Philosophy of mind Books

Book SynopsisFor many decades, the proponents of `artificial intelligence'' have maintained that computers will soon be able to do everything that a human can do. In his bestselling work of popular science, Sir Roger Penrose takes us on a fascinating tour through the basic principles of physics, cosmology, mathematics, and philosophy to show that human thinking can never be emulated by a machine.Oxford Landmark Science books are ''must-read'' classics of modern science writing which have crystallized big ideas, and shaped the way we think.Trade ReviewAn extraordinary masterpiece. * Adhemar Bultheel, European Mathmatical Society *Perhaps the most engaging and creative tour of modern physics that has ever been written * Sunday Times *A superb book... provocative and absorbing * Physics Today *A bold, brilliant, groundbreaking work... When Mr Penrose talks, scientists listen * New York Time Book Review *. . One cannot imagine a more revealing self-portrait than this enchanting, tantalising book... Roger Penrose reveals himself as an eloquent protagonist, not only of the wonders of mathematics, but also of the uniqueness of people. * Nature *I fail to see how anybody can remain unmoved by the book's central theme, which concerns the nature of human beings... His style is relaxed and entertaining, There are nuggets on almost every page. * Financial Times *Table of ContentsPrologue 1: Can a Computer Have a Mind? 2: Algorithms and Turing Machines 3: Mathematics and Reality 4: Truth, Proof, and Insight 5: The Classical World 6: Quantum Magic and Quantum Mystery 7: Cosmology and the Arrow of Time 8: In Search of Quantum Gravity 9: Real Brains and Model Brains 10: Where Lies the Physics of the Mind? Epilogue References Index

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Book SynopsisBBC R4 Book of the WeekBrilliant' GuardianFascinating and often delightful' The TimesWhat if intelligent life on Earth evolved not once, but twice? The octopus is the closest we will come to meeting an intelligent alien. What can we learn from the encounter?In Other Minds, Peter Godfrey-Smith, a distinguished philosopher of science and a skilled scuba diver, tells a bold new story of how nature became aware of itself a story that largely occurs in the ocean, where animals first appeared.Tracking the mind's fitful development from unruly clumps of seaborne cells to the first evolved nervous systems in ancient relatives of jellyfish, he explores the incredible evolutionary journey of the cephalopods, which began as inconspicuous molluscs who would later abandon their shells to rise above the ocean floor, searching for prey and acquiring the greater intelligence needed to do so a journey completely independent from the route that mammals and birds would later take.But what kind of intelligence do cephalopods possess? How did the octopus, a solitary creature with little social life, become so smart? What is it like to have eight tentacles that are so packed with neurons that they virtually think for themselves'? By tracing the question of inner life back to its roots and comparing human beings with our most remarkable animal relatives, Godfrey-Smith casts crucial new light on the octopus mind and on our own.Trade ReviewPraise for Other Minds: ‘Entrancing and profound’ Financial Times ‘A superb, coruscating book’ Literary Review ‘Startlingly incisive … refreshing guidance’ New York Times ‘The beauty of Godfrey-Smith’s book lies in the clarity of his writing; his empathy, if you will. He takes us through those early stirrings in the seas of deep time, from bacteria that sense light and can taste, to cnidarian jellyfish, the first organisms to exhibit nervous systems, which he describes wonderfully.’ Philip Hoare, Guardian ‘Fascinating and often delightful … This book ingeniously blends philosophy and science to trace the epic journey from single-celled organisms of 3.8 billion years ago to the awakening and development of cephalopod consciousness.’ The Times ‘As poignant as anything you will read this year’ Mail on Sunday ‘In Other Minds, Peter Godfrey-Smith, a philosopher, skilfully combines science, philosophy and his experiences of swimming among these tentacled beasts to illuminate the origin and nature of consciousness.’ The Economist ‘A delight on so many levels’ Dive magazine ‘To investigate these astonishing animals with such empathy and rigour is achievement enough. To do so while casting light on the birth and nature of consciousness, as Peter Godfrey-Smith does here, is captivating.’ China Miéville, author of Kraken ‘I love this book, its masterful blend of natural history, philosophy, and wonder … It’s a captivating story, and Peter Godfrey-Smith brings it alive in vivid, elegant prose … A must-read for anyone interested in the evolution of the mind – ours and the very other, but equally sentient, minds of the cephalopods.’ Jennifer Ackerman, author of The Genius of Birds

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewIn this bite-sized intro to the spiritual teachings of the best-selling author of The Power of Now, Tolle distilled 200 life-changing quotes from A New Earth and created a thought-provoking, inspirational companion to your inner journey. Dip in and find more space in your life for being * Health & Fitness *A collection of bite-sized, inspiring teachings, perfect for pondering over before bed * Psychologies *A take-everywhere collection of passages. Provides wisdom, solace and motivation for anyone on a journey of inner transformation. If you're looking for something inspiring to keep with you and call upon for moments of inner peace and reflection, this book is for you * Soul & Spirit Magazine *A powerful message . . . It it makes me feel warm inside thinking that my life is mapped for me, and any bad experiences are sent my way to teach me a lesson. * New *Praise for Eckhart Tolle and his work: * - *An otherworldly genius * Chris Evans *I keep Eckhart's book at my bedside. I think it's essential spiritual teaching. It's one of the most valuable books I've ever read. * Oprah Winfrey *I would do anything to be anywhere in the vicinity of Eckhart Tolle. * Jim Carrey *A gentle journey, one that could take you to a spectacular and very special place of new awareness and deeper understanding. -- Neale Donald Walsh, Author of * Conversations With God *One of the best books to come along in years. Every sentence rings with truth and power - the power to bring you into the gap, the space between our thoughts, where we find, as Eckhart so beautifully puts it, deep serenity, stillness, and a sacred Presence. -- Deepak Chopra, Author of * The Seven Spiritual Laws od Success *

