He'll freak you out about "not curving" but at the end of the class he drops the grade cutoffs by about 2-3% so don't worry too much. The midterms and final are VERY straightforward but require you to study everything mentioned in class and the entire reader for an A

Honestly, Presti and the Gsi's class for this class are great. If you give them a chance and put in a lot of effort, you will pass with no problem. A lot of my friends received an easy A. I Missed several classes, didn't keep up with my readings, and still managed to pass with a B. Homeworks/Tests aren't difficult. Lectures were interesting :-)

TAKE DRUGS AND THE BRAIN!!!!! Presti is by far my favorite teacher here. He is engaging, passionate, and curious. He loves questions and will engage in a genuine discussion with students. He is incredible knowledgeable in the subjects. Go to lecture, they are a little long but always interesting. He is honestly one of my favorite people & teachees

Best professor ever. Take Drugs and the Brain, awesome lecture!

Presti is a sweetheart. You can tell he's very passionate about the topic and if you're unclear about something just ask one of the GSI's or go to his office hours. He cares about his students. Pay attention to instructions though. He's big on that. It's not too heavy on specifics, just know general statisticsconcepts. I would take it again.

AMAZING! Down-to-Earth, engaging (but speaks softly; can potentially lull you to sleep), very enlightening. Expertly weaves concepts into understanding through funmisc. knowledge, relevant personal research, & valid science. Genuinely cares for students. WARNING: TAKE YOUR OWN NOTES (PPT's are only oral guides; not explicit; chemistry-heavy!

Dr. Presti is delightful! He really wants you to learn and engage with the material (which is super interesting anyway). This class is more about drugs than the brain. 3 noncumulative tests are challenging but not too hard!

Presti is a great professor with a very engaging teaching style that makes his lectures fun and worth attending. You can tell he chooses to lecture because he loves teaching and not because he has to - a refreshing difference from some research-oriented professors who only teach because they are required to do so.

Presti is amazing. He is so sweet and caring and funny, and I'm so glad I took his class. The material was interesting, the reader he wrote was concise and clear, and his lectures were entertaining. Plus, he was very kind and helpful if you talked with him after class. Great experience!

Presti teaches the material clearly & with enthusiasm, but he covers a LOT so you must memorize all of it. Because of this, your grade really depends on how much you study. If you study efficiently & confidently know the key concepts he gives in his outlines, you'll do fine. There's several homework & discussions, but they're creative & not hard.

Really interesting professor - even though it's a science class, he manages to work in poetry and spirituality. Readings are totally not mandatory to the class, but the textbook is fascinatingly bizarre and worth a look. Would highly recommend this course, especially to fill a breadth.

The tests were 2/3rds multiple choice and 1/3rd fill in the blank. There was minimal homework in the class (6-7 assignments). However, the tests were pretty specific and it was too much memorizing for me. The lecture got a bit dry and boring at times.

Although there was a ton of memorization, his class was fascinating and opened my eyes to the depth of the brain and the power science holds. Switched my major to cognitive science because of Presti and thoroughly enjoyed the textbook, which he wrote. HIGHLY recommend his class, you will learn a LOT! He gave most of his students As and Bs!

I loved his MCB C61 class. My friends who did not have a good science background struggled- it requires basic knowledge of chemistry, biology, and psychology. I found the class to be an easy A compared to any other science class I've taken at Cal. Most of the class get As and Bs as final grades. The homeworks take 15-30 minutes max.

His lectures were always so informative and he really has a passion about the subject. Always played interesting songs before lecture then posted them for us to find. A genuinely passionate and caring man. Would share fun facts and news with the class not necessarily for the course but for education as a student.

David is one of my favorite professors here at Cal. He made the class really enjoyable and I had fun with the assignments we were given. It's not hard to get good grades as the exams are based on the key concepts, which are given. Would take again without question.

Mastery of his field demonstrated by carefully prepared lectures with natural delivery from memory with visuals that supplement, not transcribe, his lecture. Few errors, all corrected quickly. Contextualizes knowledge presented well. Will make you love the brain for its own complex beauty. Great office hours discussions. Fave professor at Berkeley.

2nd class with him. He knows his stuff incredibly well AND knows how to teach it well. Draws on different media and personal stories to contextualize the info presented. Changed my perspective on both plants and drugs, even the seemingly innocuous ones like caffeine. Multidisciplinary approach to the subject keeps it captivating all the way through

The subject matter is super interesting and there is no final. The three midterms are pretty hard, but fair. If you don't study for those, then your grade will suffer. Can tell that he really cares about teaching and is passionate about the class.

