Philosophy of mind Books

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisAre we thinking too much and living too little? Why are we missing out on so much of our life? Dianetics has some answers you may have been looking for. Many of us are aware that the worries, doubts and reservations in our own mind are more often than not the greatest obstacles to the fulfilling life we so much desire. It seems that our thoughts are not truly free - with many of them stemming from an emotional and subconscious level that can fix our attention and pull us down. What if you could free your thoughts and shed their weight and pain from your own mind? This is what Dianetics is about. What triggers our thinking? What is the mind really? What is the source of stress? Dianetics is the breakthrough that has enabled us to understand for the first time how our thinking works - consciously and subconsciously. Dianetics includes a practical approach that makes it possible to remove these stumbling blocks and actually experience a resurgence of life energy and positivity that makes a noticeable difference in a person's happiness and success. Reading the book alone and understanding the simple logic behind the seemingly complex structure of the mind gives a completely new perspective in life. Based on observation and discoveries, Dianetics goes beyond theory and describes an easy-to-use method to free your mind from this burden. The application is what produces a real change, and what sets this book apart from others. The practical success made Dianetics an international bestseller, with 22 Million copies sold and translated into 53 languages.

Read more less

Book SynopsisConsciousness, ''the last great mystery for science'', remains a hot topic. How can a physical brain create our experience of the world? What creates our identity? Do we really have free will? Could consciousness itself be an illusion? Exciting new developments in brain science are continuing the debates on these issues, and the field has now expanded to include biologists, neuroscientists, psychologists, and philosophers. This controversial book clarifies the potentially confusing arguments, and the major theories, whilst also outlining the amazing pace of discoveries in neuroscience. Covering areas such as the construction of self in the brain, mechanisms of attention, the neural correlates of consciousness, and the physiology of altered states of consciousness, Susan Blackmore highlights our latest findings.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 ReviewFascinating. * Jonathan Cowie, Science Fact & Science Fiction Concatenation *Table of ContentsREFERENCES; FURTHER READING; INDEX

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat exactly is involved in using particular case histories to think systematically about social, psychological and historical processes? Can one move from a textured particularity, like that in Freud�s famous cases, to a level of reliable generality? In this book, Forrester teases out the meanings of the psychoanalytic case, how to characterize it and account for it as a particular kind of writing. In so doing, he moves from psychoanalysis to the law and medicine, to philosophy and the constituents of science. Freud and Foucault jostle here with Thomas Kuhn, Ian Hacking and Robert Stoller, and Einstein and Freud�s connection emerges as a case study of two icons in the general category of the Jewish Intellectual. While Forrester was particularly concerned with analysing the style of reasoning that was dominant in psychoanalysis and related disciplines, his path-breaking account of thinking in cases will be of great interest to scholars, students and professionals across a wide range of disciplines, from history, law and the social sciences to medicine, clinical practice and the therapies of the world.Trade Review‘Offers an engaging and informativie critique of those who, like Aristotle, reject individual instances as objects of knowledge, as well as giving a very welcome account of the value of thinking in cases not only in psychoanalysis, but also anthropolgy, law, physics, and medicine.’Janet Sayers, Times Higher Education ‘Thinking in Cases tells us many new and original things about what it is to generalize, and about what it is to write about psychoanalysis as part of the history and philosophy of science. Forrester's unique combination of subtlety and erudition is often startling and always revealing in these illuminating essays.’Adam Phillips, psychoanalyst and writer ‘Turning the flow of life and experience into so many case histories is a basic technique in medicine and law, as in anthropology and psychoanalysis. In these brilliant and provocative explorations, John Forrester offers his readers means to make sense of how such histories work and what it is to think of the world as made up of cases. He shows conclusively how thinking in cases represents nothing less than an entirely distinct form of reasoning, possessed of its own powers and claims, with remarkable implications for the means of managing and defining individuals and of analysing modern life. This book is an indispensable guide to ways of writing and reasoning in modernity, just as it embodies the luminous achievement of an unsurpassed craftsman of analysis and theory.’ Simon Schaffer, University of Cambridge"Everyone with an interest in the medical case history and its wider ramifications should read this book."Medical Humanities"John Forrester, who died in 2015, was the most original historian of the human sciences of his generation… Thinking in Cases is an ideal introduction to Forrester’s thought, containing some of his most important papers. He combined a scientist’s delight in devising new methods to understand recondite things with an exceptionally acute sense of the role of contingency in intellectual discovery. These strengths were central to his style of reasoning and, as these pages testify, made him one of a kind. Everyone with an interest in the medical case history and its wider ramifications should read this book."British Medical Journal"His work is, and always will be, an exemplar for thinking in cases."Psychoanalysis and History‘the most important and influential figure in the history and philosophy of psychoanalysis over the last half-century.’ International Journal of PsychoanalysisTable of ContentsContents Acknowledgements Preface - Lisa Appignanesi Introduction - Adam Phillips 1. If p, then what? Thinking in cases 2. On Kuhn�s Case: Psychoanalysis and the Paradigm 3. The Psychoanalytic Case: Voyeurism, Ethics, and Epistemology in Robert Stoller�s Sexual Excitement 4. On Holding as Metaphor: Winnicott and the Figure of St Christopher 5. The Case of Two Jewish Scientists: Freud and Einstein 6. Inventing Gender Identity: The Case of Agnes Bibliography