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Book Synopsis'An extraordinary book . . . It will shake up your most fundamental beliefs about everyday experience, and it just might change your life.' Paul Bloom___For the millions of people who want spirituality without religion, Sam Harris's new book is a guide to meditation as a rational spiritual practice informed by neuroscience and psychology. Throughout the book, Harris argues that there are important truths to be found in the experience of contemplatives such as Jesus, Buddha and other saints and sages of history-and, therefore, that there is more to understanding reality than science and secular culture generally allow.Waking Up is part seeker's memoir and part exploration of the scientific underpinnings of spirituality. No other book marries contemplative wisdom and modern science in this way, and no author other than Sam Harris-a scientist, philosopher, and famous sceptic-could write it. ___'A demanding, illusion-shattering book.' Kirkus Reviews'A pleasure to read.' Huffington PostTrade ReviewSam Harris reminds us that awakening does not depend on religious belief. With his usual probing clarity, Sam points out the rational methodology for exploring the nature of consciousness. -- Joseph Goldstein, author of 'Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening' and 'One Dharma'So entirely of this moment, so keenly in touch with the growing number ... who are willing to say that they do not find the succor they crave, or a truth that makes sense to them, in organized religion. -- Frank Bruni * New York Times *Sam Harris ranks as my favourite sceptic, bar none. In Waking Up he gives us a clear-headed, no-holds-barred look at the spiritual supermarket, calling out what amounts to junk food and showing us where real nutrition can be found. Anyone who realizes the value of a spiritual life will find much to savour here – and those who see no value in it will find much to reflect on. * Daniel Goleman, Author of 'Emotional Intelligence' and 'Focus' *Harris shows how our egos are illusions [and] how abandoning this illusion can wake us up to a richer life, more connected to everything around us. * Jerry Coyne, Professor of Biology at the University of Chicago *Waking Up is an extraordinary book ... It will shake up your most fundamental beliefs about everyday experience, and it just might change your life. * Paul Bloom, Professor of Psychology and Cognitive Science at Yale University *

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Book SynopsisRamana Maharshi was one of the most significant spiritual teachers to emerge from India during the first half of the century, and remains widely admired. This recent collection of conversations between him and the many seekers who came to his ashram for guidance contains the essence of his teaching. His concern throughout his long life of imparting his experience to others was to convince his listeners that self-realisation - or enlightenment - is not an alien or mysterious state, but the natural condition of man. This state can be easily discovered by undertaking the self-investigation clearly described in these talks. The lucid instructions to each section provide further illumination of this greater seer''s message.Table of ContentsThe Teachings of Sriramana MaharshiAcknowledgmentsIntroductionPart One: The Self1. The nature of the Self2. Self-awareness and Self-ignorance3. The jnaniPart Two: Enquiry and Surrender4. Self-enquiry—theory5. Self-enquiry—practice6. Self-enquiry—misconceptions7. SurrenderPart Three: The Guru8. The Guru9. Silence and sat-sangaPart Four: Meditation and Yoga10. Meditation and concentration11. Mantras and japa12. Life in the world13. YogaPart Five: Experience14. Samadhi15. Visions and psychic powers16. Problems and experiencesPart Six: Theory17. Creation theories and the reality of the world18. Reincarnation19. The nature of God20. Suffering and morality21. Karma, destiny and free willGlossaryNotes and referencesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisA succinct, approachable guide to the origins, development, key texts, concepts, and practices of yoga.Yoga is practiced by many millions of people worldwide and is celebrated for its mental, physical, and spiritual benefits. And yet, as Daniel Simpson reveals in The Truth of Yoga, much of what is said about yoga is misleading. For example, the word ?yoga? does not always mean union. In fact, in perhaps the discipline?s most famous text?the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali?its aim is described as separation: isolating consciousness from everything else. And yoga is not five thousand years old, as is commonly claimed; the earliest evidence of practice dates back about twenty-five hundred years. (Yoga may well be older, but no one can prove it.)The Truth of Yoga is a clear, concise, and accessible handbook for the lay reader that draws upon abundant recent scholarship. It outlines these new findings with practitioners in mind, highlighting ways to keep traditions alive in the twenty-first century.

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Book SynopsisDevelops a theory of contemporary culture that relies on displacing economic notions of cultural production with notions of cultural expenditure. This book represents an effort to rethink cultural theory from the perspective of a concept of cultural materialism, one that radically redefines postmodern formulations of the body.

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Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics.The discourses of the great Stoic philosopher Epictetus are regarded as some of the most influential teachings of the ancient world. Born into slavery and sent into exile before setting up a school of philosophy, Epictetus delivered a series of lectures where he argued that true happiness comes only when we learn to distinguish what is within our power and what is beyond our personal control.Using George Long's 1890 translation, this edition includes a selection of Epictetus' key principles, as well as a manual of his core philosophy, the Encheiridion. With clarity, conviction and timeless wisdom that is as relevant today as it was two thousand years ago, these teachings navigate the complexities of the human condition and offer rational guidance for the turmoil of modern life.

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Book SynopsisMarcus Aurelius Antoninus (121-180 CE) was the sixteenth emperor of Rome-and the most powerful man in the world. Yet he was also an intensely private person, with a rich interior life and one of the wisest minds of his generation. He collected his thoughts in notebooks that have come to be called his Meditations. Never intended for publication, the work has proved an inexhaustible source of wisdom and one of the most important Stoic texts of all time.This annotated edition offers the definitive translation of this classic and much beloved text, from world-renowned classics expert Robin Waterfield. Illuminating one of the greatest works of popular philosophy for new readers, it enriches the understanding of even the most devoted Stoic.

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Book SynopsisNotes and Introduction by Mark G. Spencer, Brock University, Ontario John Locke (1632-1704) was perhaps the most influential English writer of his time. His Essay concerning Human Understanding (1690) and Two Treatises of Government (1690) weighed heavily on the history of ideas in the eighteenth century, and Locke’s works are often ? rightly ? presented as foundations of the Age of Enlightenment. Both the Essay and the Second Treatise (by far the more influential of the Two Treatises) were widely read by Locke’s contemporaries and near contemporaries. His eighteenth-century readers included philosophers, historians and political theorists, but also community and political leaders, engaged laypersons, and others eager to participate in the expanding print culture of the era. His epistemological message that the mind at birth was a blank slate, waiting to be filled, complemented his political message that human beings were free and equal and had the right to create and direct the governments under which they lived. Today, Locke continues to be an accessible author. He provides food for thought to university professors and their students, but has no less to offer the general reader who is eager to enjoy the classics of world literature.