Prof. David E. Presti's enthusiasm shines during lecture. His textbook is incredibly clear and can be fun to read! The exams are difficult and do go into great detail, so pay attention during his references to 2001: A Space Odyssey. Homework is doable. If you have an interest in psychology, biology, and/or drugs, you'll like the class content!

This is an old review but to this day I still think of David Presti and his class. If I could I would take this class again with all the up to date knowledge he probably has. Such a kind man who was happy to teach anyone and everyone. We even had lots of attendees audit the class as well.

DO NOT take this class if you are bad at MC tests!! Some funny/interesting lectures and homework, but had to p/np because the tests are soooo detailed. Everyone I knew in the class p/np it, but others did well because they are good at MC.

Really hard class, if you plan to major in Psych and have no experience in bio or chemistry do not take this class.

Professor Presti's class was extremely interesting but you definitely have to read the textbook and pay attention in class to make sure you get all of the information. His tests are extremely specific and detailed so prepare well!

Presti is the BEST! Possibly my favorite teacher at Berkeley. His class on drugs and the brain incorporates the science of drugs (physiology, chemistry, biology, etc) but also the cultural side, and the folklore. I loved it for this reason. One essay assignment is to write from a plant's perspective; he is definitely creative.

Absolute gem of a man. Go to his Office Hours(ik this is common advice for all profs but the discussions that happen there can literally change your worldview). Inspiring, caring and very knowledgable. Loved the class though it wasn't what I expected(less science than i thought but still amazing). You do have to put in work though. Take it.

90% of what you need to know is on the textbook. Lectures are unstructured but somewhat engaging.

Presti was my fav prof last semester and one of the best at Cal. Class was not hard and extremely interesting material.

I took the online version of this class, so my opinions on level of difficulty are a little different (I've heard that it's pretty intense on memorization for the semester long course). David presti is amazing, and that's speaking from having taken online. His book is legitimately so well done, and the material is so interesting. Take online!!!!!!

David Presti is a super nice and caring teacher. This class is mostly memorization based and I had trouble learning the chemistry content at first but eventually it made sense. The lectures aren't posted online so you pretty much have to go if you want to learn the information. This class is great for non-science people like myself.

Both a great professor and a great human being in general. I'd recommend Drugs and The Brain no matter what you're majoring in, though it obviously attracts chem and bio students a lot. This class also doesn't have a final exam, essentially meaning that everything is finished before dead week starts.

Presti is great! He's so passionate it's inspiring. I've had him twice now. I actually like the format of his classes with the 3 midterms (no final). Exams were pretty short and the questions were reasonable. Textbook is helpful but you don't have to read it to ace the exam (for MCB61). For MCB62, you don't need the "textbook".

read the textbook and notes from lectures along with the key concepts(both textbook and lecture) he provides then you would nail the exams. make sure you rly understand every concept bc some questions might be tricky. as for hw, don't spend too much time on them cuz they aren't rly helpful and don't matter that much.

This class is a lot of work. It's hard to succeed if you don't go to all the lectures and do all the reading. That being said, Presti and his GSIs are so caring, and the class itself is crazy interesting. He presents complex info in a really accessible way, and is always happy to give extra support. Presti - and this class - is a gosh darn gem.

I loved Drugs and the Brain with Prof. Presti. His lectures were always entertaining (even if he droned on about plants at time), you could tell he put a lot of time into prepping the material. I'm not an MCB major by any regard, but I loved the content, especially the sections on more common drugs like coffee and alcohol. Not a huge HW load either

As long as you do the readings and understand what's going on by reviewing the key concepts you will be fine. To me, Presti stands out as an amazing person and teacher. His class was very interesting to me, and he is extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and eager to help his students truly learn.

David Presti is a great professor who genuinely cares about the well-being of his students. That being said, you must be prepared to do tons of reading and memorizing from his textbook! All of his exams have questions that are very specific which make you memorize lots of nitty gritty details. If you put in the time to read, you can do it.

Loved Presti's brain mind & behavior class! The class spanned a wide range of topics, but he connected them all wonderfully. He wrote the txtbk, which is a fascinating read by itself. He is older, so his lectures can become a bit monotone but he truly tries his hardest to engage students with the material. Discussion assignments are fun & easy.

An absolute GEM!!!! I cannot stress enough how wonderful of a professor Presti is. He held my favorite office hours I've ever been to, and explains tough concepts in relatable, fun ways. I cried when the class was over because of how wonderful it was.