Read more less

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

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Cooperative Neuron is part of a revolution that is occurring in the sciences of brain and mind. It explores the new field of cellular psychology, a field built upon the recent discovery that many neurons in the brain cooperate to seek agreement in deciding what''s relevant in the current context. This cooperative context-sensitivity provides the cellular foundations for knowledge, doubt, imagination, self-development, and the search for purpose in life. This emerging field has far-reaching and fundamental implications for psychology, neuroscience, psychiatry, neurology, and the philosophy of mind.In a clear and accessible style, the book explains the neuroscience to psychologists, the psychology to neuroscientists, and both to philosophers, students of the behavioral and brain sciences, and to anyone intrigued by the enduring mystery of how brains can be minds.Trade ReviewA remarkable condensation of a lifetime of cutting-edge neuroscience research. This book is an essential read for anyone interested in how neurons make brains and brains make minds - in sickness and in health! * David Nutt, Professor of Neuropsychopharmacology, Imperial College London, and author of many papers and several books on the effects of drugs on mind and brain and their implications for social policy. *"a monumental job... this is a breakthrough book... Future explanations of cortical function will have to realize that connectionist models must incorporate the complex properties of neuronal dendrites which are described so clearly." * Gordon M. Shepherd, Department of Neuroscience, Yale. *"a magnum opus... I found myself amazed at what I was learning... it gives me a new way of thinking about working memory." * Graham Hitch, Psychology, University of York, co-founder of working memory research. *"This book is a revelation, showing how behaviour and consciousness emerge from interactions of many apparently simple units in the brain. It will be of great interest to psychologists. I will be re-reading it several times." * Trevor Harley, University of Dundee, author of core psychology texts, including The Science of Consciousness. *"This book provides a new understanding of how neurons coordinate their activity to generate consciousness, cognition, and effective behavior, with fundamental implications for psychopathologists, psychiatrists, and neurologists." * Steven Silverstein, Professor of Psychiatry, University of Rochester. *"This ground-breaking book explores crucial mechanisms that enable us process information in ways sensitive to context. A tour de force that spans cellular foundations and systems-level neuroscience, reaching all the way to conceptual issues concerning consciousness, emotion, language, and more. " * Andy Clark, FBA, FRSE. Professor of Cognitive Philosophy, University of Sussex. Author of Surfing Uncertainty: Prediction, Action, and the Embodied Mind *Table of Contents1: Introduction 2: Life, Brain, and Mind: Marvels of Cooperation Between Diverse Individuals 3: Cerebral Neocortex: Hierarchies of Abstraction in Physical Matter That Knows and Doubts, Thinks and Feels, Intends, and Hopes 4: Neocortical Pyramidal Cells That Cooperate by Being Sensitive to Context 5: Cooperative Neurons in Various States of Mind and Brain 6: What Cooperative Neurons Do for Mental Life 7: Evolution and Development of Cooperative Neurons 8: Pathologies of Cooperative Neuronal Processing 9: An Information-Theoretic View of Context-Sensitivity 10: Difficulties and Unresolved Issues 11: Mind's Place in Nature

Read more less

Book SynopsisJust as a garden needs worms, we need bad feelings....We tend to think about bad feelings--feelings like anger, envy, spite, and contempt--as the weeds in life''s garden. You may not be able to get rid of them completely, but you''re supposed to battle them as best you can. The best garden is one with no weeds. The best life is one with no bad feelings. But this isn''t quite right, according to philosopher Krista K. Thomason. Bad feelings are the worms, not the weeds. They''re just below the surface, and we like to pretend they aren''t there, but they serve an important purpose. Worms are just as much a part of the garden as the flowers, and their presence means your garden is thriving. Gardens aren''t better off without their worms, and neither are we. The trick is learning how to enjoy our gardens, worms and all. Thomason draws on insights from the history of philosophy to show what we''ve gotten wrong about bad feelings and to show readers how we can live better with them. There is Table of ContentsPart I: The Garden Introduction: Weeds, Worms and Communing with the Dead Chapter One: Emotional Saints Chapter Two: Taming the Beasts Chapter Three: Make Room for the Devil Part II: The Worms Chapter Four: Anger Chapter Five: Envy and Jealousy Chapter Six: Spite and Schadenfreude Chapter Seven: Contempt Conclusion: An Elegy for Zilu Acknowledgments Notes

Read more less

Book SynopsisUnderstanding the human mind and how it relates to the world that we experience has challenged philosophers for centuries. How then do we even begin to think about ‘minds’ that are not human?Taking a uniquely broad view of minds and where they might be found – including in plants, aliens, and God – prize-winning science writer Philip Ball pulls these multidisciplinary pieces together to explore what sorts of minds we might expect to find in the universe.He offers for the first time a unified way of thinking about what minds are and what they can do, arguing that in order to understand our own minds and imagine those of others, we need to move on from considering the human mind as a standard against which all others should be measured, and to think about the ‘space of possible minds’.Ball sheds new light on a host of fascinating questions. What moral rights should we afford animals, and can we understand their thoughts? Should we worry that AI is going to take over society? If there are intelligent aliens out there, how could we communicate with them? Should we? Ball’s thrillingly ambitious The Book of Minds about the nature and existence of minds is more mind-expanding than we could imagine. In this fascinating panorama of other minds, we come to better know our own.