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Book SynopsisDiscover the beautiful bestselling book about a beautiful friendship . . .''James has a way to speak to your soul. This book is nothing short of comforting and heartwarming'' VEX KING''While the drawings have the charm of Winnie-the-Pooh, the captions have the depth of ancient proverbs'' GUARDIAN''A beautifully illustrated book which draws on tender moments. Exquisite'' DR RANGAN CHATTERJEE________A guiding light in the darker months, Big Panda and Tiny Dragon is the beautifully illustrated and mindful journey of two friends through the seasons, inspired by Buddhist philosophy''Which is more important,'' asked Big Panda, ''the journey or the destination?''''The company,'' said Tiny Dragon.Friends Big Panda and Tiny Dragon journey through the seasons of the year together, day and night, in rain and in sun. Travelling through nature, they find hope and inspiration in the world around them, realising that even in the darkest of days, Spring will always return.Feel the calming influence of Big Panda, who reminds us of the bigger picture while appreciating the simplicity of small moments.Explore your surroundings with the inquisitive eye of Tiny Dragon, our friend who is big in heart if not in stature.And on their journey through the ever-changing seasons, join these two friends as they learn how to live in the moment, be at peace with uncertainty, and find the strength to overcome life''s obstacles, together.Inspired by Buddhist philosophy and spirituality, the story of these whimsical characters makes the perfect gift for anyone looking for a little hope and comfort.________''The two friends often find themselves lost but discover beautiful sights they never would have found if they had gone the right way. While the drawings have the charm of Winnie-the-Pooh, the captions have the depth of ancient proverbs'' GUARDIANTrade ReviewIt features the two friends, who often find themselves lost but discover beautiful sights they never would have found if they had gone the right way. While the drawings have the charm of Winnie-the-Pooh, the captions have the depth of ancient proverbs * Guardian *James has a way to speak to your soul. This book is nothing short of comforting and heartwarming -- Vex KingA beautifully illustrated book which draws on tender moments. Exquisite -- Dr Rangan Chatterjee * BBC Radio 2 *

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Book SynopsisYour life isn't, has never been, and will never be about you.

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Book SynopsisThe hugely influential book on how the understanding of causality revolutionized science and the world, by the pioneer of artificial intelligence''Wonderful ... illuminating and fun to read'' Daniel Kahneman, Nobel Prize-winner and author of Thinking, Fast and Slow''Correlation does not imply causation.'' For decades, this mantra was invoked by scientists in order to avoid taking positions as to whether one thing caused another, such as smoking and cancer, or carbon dioxide and global warming. But today, that taboo is dead. The causal revolution, sparked by world-renowned computer scientist Judea Pearl and his colleagues, has cut through a century of confusion and placed cause and effect on a firm scientific basis. Now, Pearl and science journalist Dana Mackenzie explain causal thinking to general readers for the first time, showing how it allows us to explore the world that is and the worlds that could have been. It is the essence of human and artificial intelligence. And just as Pearl''s discoveries have enabled machines to think better, The Book of Why explains how we too can think better.''Pearl''s accomplishments over the last 30 years have provided the theoretical basis for progress in artificial intelligence and have redefined the term thinking machine'' Vint CerfTrade ReviewHave you ever wondered about the puzzles of correlation and causation? This wonderful book has illuminating answers and it is fun to read -- Daniel Kahneman, winner of the Nobel Prize * author of Thinking, Fast and Slow *If causation is not correlation, then what is it? Thanks to Judea Pearl's epoch-making research, we now have a precise answer to this question. If you want to understand how the world works, this engrossing and delightful book is the place to start -- Pedro Domingos, professor of computer science, University of Washington * author of The Master Algorithm *Judea Pearl has been the heart and soul of a revolution in artificial intelligence and in computer science more broadly -- Eric Horvitz, Technical Fellow and Director, Microsoft Research LabsPearl's accomplishments over the last 30 years have provided the theoretical basis for progress in artificial intelligence ... and they have redefined the term 'thinking machine' -- Vint Cerf, Chief Internet Evangelist, Google, Inc.Modern applications of AI, such as robotics, self-driving cars, speech recognition, and machine translation deal with uncertainty. Pearl has been instrumental in supplying the rationale and much valuable technology that allow these applications to flourish -- Alfred Spector, Vice President of Research, Google, Inc.

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Book SynopsisFind inspiration from one of the most important books in the world''s literature . . . __________The I Ching is a book of oracles containing the whole of human experience. Used for divination, it is a method of exploring the unconscious; through the symbolism of its hexagrams we are guided towards the solution of difficult problems and life situations. It can also be read as a book of wisdom revealing the laws of life to which we must all attune ourselves if we are to live in peace and harmony.''The I Ching'', or ''Book of Changes'', a common source for both Confucianist and Taoist philosophy, is one of the first efforts of the human mind to place itself within the universe. It has exerted a living influence in China for 3,000 years, and interest in it has been rapidly spreading in the West.

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Book SynopsisGeoff Nicholson has been walking his whole life. Part urban explorer, part psychogeographer, rambler and flaneur, wherever he is and wherever he goes in the world, he walks and writes about what he sees and feels. Here he reflects on the nature of walking, why we do it, how it benefits us and, in some cases, how it damages and even destroys us