One of the best professors at Cal. Extremely caring and compassionate. Was very accommodating with students. He did everything well given the difficulty of remote teaching. Wish I wouldve had the opportunity to take his class in person. Tests were relatively easy but you need to know all the material.

My gosh, I absolutely LOVED this class. Prof. Presti's lectures are funny, entertaining, informational, easy to access, and an absolute joy to sit through. Grading is relatively easy to understand and succeed with, and the course content itself is fascinating and tailored to the real world. I really wish I could've taken this class in person.

An absolute icon, loved the lectures. Presti made online school bearable.

Prof Presti is definitely the best professor I have ever met. He is so nice to students and really care for us. The content is quite inspirational and thought-provoking. I felt a little confused at first, but as things went, I became more and more intrigued by the course. DO TAKE HIS COURSE if possible. It is definitely worth it.

The material covered in Drugs and the Brain really opens your eyes up to historical, societal, cultural, and biological issues. Presti makes lectures extremely interesting, and you leave feeling fulfilled in the knowledge you've gained. Although, I think it was easier for me because the exams were open notes to accommodate the online platform.

Presti is an endlessly entertaining man. He is extremely knowledgeable about his subject matter and has a plethora of field experience. The class seems more structured for enjoyment than rigor. Three non-cumulative midterms and easy homework assignments. His offices hours are very fun.

Reading is not too heavy. You need to remember a lot though, so figure out your study system. Falling behind is not the move.

Prof Presti is one of the best profs I have had at Berkeley. His lectures are so inspiring, not just content wise, but the way he presents the information. He totally gave me a new appreciation for our brain, mind and just the human condition in general. Not too hard to get a good grade if you keep up with lectures & notes, highly recom bio breadth

Prof. Presti is wonderful and knowledgeable. BUT the class is quite difficult, lots of memorization, lots of lectures that could be boring at times, and the tests are not easy. Read the textbook, take notes on lectures, and if you don't have time to do that just go over the key concepts he provides and you should be okay.

Great teacher! I really enjoyed his lectures. Just watch lecture and go through the textbook and fill out the Key Concepts before each test, that was enough to get me through.

I love Dr.Presti and felt the class material was super interesting! The HWs and debates were free grade points if you simply completed them on time w/ effort. This class was easy to get a good grade in considering my final exam grade was a B and 2 midterms grades were Ds as someone who slacked off and missed 11 lectures.

Dr. Presti is incredibly inspiring and intellectual, I highly recommend office hours! The class content is engaging, and the homework/debates are very enjoyable. The exams require memorization and are quite face-paced, so be prepared to study (definitely read the textbook/review key concepts). Overall, a great experience though.

he's literally the sweetest gem of a man. he holds his office hours under a tree outside dwinelle right after lecture and it's genuinely delightful. he's really passionate about what he's teaching; lectures often include pictures of him with the various plants he's talking about. i'm not being hyperbolic, this class makes my day

Probably one of the best classes you'll take at Berkeley; Presti is incredibly friendly, extremely stylish (to me at least) and has great compassion for his GSIs and his students. Lecture material is always interesting and is clearly filled with passion and lots of love for his field of study. Highly recommend his class.

Drugs and the Brain is a great biological science breadth class for those not in STEM. Lectures are super interesting and posted on bcourses. You don't need to read the book. Grading is dependent on GSI but an easy A if you do the work and attend lectures. Homework assignments are writing-based and enjoyable. Exams are asynchronous.

Really interesting subject matter which made it a fun breadth. Presti is very knowledgable and uses his own travels and experience in lectures. The assignments are easy - if you do them you get full credit. Midterm and final require a good deal of studying but they're also open note. TAKE GOOD NOTES. One group debate. Overall, a fun class.

Took for breadth and it became my favorite class of the semester! Although the lectures are very long & information-heavy, the topics were super interesting. Lectures are also recorded so it easier to just watch those so I could rewind/follow the transcript. HW is super easy and grading is chill.

Professor Presti is one of the biggest sweethearts on campus, he seems so invested in his work and that made me happy to go to class every day. In the beginning of the semester, I thought his lectures were a little long (oops I fell asleep a few times), but the information was always super interesting. He reminds me of a cooky old grandpa

Presti is an incredibly inspiring professor. If you're actually interested in the topics he teaches about, you will come to respect what he has done in his field and his passion for his research so much. You'll only think of him as a mediocre teacher if you truly don't care at all about the things he's teaching.