Read more less

Book SynopsisI shall here present my life, writes Descartes in Discourse on Method, as in a painting and my method as a fable. Through the Eyes of Descartes demonstrates how a Cartesian aesthetics is interwoven in his thought. It brings together a variety of materials: his metaphysical writings and essays in natural philosophy, through to his letters, drawings, and printed images. Cecilia Sjöholm and Marcia Sá Cavalcante Schuback seek to bring Descartes into dialogue with contemporary phenomenology as well as contemporary psychoanalytic thought. They focus on how perception interacts with emotions and thought, and the way in which our gaze is directed toward limit-phenomena of beauty and fascination. In Through the Eyes of Descartes, Cecilia Sjöholm and Marcia Sá Cavalcante Schuback counter the traditional picture of Descartes by presenting his work in an entirely different light: a Descartes of the arts, of sensibility, of inner images, and of imagination.Trade Review"Through the Eyes of Descartes presents an unorthodox but highly compelling reading of Descartes' philosophical project. Against the tired old dogma of the "Cartesian split" between the mind and the body, Marcia Sá Cavalcante Schuback and Cecilia Sjöholm retrieve the philosophical significance of the body for the French thinker via their patient interpretations of Descartes' aesthetics, as well as his notions of love, maternity, meteorology, and the role of various bodily organs in the task of thinking. This is a new milestone in Descartes studies!"—Michael Marder, author of The Phoenix Complex: A Philosophy of Nature"Sjöholm and Cavalcante Schuback offer a new and original reading of Descartes. Descartes's work, over the centuries, has been interpreted as the account of the emergence of the European rationality that discovers the world through a rational intellect completely encapsulated within itself, detached from any exteriority, autonomous and autogenous, detached from the cosmos and nature. Through the Eyes of Descartes successfully challenges this monolithic image of Descartes' philosophy, thus rediscovering his work in a completely different light."—Giovanbattista Tusa, Nova University of Lisbon, Portugal

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book provides a framework for thinking about foundational philosophical questions surrounding the use of deep artificial neural networks (deep learning) to achieve artificial intelligence. Specifically, it links recent breakthroughs to classic works in empiricist philosophy of mind. In recent assessments of deep learning''s potential, scientists have cited historical figures from the philosophical debate between nativism and empiricism, which concerns the origins of abstract knowledge. These empiricists were faculty psychologists; that is, they argued that the extraction of abstract knowledge from experience involves the active engagement of psychological faculties such as perception, memory, imagination, attention, and empathy. This book explains how recent deep learning breakthroughs realized some of the most ambitious ideas about these faculties from philosophers such as Aristotle, Ibn Sina (Avicenna), John Locke, David Hume, William James, and Sophie de Grouchy. It illustrates

Read more less

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.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThought insertion is the delusion that one''s thoughts are not one''s own, which causes people to believe that external agents have inserted ideas or thoughts into their minds. More prevalent in schizophrenia, thought insertion has been regarded as one of the most complex psychiatric symptoms. It is easy to see why it is such an intriguing phenomenon, as it blurs our understanding of some of the most fundamental aspects of our mind. Typically, discussions around thought insertion have tended to be featured in the context of philosophical examinations of broader issues in philosophy and psychiatry, or treated as a footnote to discussions of more prominent topics such as motor agency or the structure of phenomenal consciousness. For this reason, discussion of the phenomenon is incomprehensive and scattered throughout the literature, making it difficult to keep track of. Intruders in the Mind is an interdisciplinary attempt to bring together high-quality contributions to some of the most