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Book Synopsis''A joy to read ... mind-expanding'' Book of the Week, Guardian''A bold and brave paean to our planet''s ligneous, leafy kingdom'' Telegraph''An impressive exploration and dazzling insight into the lives of plants'' Reaction Book Digest What is it like to be a plant?It''s not a question we might think to contemplate, even though many of us live surrounded by plants. Science has long explored the wonderful ways in which plants communicate, behave and shape their environments: from chemical warfare to turning their predators to cannibalism. But they''re usually just the backdrop to our frenetic animal lives.While plants may not have brains or move around as we do, cutting-edge science is revealing that they have astonishing inner worlds of an alternate kind to ours. They can plan ahead, learn, recognise their relatives, assess risks and make decisions. They can even be put to sleep. Innovative new tools might allow us to actually see them do these things - from electrophysiological recordings to MRI and PET scans. If you can look in the right way, a world full of drama unfurls.In PLANTA SAPIENS, Professor Paco Calvo offers a bold new perspective on plant biology and cognitive science. Using the latest scientific findings, Calvo challenges us to make an imaginative leap into a world that is so close and yet so alien - one that will expand our understanding of our own minds.From their rich subjective experiences to how they are inspiring novel ways of approaching the ecological crisis, PLANTA SAPIENS is a dazzling exploration of the lives of plants and a call to approach how we think about the natural world in a new, maverick way.Trade ReviewCalvo has a wonderfully infectious enthusiasm for his subject that makes this book, for all its complex science, a joy to read. He challenges us to set aside our 'zoocentric' perspective and to change our view of plants radically: from mechanisms akin to robots to complex organisms with a range of behaviours, responding to and anticipating their environments. In doing so, he has written a genuinely mind-expanding book -- Book of the Day * Guardian *PLANTA SAPIENS is [a] bold and brave paean to our planet's ligneous, leafy kingdom. I mostly relished the intellectual interrogation, the maverick thinking, and add my voice to his call to think beyond our prejudices and our anthropocentric indoctrination * Daily Telegraph *Deeply thought-provoking. PLANTA SAPIENS is a mind-opening meditation about the inner lives of plants. Whether you come away convinced that plants are conscious, or not, this book will change - and enrich - the way you look at the green life all around you -- Anil Seth, author of BEING YOUA manifesto inviting us to think about plants and our attitudes to them in revolutionary ways -- Helen Bynum * TLS *PLANTA SAPIENS presents 'fertile possibilities' to the public and in doing so it has put science on notice ... We should be delighted with Professor Calvo's seeding of scientific curiosity for the hope that it offers -- Diana Beresford-Kroeger, author of TO SPEAK FOR THE TREESWe are unimaginable without plants, yet surprisingly blind to their powers and behaviours. PLANTA SAPIENS weaves science and history into an absorbing exploration of the many ways that plants rise to the challenge of living -- Merlin Sheldrake, author of ENTANGLED LIFEAn impressive exploration and dazzling insight into the lives of plants * Reaction Book Digest *Are plants conscious? Before you say no, read this fascinating new book * @michaelpollan via Twitter, author of THIS IS YOUR MIND ON PLANTS *An important book * Observer *PLANTA SAPIENS offers an exciting and detailed look into research on plant intelligence and sets the standard for future studies in this important and forward-looking area -- Marc Bekoff, University of Colorado[PLANTA SAPIENS] takes readers on a journey into a seemingly alien world ... Read this fascinating book and your view of nature will never be the same again * The Countryman Magazine *A fascinating description of how plants interact with the environment in myriad ways ... This book will make people think and help them to become more aware that plants have abilities that they may not know about. And, perhaps most significant, that it is important to truly see everything around us -- Temple Grandin * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisIn Consciousness Explained, Daniel C. Dennett reveals the secrets of one of the last remaining mysteries of the universe: the human brain.Daniel C. Dennett''s now-classic book blends philosophy, psychology and neuroscience - with the aid of numerous examples and thought-experiments - to explore how consciousness has evolved, and how a modern understanding of the human mind is radically different from conventional explanations of consciousness.What people think of as the stream of consciousness is not a single, unified sequence, the author argues, but ''multiple drafts'' of reality composed by a computer-like ''virtual machine''. Dennett explains how science has exploded the classic mysteries of consciousness: the nature of introspection, the self or ego and its relation to thoughts and sensations, the problems posed by qualia, and the level of consciousness of non-human creatures. ''Brilliant ... a torrent of stimulating thought'' Richard DawkiTable of ContentsPart 1 Problems and methods: explaining consciousness - pandora's box - should consciousness be demystified?, the mystery of consciousness, the attractions of mind stuff, why dualism is forlorn, the challenge; a visit to the phenomenological garden - welcome to the phenom, our experience of the external world, our experience of the internal world, affect; a method for phenomenology - first person plural, the third-person perspective, the method of heterophenomenology, fictional worlds and heterophenomenological worlds, the discreet charm of the anthropologist, discovering what someone is really talking about, Shakey's mental images, the neutrality of heterophenomenology. Part 2 An empirical theory of the mind: multiple drafts versus the cartesian theater - the point of view of the observer, introducing the multiple drafts model, Orwellian and Stalinesque revisions, the theater of consciousness revisited, the multiple drafts model in action; time and experience - fleeting moments and hopping rabbits, how the brain represents time, Libet's case of "Backwards Referral in Time", Libet's claim of subjective delay of consciousness of intention, a treat - Grey Walter's precognitive carousel, loose ends; the evolution of consciousness - inside the black box of consciousness, early days, scene one - the birth of boundaries and reasons, scene two - new and better ways of producing future, evolution in brains, and the Baldwin effect, plasticity in the human brain - setting the stage, the invention of good and bad habits of autostimulation, the third evolutionary process - memes and cultural evolution, the memes of consciousness - the virtual machine to be installed; how words do things with us - review - E Pluribus Unum?, bureaucracy versus pandemonium, when words want to get themselves said; the architecture of the human mind - where are we?, orienting ourselves with the thumbnail sketch, and then what happens?, the powers of the Joycean machine, but is this a theory of consciousness?. Part 3 The philosophical problems of consciousness - show and tell - rotating images in the mind's eye, words, pictures, and thoughts, reporting and expressing, zombies, zimboes, and the user illusion, problems with folk psychology; dismantling the witness protection program - review, blindsight - partial zombiehood?, hide the thimble - an exercise in consciousness-raising, prosthetic vision - what, aside from information, is still missing?, "Filling In" versus finding out, neglect as a pathological loss of epistemic appetite, virtual presence, seeing is believing - a dialogue with Otto; qualia disqualified - a new kite string, why are there colors?, enjoying our experiences, a philosophical fantasy - inverted qualia, "Epiphenomenal" qualia?, getting back on my rocker; the reality of selves - how human beings spin a self, how many selves to a customer?, the unbearable lightness of being; consciousness imagined - imagining a