Presti has an ability to inspire like no other teacher, and he cares about teaching enough to actually let students explore what they're interested in, instead of just trying to force his set curriculum onto them. You must take this class if drugs fascinate you! (stay away if you don't care)

Presti is so knowledgeable; lectures are engaging and go by fast. Listening to him talk about his encounters with drugs was very intellectually stimulating and very cute in the "this old guy is talking about a bad acid trip" type of way. Overall, very entertaining and I'm looking forward to taking his PSYCHC61 next spring!

LOVE Presti's class! His lectures are so interesting and he's really kind. He even wrote his own textbook.

The online midterms and final are great. You do have to memorize the entire slides though, so take very detailed notes. I think he's a cool guy in general, and he is clearly passionate ab the subject, but I felt like his lectures aside from drugs and the brain were boring and obvious. I already don't like biopsych, this class didn't help w/ that

YALL SHOULD TAKE THIS CLASS WHENEVER HES TEACHING IT!! He is very chill and funny and he is passionate about the things he teaches. Online midterms and finals were great as well! They are pretty manageable as long as you are familiar with the materials!

Presti's class is fascinating, with engaging lectures and a friendly demeanor. Prepare for memorization, but the material is worth it. unstuckstudy AI is great for study prep.

just an absolute gem

Presti is endearing in a "fun eccentric grandpa" way, kind, and super knowledgeable about subject matter. Take detailed notes during lecture, as tests (3 midterms, no final) require a good understanding of material and a bit of memorisation, and lecture slides are mostly visual aids to content. Homework is easy/creative, but class isn't a free A.

Such a cool and inspirational guy. Amazing lectures and cool anecdotes. However, the class is not an easy breadth that some may think. Lecture attendance isn't mandatory but slides are usually not posted. Class is heavily weighted on 3 midterms (but no final) and they aren't a cake walk. Homework assignments were fun though.

You can really tell Prof. Presti loves the subject he teaches. He teaches with a lot of passion and excitement which makes you enjoy his lectures. Exams were fairly easy with it all being online. The textbook he uses is actually written by him and he even brought a real brain to class once.

He was what made me consider neuroscience when I hadn't even considered that field before. I adored his class and I would love to have him as a professor again.

Presti's lectures are highly interesting; be sure to diligently take notes for the exams. The exams, although fairly easy, do require knowledge of some small details from lecture. The 6 homework assignments are easy and fun. Don't be afraid to ask questions/attend office hours, as Prof Presti is kind and knowledgeable. One of my fave classes here!

I took this during the strike so this class ended up having an easy final and a lot of people passed. His lectures are so interesting and he's a charismatic person. It is a lot of content to memorize though. Overall, this class is very enjoyable if you're able to memorize a lot and find drugs interesting.

He truly cares about the wellbeing of his students, not just academically, but mentally. We often would start class with a couple minutes of meditating, or whenever we talk about substance use disorders (the class I took is Drugs & the Brain) he always reviews methods of quitting that are proven to improve success rates. Fascinating class, loved it

David E Presti is the best lecturer I have ever had. This was the first class I took at Berkeley. Drugs and the Brain was truly a paradigm-shifting class; you will emerge from it knowing much more than just simple chemistry, botany, and pharmacology. HW/assignments are very meaningful and enjoyable to complete. All majors should take this class.

Absolutely loved this course and he is truly an amazing lecturer! Homework assignments were fun to complete with a small project at the end of the semester.

dr presti gives fun hippie grandpa vibes, hes a very intelligent guy and the content was super interesting and unlike anything ive learned before. but go to lectures bc slides are unhelpful and not recorded, midterms require detailed memorization, and lectures were not really structured and felt like presti rambling for an 1hr30mins. not a free A

super nice teacher and super fun and interesting lectures. midterms directly cover what he says they will

The class itself was extremely informative and interesting! Though it's a lot of material to memorize, taking physical notes really helps. There are 3 midterms and no final, and 6 homework assignments that are easy, reflective, and good grade boosts.

LOOK AT THE KEY CONCEPTS!!!! Seriously the only things you need to know are the key concepts and that can get you to an A, grade boundaries were strict (95 for an A) but they round and as long as you submit the homework you get 100 on those. Super interesting class that i think anyone should take, the content changed my POV and is useful to most

Honestly class is super chill! And professor Presti is very passionate about neuroscience so it makes going to class that much more enjoyable. If you look at the key concepts you will do just fine in the exams. Really interesting class will highly recommend!

not a free A but if you study hard for the midterms you'll be fine because this class does require putting in effort, super duper nice professor though very understanding and gave me an extension on taking the final because I got hella sick