Read more less

Book SynopsisA classic guide to expanding perception and consciousness development. In this highly acclaimed classic, psychedelic elder Ralph Metzner presents a guide to six ancient systems, once known only to the initiated few, to expand awareness and free your consciousness from exterior limitations and cultural conditioning. Metzner begins with the I Ching, revered by the Chinese as the oldest and wisest book in the world. He explains how it reveals change as the evolutionary constant and offers a hands-on method of divination and guidance. He explores the Hindu and Buddhist Tantras of medieval India, ancient practices celebrating the union of male and female energies that transmute ordinary sense experience into ecstatic ritual worship. He examines the Tarot, revealing how the cards act as culture-transcending mirrors, bringing us through worlds of darkness and light in a complex journey. He looks at the practice of alchemy, explaining how it is a “psychic chemistry” of inner union through which we can transform planetary and cosmic energies. He explores the esoteric aspects of astrology, revealing the rhythmic cycles of the planets and how their phases may be experienced in terms of motion and emotion. He then examines in depth the yoga philosophy of Actualism, centered on the techniques of Agni Yoga, which allow you to use your living “inner fire” to illuminate the shadow parts of consciousness and burn out that which obstructs the free flow of energy. With a new foreword by UC Berkeley professor of neurobiology David E. Presti and featuring all of the original diagrams, this edition of Metzner’s classic text shows how each of these disciplines can help the modern individual become a fully aware and conscious participant in their own spiritual evolution.Trade Review“An unparalleled guidebook for readers interested in the mind and its workings. Ralph Metzner was a master cartographer who described each map in a fascinating reader-friendly narrative that may resonate with readers’ own experiences.” * Stanley Krippner, Ph.D., distinguished professor at California Institute of Integral Studies *“A testament to Metzner’s visionary legacy, this classic study of consciousness is finally back in print, providing both philosophical and practical guidelines for the journey of inner awakening. Rich in its cross-cultural exploration of the spiritual quest, this book is a treasure house, a resource guide you will want to return to over and over again.” * Rabbi Simcha Paull Raphael, Ph.D., author of Jewish Views of the Afterlife and founding director of *“Published more than 50 years ago, Maps of Consciousness is as relevant today as it was then. Metzner has shown us how the organizational structures found in astrology, tarot, I Ching, and other knowledge maps can be used to rise above the automatic responses that dominate the lives of most people. And his presentation is not just a tip of the hat to tradition; it is also explained and reinterpreted in the context of modern thought, particularly Jungian and Gestalt psychology. The holistic pathways described in this book offer guideposts for those on a spiritual quest, a journey that begins with self-knowledge. Importantly, these ancient methods are challenging and designed for total personal transformations, not just behavior changes.” * Bruce Scofield, author of The Nature of Astrology *“Metzner’s Maps of Consciousness is a foundational offering in his lifelong work to digest diverse esoteric texts from around the world and share them with a wider audience of fellow explorers. Each new reader will recognize how they, too, exist in the context of multiple millennia of fellow explorers from around the world, seeking understanding, meaning, and wisdom in a world that can be as dizzying as it is marvelous. Metzner was a brave soul, joining a long lineage of our intrepid ancestors who not only dedicated their lives to such explorations but also took the time to share their working hypothesis and evolving maps of psyche and cosmos with others.” * Kile Ortigo, Ph.D., author of Beyond the Narrow Life *“Far ahead of his time when this book was first published, Metzner was one of the first Western scholars and clinicians to recognize the psychological value of astrology, which illuminates cycles of change and the spiritual significance of each moment. This is a groundbreaking work that helped birth the field of spiritual psychology.” * Greg Bogart, Ph.D., MFT, lecturer at Sonoma State University and author of In the Company of Sages *“A rich account of alternative ways of knowing and being that splendidly rewards any serious student of consciousness who takes the time to dig out all the gems that lie within it!’’ * Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D., author of The Human Odyssey *“I was fortunate to take a course with Ralph Metzner using Maps of Consciousness as the textbook. All the disciplines covered in the book were explained in such a clear and concise manner that I left the class well-informed and inspired to continue the pursuit of a deeper understanding of other ways to expand and study consciousness.” * Antonio Nunez, Ph.D., professor, consultant, and coach *“This notable republishing of Ralph Metzner’s classic Maps of Consciousness is extremely timely. The potential for a true culture of kindness to emerge into the mainstream, ever present since that period, is furthered by Metzner’s cogent summaries of perennial wisdom. Astrology in particular is thankfully gaining ground as are the other models of spirit outlined here. Bravo!” * Henry Seltzer, author of The Tenth Planet *“We are in the midst of the need for a powerful spiritual renaissance. This welcome reissue of Maps of Consciousness leads us to revisit the exploration of the ancient and modern wisdom of the I Ching, Taoism, the tarot, astrology and Actualism. Read it; there is a lighted way on every page!” * Jais Booth, president of Star Mountain School of Liminal Art *“A collection of profound esoteric wisdom. It is on Ralph’s shoulders we stand as he remains an inspiration to all of us as we continue this pilgrim path of evolving consciousness.” * Justine Willis Toms, cofounder and host of New Dimensions Radio and author of Small Pleasures *“Ralph Metzner was a pioneer in exploring altered consciousness not only through psychedelics but also in utilizing different spiritual ways to work the mind.” * Michael Erlewine, renowned astrologer and director of the Heart Center Karma Thegsum Chöling *“This book was very important to me when it first came out and remains important to this day.” * Ralph Abraham, professor emeritus of mathematics at University of California, Santa Cruz *Table of ContentsFOREWORD: A Guide to Maps for Knowing Thyself by David E. Presti PREFACE INTRODUCTION: The New Renaissance I CHING: Change—The Evolutionary Constant TANTRA: The Exaltation of Experience TAROT: Signposts on the Way ALCHEMY: The Chemistry of Inner Union ASTROLOGY I: The Celestial Scenario ASTROLOGY II: The Planetary Perspective

Read more less

Book SynopsisMirroring Brains combines neuroscience, psychology and philosophy to provide a comprehensive account of one of the most intriguing discoveries of the last 30 years--the discovery of mirror neurons. These neurons are characterized by firing both when someone performs an action, and also when they observe the same action being performed by others. Whereas it was widely regarded as characteristic of only a small subset of neurons, recent discoveries have shown that the mirror property is a fundamental principle of the functioning of the whole brain. Exploring this discovery, Rizzolatti and Sinigaglia explain how we are able to immediately understand others'' actions and emotions, providing a deeper understanding of how we relate to each other and introducing the idea of ''understanding from the inside''.Mirroring Brains provides a new interpretation of the property and function of mirror neurons, allowing readers an insight into a fundamental principle of brain function. Rizzolatti and Sinigaglia provide a rich survey of the main neuronal and psychological findings concerning the mirror mechanism, plus an extensive discussion of its potential role in social cognition. It is an essential read for neuroscientists, psychologists, philosophers, sociologists, and anyone who is interested in understanding how we relate to each other.Table of Contents1: A Mirroring Brain 2: Actions 3: Emotions 4: Vitality Forms 5: Mirroring and Understanding 6: Understanding from the Inside