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Book SynopsisThis book is about the inner sources of spontaneous creation. It is about where art in the widest sense comes from. It is about why we create and what we learn while doing so. It is about the flow of unhindered creative energy: the joy of making art in all its varied forms.Free Play is directed towards people in any field who want to contact, honour and strengthen their own creative powers. It reveals how inspiration arises within us, how that inspiration may be blocked, derailed or obscured by certain unavoidable facts of life. How it can finally be liberated - how we can be liberated - to speak or sing, write or paint, dance or play, with our own authentic voice.Wise, generous and timeless, it has been a touchstone for creativity since 1990 and it is a book that you will find yourself reaching for again and again in times of need. This 2024 edition includes a new afterword by the author and a foreword by Women's Prize for Fiction-winner Ruth Ozeki.Trade ReviewAlmost 35 years [after first publication], Free Play feels wise, relevant and very Zen. In a new foreword, Ruth Ozeki marvels at the freeing notion that every conversation is a form of improvisation. But it's Nachmanovitch's updated afterword that really hits home; in an increasingly unstable world, just to say an honest, authentic word can be utterly transformative * * Observer * *A classic. Nachmanovitch examines the prerequisites of creation, offers concrete strategies for active surrender [and] considers the ultimate impetus of why we are called to create at all . . . altogether vitalising. The remedy for creative block and existential stuckness -- MARIA POPOVANachmanovitch tells it like it is in the most important book on improvisation I've yet seen -- KEITH JARRETTI absolutely love this book. What a blissful, friendly, fiercely intelligent thing; it expresses truths that I am groping towards in a way that is emboldening and clarifying. I don't think I have ever felt so happy to shout about or recommend a book and I know I will read it again and again -- CATHY RENTZENBRINKThis is the book I've been missing my whole life . . . I am grateful to Stephen Nachmanovitch for sharing his wisdom in these pages. I expect - I hope - to be rereading [Free Play] and practicing with it for the rest of my life -- RUTH OZEKIStephen Nachmanovitch has produced a celebration of human uniqueness -- NORMAN COUSINSWould that Free Play found its way into every school, office, hospital, and factory. It is a most exciting book and a most important one -- YEHUDI MENUHINIf you want to be intellectually informed about how people actually create things, then you should read it at least once -- ROBERT PIRSIGNot only gives the reader an inside view of the states of mind that give rise to improvisation, it is also a celebration of the power of the human spirit, which when exercised with love, immense patience and discipline is an antidote to hate -- YO-YO MA on THE ART OF IS

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Book SynopsisGregory Bateson was a philosopher, anthropologist, photographer, naturalist and poet, as well as the husband and collaborator of Margaret Mead. This anthology of his major work contains a foreword by his daughter Mary Katherine Bateson.

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Book SynopsisWe already know how much of our data is collected and used to profile and target us. ?The real question is why, knowing all this, do we keep going back for more? ''Great book'' Matt Ridley, author of How Innovation Works''Essential reading'' Pete Etchells, author of Unlocked''An urgent must-read'' Tiffany Jenkins, author and broadcaster, presenter of BBC Radio 4's A History of Secrecy''Enticing and highly addictive'' Stephen Senn, statistician and author of Dicing with Death''A pleasure to read'' Stian Westlake, Executive Chair, Economic and Social Research CouncilTechnology has delivered a world that we expect to revolve around us, our needs and preferences, and our unique personalities. We willingly hand over intimate information about ourselves in return for a world that's easier to navigate.We live in the Personalised Century, where we view ourselves in terms of what rather than who we are the objects of others' recognition, rather than the subjects and authors of our own lives. Is this a sign of our shrinking sense of self?Interrogating the historical currents that have brought us here, Harkness envisages a messier, riskier and less comfortable world than the one into which we're sliding. Challenging readers to look at what's missing from their personalised menus, Technology is not the Problem encourages us to look afresh at the familiar: not just the technology we use every day, how we relate to the world and those around us.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewBOOK OF THE MONTH: forces you to consider the unknown and try to come to terms with the unexplained. * Independent *From a less authoritative source, these stories could seem mawkish or flaky. Told here with calm precision, and with a conversational flair, they are both absorbing and convincing. With so much evidence available for further investigation, the most vexing question now is not whether life continues in some form after we die, but why mainstream science is so resistant to the idea. -- Christopher Stevens * Daily Mail *After is that rare thing, a scientific book that is also a page-turner. Greyson's meticulous research leaves little doubt that the human mind somehow survives beyond the point of death. * Nick Evans, bestselling author of The Horsewhisper *This very captivating book by Dr. Bruce Greyson chronicles his personal, spiritual and professional quest to understand the meaning of near-death experiences. His long-awaited and amazing book is a major contribution to the study of what happens when we die, and will quickly prove to be a classic in near-death studies. * Raymond Moody, MD, PhD, Author of Life After Life *Bruce Greyson is the most influential medical doctor-investigator over the last 40 years of this world-changing analysis. His work has done much to organize the scientific investigation of these experiences, to take them from fascinating anecdotes to systematic and objective study that will truly enable the world to benefit from these deep lessons. His work has the potential to completely change our fractured and confused world, offering insights that may lead to an explanation of the nature of consciousness. It will also help to nudge the entire scientific community towards realizations that can alter human history — bringing far more peace, harmony, and comfort to uncountable millions of souls both now and in future generations. * Eben Alexander, MD, New York Times bestselling author of Proof of Heaven *

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Book SynopsisBringing together phenomenology and materialism, two perspectives seemingly at odds with each other, leading international theorist, Manuel DeLanda, has created an entirely new theory of visual perception. Engaging the scientific (biology, ecological psychology, neuroscience and robotics), the philosophical (idea of ''the embodied mind'') and the mathematical (dynamic systems theory) to form a synthesis of how to see in the 21st century. A transdisciplinary and rigorous analysis of how vision shapes what matters.Trade ReviewThis is arguably DeLanda’s best work, and that’s really saying something, as he has produced 30 years of innovative philosophy. Materialist Phenomenology is extensively and insightfully scientifically informed, bridges differing schools of philosophy with rigor and fairness, and is written with exemplary lucidity. * John Protevi, Phyllis M. Taylor Professor of French Studies, Louisiana State University, USA *Bringing together phenomenology and materialism, two perspectives seemingly at odds with each other, DeLanda once again makes an important contribution to theory at large. A well informed, transdisciplinary and rigorous analysis of how vision shapes what matters. * Rick Dolphijn, Associate Professor of Media and Culture Studies, Utrecht University, the Netherlands *Table of Contentsprelims acknowledgements Introduction 1. The Contribution of the World 2. The Contributions of the Body 3.Contributions of the Brain 4. Contributions of the Mind bibliography index

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Book SynopsisMarcus Aurelius Antoninus was the sixteenth emperor of Rome -- and by far the most powerful and wealthy man in the world. Yet he was also an intensely private person, with a rich interior life and deep reservoirs of personal insight. He collected his thoughts in notebooks, gems which have come to be called his Meditations. Never intended for publication, the work survived his death and has proved an inexhaustible source of wisdom and one of the most important Stoic texts of all time. In often passionate language, the entries range from essays to one-line aphorisms, and from profundity to bitterness.Marcus wrote to console himself in the face of the shortness of life, the shoddiness of the world, and the challenges of being human. He asks the very same questions that every thinking person must ask themselves today: Does the universe have a moral purpose, and what is my role in it? What exactly is it to be a good person, and how do I get there? Life is short: what does that mean for me? How can I get to know myself better? Anyone who is puzzled by such questions or searching for answers will profit from this timeless book, which is both an important historical document and a personal spiritual diary.This annotated edition will be the definitive translation of this classic and much-beloved text, with copious notes that will illuminate one of the greatest works of popular philosophy for new readers and enrich the understanding of even the most hardcore Stoic.

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Book Synopsis''I must apply my self to Experience; as far as that reaches, I may have certain Knowledge, but no farther.''In An Essay concerning Human Understanding, John Locke sets out his theory of knowledge and how we acquire it. Eschewing doctrines of innate principles and ideas, Locke shows how all our ideas, even the most abstract and complex, are grounded in human experience and attained by sensation of external things or reflection upon our own mental activities. A thorough examination of the communication of ideas through language and the conventions of taking words as signs of ideas paves the way for his penetrating critique of the limitations of ideas and the extent of our knowledge of ourselves, the world, God, and morals.Locke''s masterpiece laid the foundation of British empiricism and is of enduring interest to anyone exploring the development of philosophical thought. This sensitive abridgement uses P. H. Nidditch''s authoritative text, and together with an illuminating introduction and other features, makes Locke''s arguments more accessible. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

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Book SynopsisThe beautifully illustrated second adventure from cherished friends and Sunday Times bestsellers BIG PANDA AND TINY DRAGON''James has a way to speak to your soul. This book is nothing short of comforting and heartwarming'' VEX KING''While the drawings have the charm of Winnie-the-Pooh, the captions have the depth of ancient proverbs'' GUARDIAN''A beautifully illustrated book which draws on tender moments. Exquisite'' DR RANGAN CHATTERJEE__________''We shall go on a journey, across the river . . .''Join Big Panda and Tiny Dragon as they set off on an extraordinary adventure in this companion to the global bestselling phenomenon Big Panda and Tiny Dragon.Although content in their temple high up in the mountains, Tiny Dragon realises that something feels incomplete. So it is that they decide to make a journey together, to new and distant lands.As they encounter dangers and challenges, they learn that everything they need is already inside them and that change, though sometimes scary, is possible and, with patience, can lead to better things.Inspired by Buddhist philosophy and spirituality, the story of these whimsical characters makes the perfect gift for anyone looking for a little hope and comfort.__________''If we have to be lost,'' said Big Panda, ''I am glad it is with you . . .''Trade ReviewJames has a way of speaking to your soul. This book is nothing short of comforting and heartwarming * Vex King *

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Book SynopsisTHE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER, March 2022''Inspiring insight from the world''s top coach...Goldsmith left me tingling from the journey of reflection I''d been taken on'' Bruce Daisley, author of The Joy of Work*********Our lives reside on a continuum that roams between ''fulfilment'' on the one end and ''regret'' at the other. Where would you place yourself right now? And where do think you should be?In his powerful new framework, the worlds'' number one executive coach Marshall Goldsmith explains that there are eight ''satisfactors'' that impact our position on the scale. These are happiness, meaning, purpose, achievement, engagement, relationships, health and wealth. And he shows how creating equivalence between (a) the choices, risks and effort made in pursuing the satisfactors and (b) the reward received for doing so, moves us towards fulfilment.Drawing on examples from his work coaching the CEOs o

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Book SynopsisYogi, mystic, and bestselling author Sadhguru provides a deeper understanding of death so that we can live more fulfilling lives.Death is a taboo subject in most societies in the world. But what if we have this completely wrong? What if death is not the catastrophe it is made out to be but an essential aspect of life, rife with spiritual possibilities for transcendence? We all want to live well, but how do we die well?In this unique exploration of death, Sadhguru dwells extensively upon his inner experience as he expounds on the more profound aspects of death that are rarely spoken about. Avoiding death is avoiding life. By the same token, dodging life is inviting death. Coming to terms with death will ensure that you live purposefully, striving to make each moment of life as beautiful as it can be. Sadhguru breaks down the mysteries surrounding death, including practical aspects such as what preparations one can make for one''s death, how best we can assist someone who is dying, and how we can continue to support their journey even after death.

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Book SynopsisThis book brings together a collection of essays written by scholars inspired by Eugene Gendlin's work, particularly those interested in thinking with and beyond Gendlin for the sake of a global community facing significant crises. The contributors take inspiration from Gendlin's philosophy of the implicit, and his theoretical approach to psychology. The essays engage with Gendlin's ideas for our era, including critiques and corrections as well as extrapolations of his work. Gendlin himself worried that knowing about a problem is too often conflated with actions that might lead to change; the essays in this book point to a form of understanding that is activated, an embodied and immediate way of thinking about today's problems. Throughout the volume, the contributors creatively engage with Gendlin's work and its applicability to the complex, pressing crises of our time: the Covid-19 pandemic, environmental/climate issues, racism, sexism, economic inequality, and other factorsTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. Starting from Experience, and Knowing When You Do 2. Where is Emotion? Gendlin's Radical Answer 3. Is Responsibility Implicit? 4. The Experiencing Model: Saying What We Mean in the Context of Focusing and Psychotherapy 5. The Responsive Order, Oppressive Order, and Disorder in Human Growth: Challenging and Carrying Forward Postmodernism 6. Liberating language: Gendlin and Nietzsche on the refreshing power of metaphors 7. Missing the Felt Sense: When Correct Political Answers Go Wrong 8. Toward a Concept of "Freedom to Make Sense" 9. Kangaroo Know-how: Animal practices from the perspective of implying 10. Is an Intricate Institution a Paradox or an Oxymoron? Gendlin's Political Optimism, the Formal Limitation of Politics, and the Relevance of Activity Theory 11. Epilogue: Showing How he Means - Thinking Along with Gene Gendlin

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Book SynopsisA unique celebration of silence?in art, literature, nature, and spirituality?and an exploration of its ability to bring inner peace, widen our perspectives, and inspire the human spirit in spite of the noise of contemporary life.Silence is habitually overlooked?after all, throughout our lives, it has to compete with the cacophony of the outside world and our near-constant interior dialogue that judges, analyzes, compares, and questions. But, if we can get past this barrage, there lies a quiet place that?s well worth discovering.The Lost Art of Silence encourages us to embrace this pursuit and allow the warm light of silence to glow. Invoking the wisdom of many of the greatest writers, thinkers, contemplatives, historians, musicians, and artists, Sarah Anderson reveals the sublime nature of quiet that?s all too often undervalued. Throughout, she shares her own penetrating insights into the potential for silence to transform us. This celebration of silence invites us to widen our perspective and shows its power to inspire the human spirit in spite of the distracting noise of contemporary life.