Read more less

Book SynopsisWritten by self-development coach and 'Queen of Manifesting' Roxie Nafousi, this book is the essential guide to anyone and everyone wanting to feel more empowered in their lives. In just seven simple steps you can understand the true art of manifestation and create the life you have always dreamed of. Whether you want to attract your soulmate, land the perfect job, buy the home you have always wanted, or simply find more inner-peace and confidence, Manifest will teach you exactly how to get there... 1. Be clear in your vision 2. Remove fear and doubt 3. Align your behavior 4. Overcome tests from the universe 5. Embrace gratitude without caveats 6. Turn envy into inspiration 7. Trust in the universe A meeting of science and wisdom, manifesting is a philosophy and a self-development practice to help you reach for your goals, cultivate self-love and live your best life. Unlock the magic for yourself and begin your journey to turning your dreams into reality.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAdam Sandel revives one of the oldest philosophical questions: What constitutes a good life? Drawing on thinkers ancient and modern, as well as his own experience as a record-setting athlete, he argues that fulfillment lies not in achieving goals but in forging a life journey that enables us to see our struggles and triumphs as an integrated whole.Trade ReviewHere, at last, is a book about what happiness really means, and why it often eludes us in our stressed-out, always-on lives. Adam Sandel, a young philosopher with wisdom beyond his years, ranges from Socrates to popular culture to show that happiness is not about piling up achievements but about living life as a journey, in harmony with nature and in the company of friends. -- Arianna Huffington, Founder and CEO, ThriveHappiness in Action points the way to a deeper life. In this spirited and humane book, Adam Sandel shows that happiness does not lie in a string of accomplishments, but in attending to the moments that unfold as we are absorbed in meaningful activities, and forging from these moments the narrative coherence of our lives. -- Matthew Crawford, author of Shop Class as SoulcraftAdam Sandel’s book will help bring philosophy back to the place it once held—as a central pursuit whose value is open to all. His philosophical exposition unwinds itself with grace and clarity, giving readers a new and richer understanding of what it means to live for the journey. -- Sean D. Kelly, coauthor of All Things ShiningA remarkable book. It addresses an omnipresent and vexing subject—how to live a fulfilling life—with verve, creativity, and wisdom. Adam Sandel’s eloquent prescription bristles with insights drawn from deep study and fearless reflection. I was surprised, enthralled, instructed, and elevated as I read. -- Randall Kennedy, author of Say It Loud!Proposes that fulfillment comes not from racking up successes, but from losing ourselves in activities that we find meaningful…Offers much to ponder; Sandel’s critiques of technology and its effects on our judgment and agency are particularly resonant. * Christian Science Monitor *Adam Sandel brings learning, wisdom, and clarity to age-old questions about how to live a life of happiness and meaning. At once immersed in the insights from classical Western thinkers and alert to his own experiences and challenges, Sandel offers perspective and consolation relevant to our challenging times, and perhaps, to any age. -- Martha Minow, author of When Should Law Forgive?Drawing on his own experiences, Sandel makes philosophy accessible for readers who, in their own infinitely various ways, struggle with the tension between goal-oriented striving and the embrace of life as a journey. -- Daniel Moran * New Books Network *Through thoughtful engagement with ancient philosophy, Sandel proves there are still fresh arguments to be made about how to live a fulfilling life. Falling somewhere between an erudite self-help manual and an accessible philosophical treatise, this provides plenty to ponder. * Publishers Weekly *Adam Sandel’s book reclaims for philosophy what has recently been captured by the vast self-help literature: the question of how to live a good and worthy life. Sandel offers a compelling critique of goal-driven activity and offers a moving alternative that emphasizes the virtues of self-possession, friendship, and engagement with nature. Written with great clarity in a wonderfully compelling manner, this exquisite work engages the vital questions of how to live without jargon and yet with depth and subtlety. -- Moshe Halbertal, author of Maimonides: Life and Thought