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Book SynopsisThis volume, originally a special issue of the Journal of Consciousness Studies, uses the recent writings of Philip Goff as a jumping-off point for discussions of panpsychism the idea that consciousness is a fundamental and pervasive aspect of our universe that cannot be understood in other, more basic, terms. The contributors to this book explore various issues of panpsychism from the perspectives of science, philosophy, and theology. Some papers focus on further motivating and developing the panpsychist position. Others explore various challenges that the panpsychist faces. Collectively, they shed new and important light not only on panpsychism, but on the fundamental question of the place of consciousness in nature more generally.

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Book SynopsisPhilosophy of Mind: A Very Short Introduction probes some of the great philosophical questions about the mind: What is the relationship between mind and matter? Can science unravel the mystery of consciousness? How can our thoughts represent things in the world? Are computers genuinely intelligent? In the book, Barbara Gail Montero highlights key thought experiments used by philosophers to explore the nature of mind and how mind and body relate to each other (the mind-body problem). She leads readers through the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed solutions to the mind-body problem and explores the philosophical conundrums associated with sensation, perception, cognition, and emotion. While keeping an eye on the contemporary philosophical debate, Montero also considers the cross-cultural roots of philosophy of mind, and its connections to psychology, neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and physics. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewThis little gem offers a succinct, thorough introduction to the central topics in philosophy of mind...providing insight into all the major positions and arguments, this is an excellent foundational book. * J. A. Kegley, CHOICE *Table of ContentsPreface 1: The mind-body problem 2: Dualism 3: Other minds 4: Physicalism 5: Intentionality 6: Consciousness 7: Animals, aliens, and machines 8: Dissolving the mind-body problem Further reading Index

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Book SynopsisIn Descartes's Meditations, the thinker rejects all his former beliefs in the quest for new certainties. He develops new conceptions of body and mind to create a new science of nature. This new translation includes a wide-ranging, accessible introduction, notes and full selections from the Objections and Replies.

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Book Synopsis''Required reading for anyone remotely curious about how they came to be remotely curious'' Observer''Enthralling'' Spectator What is human consciousness and how is it possible? These questions fascinate thinking people from poets and painters to physicists, psychologists, and philosophers. This is Daniel C. Dennett''s brilliant answer, extending perspectives from his earlier work in surprising directions, exploring the deep interactions of evolution, brains and human culture. Part philosophical whodunnit, part bold scientific conjecture, this landmark work enlarges themes that have sustained Dennett''s career at the forefront of philosophical thought. In his inimitable style, laced with wit and thought experiments, Dennett shows how culture enables reflection by installing a profusion of thinking tools, or memes, in our brains, and how language turbocharges this process. The result: a mind that can comprehend the questions itTrade ReviewIntelligence, insight and flair ... They don't come much bigger than Daniel Dennett -- Julian Baggini * Guardian *Lucid ... A brave and bracing book ... There should be more like it * The Times *Required reading for anyone remotely curious about how they came to be remotely curious * Observer *A lively and cogent account of how human beings, uniquely among species, have evolved to possess a conscious mind ... An excellent exploration of the concept of cultural evolution, and the origins and consequences of human creativity * Sunday Times *Beguiling and enthralling * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisMartin Heidegger, considered by some to be the greatest charlatan ever to claim the title of ''philosopher'', by some as an apologist for Nazism, and by others as an acknowledged leader in continental philosophy, is probably the most divisive thinker of the twentieth century. In the second edition of this Very Short Introduction, Michael Inwood focuses on Heidegger''s most important work, Being and Time, to explore its major themes of existence in the world, inauthenticity, guilt, destiny, truth, and the nature of time. These themes are then reassessed in the light of Heidegger''s multifaceted later thought, and how, despite its diversity, it hangs together as a single, coherent project. Finally, Inwood turns to Heidegger''s Nazism and anti-semitism, to reveal its deep connection with his personality and overall view of philosophy. This is an invaluable guide to the complex and voluminous thought of one of the twentieth century''s greatest yet most enigmatic philosophers. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewThis antidote to the bafflement with which Heidegger's writings are often received is authored with exemplary clarity. Incisive and accessible, Inwoods cool-headed clarifications will be welcomed both inside and outside philosophy. * Stephen Priest, Research Fellow in Philosophy of Science and Philosophy of Religion, Catholic Faculty of Theology, Ruhr Universität Bochum *This is the best short introduction to Heidegger, written by one of the most prominent experts in the field. It is particularly strong on the early and middle Heidegger, including the question of Being and the essence of truth and art. * Edward Kanterian, author of Kant, God and Metaphysics *Review from previous edition Inwood's work is a fine little book; a transparent window onto Heidegger that renders him fascinating and profound.' * John Shand, Philosophical Books *Table of Contents1: Heidegger's life 2: Heidegger's philosophy 3: Being 4: Dasein 5: The world-historical 6: Language, truth, and care 7: Time, death, and conscience 8: Temporality, transcendence, and freedom 9: History and world-time 10: After Being and Time 11: St. Martin of Messkirch? Further reading Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisCould drugs offer a new way of seeing the world? In 1953, in the presence of an investigator, Aldous Huxley took four-tenths of a gramme of mescalin, sat down and waited to see what would happen. When he opened his eyes everything, from the flowers in a vase to the creases in his trousers, was transformed. His account of his experience, and his vision for all that psychedelics could offer to mankind, has influenced writers, artists and thinkers around the world.The unabridged text of The Doors of Perception by Aldous HuxleyVINTAGE MINIS: GREAT MINDS. BIG IDEAS. LITTLE BOOKS.A series of short books by the world’s greatest writers on the experiences that make us humanAlso in the Vintage Minis series:Drinking by John CheeverSwimming by Roger DeakinEating by Nigella LawsonDesire by Haruki MurakamiTrade ReviewConcise, evocative, wise and, above all, humane, The Doors of Perception is a masterpiece * Sunday Times *Imagine our joy when Vintage announced that it is publishing a collection of easily digestible books from the world’s most celebrated writers on the experiences that make us human… They look good and read well. That’s win/win in our book. * Stylist *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Care of the Soul has struck a national nerve." -- Dallas Morning News "I soulfully recommend it without reservation." -- John Bradshaw, author of Homecoming "The sincerity, intelligence and style -- so beautifully clean -- of Tom Moore's Care of the Soul truly moved me. The book's got strength and class and soul, and I suspect may last longer than psychology itself." -- James Hillman, author of Re-Visioning Psychology "This book just may help you give up the futile quest for salvation and get down to the possible task of taking care of your soul. A modest, and therefore marvelous, book about the life of the spirit." -- Sam Keen, author of Fire in the Belly "Thoughtful, eloquent, inspiring." -- Alix Madrigal, San Francisco Chronicle "Care of the Soul has struck a national nerve." -- Colleen O'Connor, Dallas Morning News