Read more less

Book SynopsisJonathan Lear’s insightful meditation joins the end of the world to the end—that is, the purpose—of living. How to persist in the face of planetary catastrophe and the realization that even cultures can die? Lear sees in mourning an avenue of thriving and turns to a handful of moral exemplars to refine our sense of the good we can yet achieve.Trade ReviewLear is a lovely and subtle writer, someone who has a rare capacity to introduce ways of seeing and interrogating the world that dignify our confusion and pain while also opening up new possibilities for moving forward…There are no answers in Imagining the End, or in most of Lear’s work. There are no recipes for maturity. Or plans for a stable peace in Ukraine. What his work does give us is an example of how to engage in the world with extraordinary care. -- Daniel Oppenheimer * Washington Post *Lear moves agilely among the ideas of such philosophers as Aristotle, Kant, and Wittgenstein while using the insights of psychoanalysis to explore the human drive to create meaning…[A] wondrous and humanizing book. -- Paul Baumann * National Review *Offers provocative reflections on flourishing in the face of existential and civilizational challenges. * Publishers Weekly *Imagining the End suggests, in a sober yet hopeful spirit, how mourning, rightly understood, can give meaning to our lives in the disenchanted times in which we find ourselves. In exploring the hopes that have failed us, the projects that have run into the sand, the loves we have lost, the attachments that have come to an end—a work of what amounts to creative mourning—we can develop a stance in the here and how from which the psyche can look outward and flourish. As he did earlier in his explorations of what it can mean to hope, Jonathan Lear here expands and deepens our understanding of what it can mean to mourn. -- J. M. Coetzee, Nobel LaureateA deeply insightful and thought-enriching work by one of the most original philosophers writing today. Imagining the End is acutely aware of the danger we stand in of finding ourselves on an uninhabitable planet. But Lear is also aware of how the consciousness of impending loss can bring out the illumination inherent in meaningful life, often occluded in day-to-day living. -- Charles Taylor, author of A Secular AgeA greatly original treatment of central issues of human life—issues which have taken on new importance as we have become sharply aware of the vulnerability of life on this planet. Lear’s writing reshapes our understanding of where philosophy can take us. -- Cora Diamond, author of Reading Wittgenstein with Anscombe, Going On to EthicsMourning, as Jonathan Lear shows, has always been a way of remembering that can add something new to the world. Imagining the End takes a hard look at the contemporary grounds of despair—for a person, a group, or a species—but it conveys hope by the accuracy of its imaginings. Lear’s treatment here of a great subject of moral psychology is characteristically subtle and inventive. -- David Bromwich, author of American BreakdownIn a world buffeted by multiple catastrophes, from gun violence to the destructive effects of climate change, psychoanalyst and philosopher Lear offers a hopeful path through grief and confusion. * Washington Post *An utterly distinctive work of moral philosophy, less an analysis of the threat climate change poses to our environment than to our estimation of ourselves…Lear’s writing [is] alive with the pleasure, inquisitiveness, and openness to surprise that it recommends. -- Jon Baskin * Chronicle of Higher Education *Anyone interested in mourning—and since we are all mourners, that leaves no one out—should read this book. -- Paul J. Griffiths * Commonweal *An elegant set of essays…[Each] is a lapidary exercise in precisely ordered, original, and aesthetically pleasing writing. The emphasis on ethical exemplars drawing on Aristotle’s virtue ethics is also a refreshing departure from the abstract principle-based approach to ethics which dominates, for example, American bioethics. -- Arthur Kleinman * Journal of Medical Humanities *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA brilliant distillation of the key ideas behind successful self-improvement practices throughout history, showing us how they remain relevant todayTrade Review“Schaffner finds more in contemporary self-improvement literature to admire than criticize...Picking out these genealogies lies at the heart of Schaffner’s revelatory book.”—Kathryn Hughes, Times Literary Supplement"In a world where cynicism is too easy and 'self-help' can be pejorative, this erudite historical analysis is truly precious, affirming the intellectual dignity of the human desire to become better versions of ourselves.”—Jonathan Rowson, author of The Moves That Matter: A Chess Grandmaster on the Game of Life “Through her keen and sensitive reading of everything from Lao Tzu to Frozen, Schaffner demonstrates that the heart of human wisdom is the faith that we can improve. This book is erudite, engaging, and elegant—a wonderful read.”—Jonathan Malesic, author of The End of Burnout“With astonishing and entertaining excerpts from the literatures of self-improvement and virtue from Western and Eastern systems of philosophy, and with fine pacing throughout, this book is a formidable contribution to the literature on self-improvement practices. The breadth and depth of the research is staggering.”—Micki McGee, Fordham University“This book is informative, comprehensive, and entertaining; while including history and research, Schaffner adds terrific interpretations of Disney and Nietzsche! It’s a necessary book for our Zeitgeist, adding ‘why’ and ‘how’ to Rilke’s poetic line: ‘You must change your life.’”—Scott Haas, author of Why Be Happy?: The Japanese Way of Acceptance “With remarkable range, this fascinating book brings alive new worlds of self-relations. It is inspiring both academically and personally.”—Greta Wagner, Technical University of Darmstadt

Read more less

Book SynopsisLearning to Look is a wandering journey through the nature of art - and the ways it can transform us, if we let it. Author of Infinite Baseball, Alva Noë, presents a collection of short, stimulating essays that explore how we experience art and what it means to be an observer. Experiencing art - letting it do its work on us - takes thought, attention, and focus. It requires creation, even from the beholder. And it is in this process of confrontation and reorganization that artworks can lead us to remake ourselves. Ranging far and wide, from Pina Bausch to Robocop, from Bob Dylan to Vermeer, Noë uses encounters with specific artworks to gain entry into a world of fascinating issues - like how philosophy and science are represented in film; what evolutionary biology says about art; or the role of relics, fakes, and copies in our experience of a work. The essays in Learning to Look are short, accessible, and personal. Each one arises out of an art encounter - in a museum, listening to records, or going to a concert. Each essay stands on its own, but taken together, they form an intimate picture of our relationship with art. Carefully articulating the experience of each of these encounters, Noë proposes that, like philosophy, art is a sort of technology for understanding ourselves. Put simply, art is an opportunity for us to enact ourselves anew.Table of ContentsPreface Encounters 1 Soup is an anagram of opus 2 I am sitting in a room 3 40 speakers in a room 4 Two left hands 5 Rock art 6 The power of performance 7 Cheap thrills at the Whitney 8 Whaling with Turner 9 Take my breath away 10 Speak, draw, dance 11 Beach beasts on the move 11 Making the work work 13 Irrational man 14 RoboCop's philosophers 15 Pointing the way to liberation, in Star Trek: Voyager 16 An Awkward Synthesis Pictures 17 The anatomy lesson 18 The importance of being dressed 19 The art of the brain 20 Faces and masks 21 The philosophical eye 22 The camera and the dance 23 Why are 3-D movies so bad? 24 The myth of 3-D immersion 25 Storying telling and the