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Book SynopsisA renowned thinker explores a way of seeing that draws attention back from what is experienced, into the act of experiencing.Trade Review'Henri Bortoft is one of the world's foremost experts on Goethean science. Here he extends the argument of his earlier work The Wholeness of Nature to articulate a new history and philosophy of science with an emphasis on a dynamic way of understanding that highlights process rather than product, the coming into being rather than the end result. This represents a fundamental shift away from abstraction to lived sensory experience, and from the dominance of left-hemisphere thinking to a more integrated approach. This is a seminal text that deserves the widest audience.'-- David Lorimer, Scientific and Medical Network'Taking Appearance Seriously is a rare philosophical work of both outstanding quality and immense practicality, written to guide the reader into really experiencing what Henri Bortoft calls the dynamic way of seeing: a radically aware way of thinking and comprehending our complex world which is as applicable in the creative arts and business world as it is in science.'-- Simon Robinson (editor of Transition Consciousness). Resurgence & Ecologist'Bortoft's aim is to help readers see and understand the world and human experience in a more integrated, compelling way. Exploring and developing previous work on the fascinating relationship between parts and whole through the lenses of phenomenology, hermeneutics, and Goethean science, Bortoft demonstrates convincingly the need to shift attention from what is experienced to the experience of what is experienced. In a writing style that is both accessible and penetrating, he shows how to do this by drawing on examples from our experience of meaning, understanding and language. By teaching ourselves to become more sensitive to this dynamic way of seeing, we learn to "take appearance seriously".'-- David Seamon, Professor, Kansas State University, and Editor, Environmental and Architectural Phenomenology'Through his carefully crafted prose Bortoft takes us on an incredible journey in which we learn to shift the focus of our attention away from our common-sense view of a fragmented world of subjects and objects, into our experiencing of what we experience.This is not just an exercise for the philosophically curious. If we are able to make this shift we enter into what Bortoft calls the dynamic way of seeing.The genius of Taking Appearance Seriously lies in Bortoft’s ability to extend his previous work on the science of Goethe, guiding us into a deeper level of perception, i.e. this dynamic way of seeing. The importance of this, and also the reason why this dynamic way of thinking may be so hard for us to comprehend in the first instance is that we are trapped in the left-brain way of conceiving the world. By following Bortoft’s work slowly, we are led into a way of thinking that brings harmony and balance between the two sides of the brain.'-- Simon Robinson, Resurgence

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times top ten bestseller - neuroscientist Hannah Critchlow shows how our future is already largely hardwired into our brains. Like Sapiens and Thinking Fast and Slow, The Science of Fate revolutionises the way we understand our species and ourselves.

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Book SynopsisThis epoch-making book cuts through confused thinking and forces us to re-examine many cherished ideas about knowledge, imagination, consciousness and the intellect. The result is a classic example of philosophy.

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Book SynopsisANTONIO DAMASIO is University Professor, David Dornsife Professor of Neuroscience, Psychology, and Neurology, and director of the Brain and Creativity Institute at the University of Southern California. Damasio's other books include Descartes' Error; The Feeling of What Happens; and Looking for Spinoza. He has received the Honda Prize, the Prince of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research, and, shared with his wife Hanna, the Pessoa, Signoret, and Cozzarelli prizes. Damasio is a fellow of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Bavarian Academy of Sciences, and the European Academy of Sciences and Arts. He lives in Los Angeles.Trade ReviewBreathtakingly original * Financial Times *Awareness may be mostly mystery, but Damasio shapes its hints and glimmerings into an imaginative, informed narrative * Kirkus *The marvel of reading Damasio's book is to be convinced one can follow the brain at work as it makes the private reality that is the deepest self * V. S. Naipaul *Damasio's most ambitious work yet. It is a lucid and important work * Word *The epicenter of Self Comes to Mind concerns the neurological basis for cognition and the issue of the superposition of a "self' onto the construct which we address as reality. Damasio is both eloquent and scholarly. His command of the themes he approaches is impressive, as is the vigor with which he tackles such recondite issues as the elusive "self," inside the head. A wonderful read, and a recommended one! -- Rodolfo R. Llinás, New York University

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Book Synopsis'Deeply personal and infinitely digestible, Then I Am Myself the World is a remarkable must-read for anyone interested in knowing their mind.”―Judson Brewer MD, PhD, New York Times–bestselling author of Unwinding Anxiety The world’s leading investigator of consciousness argues that by understanding what consciousness does—cause change in the world—we can understand its origins and its future  In Then I Am Myself the World, Christof Koch explores the only thing we directly experience: consciousness. At the book’s heart is integrated-information theory, the idea that the essence of consciousness is the ability to exert causal power over itself, to be an agent of change. Koch investigates the physical origins of consciousness in the brain and how this knowledge can be used to measure consciousness in natural and artificial systems.        Enabled by s

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Book SynopsisPsychedelic Experience presents a philosophical account of psychedelic experience.A central premise of the book is that such experiences are mind-revealing experiences and that they can be induced by means other than psychedelics. In particular, the book argues that psychedelic experiences can also be had as the result of meditation. Aiden Lyon presents a unified conceptual framework for thinking about the different kinds of psychedelic experiences one may have as a result of psychedelics, meditation, and their combination. This framework is then used to shed new light on various commonalities between psychedelics and meditation, such as the ability to promote long-lasting increases in mindfulness and their reputation for inducing mystical experiences. Finally, the book uses these new philosophical resources to flip things around and shine the light back on philosophy itself, arguing that psychedelic experiences can be used as tools for doing philosophy. The result is a new approach toTable of ContentsPreface 1: Introduction 2: What is Psychedelic Experience? 3: Psychedelic Space 4: Hypotheses 5: Attention 6: Memory 7: Hallucinations 8: Creativity 9: Well-being 10: Mystical Experience 11: Psychedelic Philosophy 12: Conclusion Index

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