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewEnergy is one of those things we all want more of but few have figured out how to find it. And even fewer have figured out how to channel it even when they have found it. Simon's book is exactly what we need in this moment. * Simon Sinek, optimist and New York Times bestselling author of Start With Why and The Infinite Game *Energize shows you how to awaken your greatest sources of energy, rewire your mental blueprint [...] and protect your ability to focus on what matters most * Dorie Clark, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Long Game and executive education faculty, Duke University Fuqua School of Business *A must-read book that will inspire you to live a better story and awaken your imagination to what is truly possible * Keith Ferrazzi, New York Times #1 bestselling author *This is not a one-time-read kind of book. This is a book to be absorbed, notes taken, reflected on and returned to again and again. Simon has packed so many takeaways into these pages you should be ordering it on Deliveroo. I loved it! * Andrea McLean, CEO & co-founder of This Girl Is On Fire and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author *What a fantastic book! Simon is here to help us all find clarity and meaning in our lives * Adrienne Herbert, podcast host and author of Power Hour *Energize is your new battery pack for navigating the many personal, professional and global changes we are all facing. Simon Alexander Ong writes with clarity and grace on how to 'perform effortless acts of alchemy' by harnessing this most vital resource * Jenny Blake, author of Pivot *A game-changing book that will supercharge your life! * Bev James, Sunday Times bestselling author of Do It! or Ditch It *Simon teaches you how to make the singular most pivotal investment of your life. The investment in your own energy * Patrick Drake, co-founder and former head chef of HelloFresh UK *Simon is a force for positive personal change. Energy is contagious and this book teaches you how to boost yours and use it on the things that matter most * Zanna van Dijk, co-founder of Stay Wild and Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur *I believe that positive energy equals good business. Simon emanates this when he is addressing audiences of founders who bounce their positivity right back at him! This book will be a valuable guide to anyone looking to follow their own path and build energy levels through becoming their own boss * Emma Jones CBE, founder of Enterprise Nation *Learning how to manage your energy changes your life. Don't just read this book, do it! * Marie Forleo, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Everything is Figureoutable *Thoughtfully written and incredibly researched, Energize will change the way you view energy in and around you. Simon provides practical advice to help you achieve your full potential in every area of your life. Exceptional! * Dr Marshall Goldsmith, Thinkers50 #1 Executive Coach and New York Times bestselling author of Triggers *I used to think that all this energy talk was too 'Woo Woo' for me until I realised how drained I felt when spending my time on the wrong things or with the wrong people. Learning how to energize ourselves is key to being happy and successful. When we're in flow, we are full of energy; when we are full of energy, we are in flow. As Simon says, we need to manage our energy as preciously as we do our time * Shaa Wasmund MBE, author of How to Fix Your Sh*t *As a business owner and a mum, I've come to realise that my energy really is everything, like Simon says. This book is beautifully written and it is truly going to energize, inspire you and change the way you approach life forever * Carrie Green *Energy is our most precious personal resource * Helen Tupper, co-author of The Squiggly Career and You Coach You *This powerful book will transform the way you live * Ali Abdaal, doctor, podcaster and soon to be author *

Read more less

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.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMany consider the nature of human consciousness to be one of the last great unsolved mysteries. Why should the light turn on, so to speak, in human beings at all? And how is the electrical storm of neurons under our skull connected with our consciousness? Is the self only our brain’s user interface, a kind of stage on which a show is performed that we cannot freely direct? In this book, philosopher Markus Gabriel challenges an increasing trend in the sciences towards neurocentrism, a notion which rests on the assumption that the self is identical to the brain. Gabriel raises serious doubts as to whether we can know ourselves in this way. In a sharp critique of this approach, he presents a new defense of the free will and provides a timely introduction to philosophical thought about the self – all with verve, humor, and surprising insights. Gabriel criticizes the scientific image of the world and takes us on an eclectic journey of self-reflection by way of such concepts as self, consciousness, and freedom, with the aid of Kant, Schopenhauer, and Nagel but also Dr. Who, The Walking Dead, and Fargo.Trade Review"Challenging the lofty claims of many neuroscientists.... Markus Gabriel has written a wonderfully polemical work. Its clearly developed arguments and lively examples are highly convincing."—Die Welt "It is a rare gift to be able to philosophize from first principles in a way that is neither patronizingly derivative nor technically arcane and in a manner that is accessible to the general reader. But Gabriel possesses that gift in bucketloads."—Simon Critchley, New School for Social Research "Markus Gabriel is a speculative wunderkind."—Neue Zürcher Zeitüng "Gabriel's engaging, accessible and incisive introduction to the philosophy of mind tackles the deep problems raised by both classical thinkers and modern neuroscience. Bringing the zombies and homunculi of the philosophical debates together with the Daleks and Fargo, it is as illuminating as it is enjoyable."—Dr. Sacha Golob, King's College London "Nowadays, 'The Brain' has taken over all the attributes with which the Modernity endowed 'the Subject.' Against this travesty, Markus Gabriel makes subjectivity as such prominent again and, by so doing, maybe, helps us make better sense of the brain as well."—Jocelyn Benoist, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne "Gabriel shows up the flaws and contradictions in reductive theories of mind, based on natural science. His many-facetted argument, where the technical terms are explained in an engaging and available language, with frequent references to contemporary science fiction films and stories, culminates in a powerful vision of 21st-century humanism."—Charles Taylor, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, McGill University "Only 37, Gabriel is demonstrating that German philosophers can find a wide audience — without being merely slick or superficial."—Foreign PolicyTable of ContentsIntroduction Mind and Geist Elementary Particles and Conscious Organisms The Decade of the Brain Can the Mind Be Free in a Brain Scan? The Self as a USB-Stick Neuromania and Darwinitis – The Example of Fargo Mind – Brain – Ideology The Cartography of Self-Interpretation I. What is at Stake in the Philosophy of Mind? Mind in the Universe? In the Spirit of Hegel The Historical Animal on the Social Stage Why not Everything, but at least Something is Teleological II. Consciousness I See Something That You Do Not See! Neuronal Thunderstorms and the Arena of Consciousness Buddha, the Snake and the Bat – Again Surfing On the Wave of Neuro-Kantianism Nothing Is Beyond Our Experience – Or Is There? Faith, Love, Hope – Are They All Just Illusions? An Altruist is Lodged in Every Ego Davidson’s Dog and Derrida’s Cat Tasty Consciousness The Intelligence of the Robot Vacuum Cleaner Strange Days – The Noise of Consciousness What Mary Still Doesn’t Know The Discovery of the Universe in a Monastery Sensations are Not Subtitles to a Chinese Movie God’s-Eye View III. Self-Consciousness How History Can Expand Our Consciousness Monads in the Mill Bio is Not Always Better than Techno How the Clown Attempted To Get Rid of Omnipotence Self-Consciousness in a Circle IV. Who or What Is This Thing We Call: The Self? The Reality of Illusions Puberty-Reductionism and the Toilet Theory Self is God Fichte: The Almost Forgotten Grandmaster of the Self The Three Pillars of the Science of Knowledge In the Human Being Nature Opens her Eyes and Sees that She Exists ‘Let Daddy Take Care of this’: Freud and Stromberg Drives Meet Hard Facts Oedipus and the Milk Carton V. Freedom Can I Will Not to Will What I Will? The Self is Not a One-Armed Bandit Why Cause and Reason are Not the Same Thing and What That Has to Do with Tomato Sauce Friendly Smites Meanie and Defeats Metaphysical Pessimism Human Dignity is Inviolable On the Same Level as God or Nature? PS: There Are No Savages Man is Not a Face Drawn in Sand Notes Bibliography Index of Concepts Index of Names

Read more less

Book SynopsisA recent wave of research in psychiatry and neuroscience has re-examined the properties of classic psychedelic substances - also known as serotonergic hallucinogens - such as psilocybin, LSD, and DMT. Evidence to date suggests that psychedelics can be given safely in controlled conditions, at moderate to high doses, and may have potential as therapeutic agents in the treatment of various addictive and mood disorders. The main mechanism of action appears to be the induction of a dramatically altered state of consciousness, but the details of how psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy works are hotly debated, as are the relations between psychedelic experiences themselves and the neural changes induced by the drugs. Philosophical Perspectives on Psychedelic Psychiatry addresses the fascinating philosophical questions raised by the renewed psychiatric use of psychedelics, with chapters from leading philosophers of mind, science, and psychiatry centred around three main themes. Chapters in the

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book, whose original French edition achieved worldwide attention when its author died trying to save two children caught in a riptide, challenges the psychic work the modern world devotes to avoiding risk. Weaving psychoanalytic case studies together with philosophical reflections, Dufourmantelle shows how risk is an essential property of life, one that requires our embrace.Table of ContentsTranslator’s Introduction: The Risk of Reading | ix To Risk One’s Life | 1 Eurydice Saved | 4 Minuscule Magical Dependencies | 8 Voluntary Servitude and Disobedience | 11 In Suspense | 13 At the Risk of Passion | 17 Leaving the Family | 22 Forgetting, Anamnesis, Deliverance | 24 Incurable (In)fidelities | 29 Zero Risk? | 33 How (Not) to Become Oneself . . . | 36 Being in Secret | 39 Befriending Our Fears | 41 At the Risk of Being Sad | 46 At the Risk of Being Free | 49 The Time They Call Lost | 52 Dead Alive | 55 Of a Perception Infinitely Vaster . . . | 59 Anxiety, Lack—Spiritual Hunger? | 63 Farewell Magic World: Beyond Disappointment | 67 Life—Mine, Yours | 70 At the Risk of the Unknown | 72 At the Risk of Being Carnal | 74 May There Be an End to Our Torment . . . | 79 Breaking Up | 82 At the Risk of Speech | 86 Solitudes | 89 Laughter, Dreaming—Beyond the Impasse | 93 Hope No More | 101 Once Upon a Time, the “Athenaeum” . . . or, Why Risk Romanticism? | 106 Risking Belief | 111 Risking Variation | 114 The Event: Hyperpresence | 119 Intimate Prophecy | 122 At the Risk of Bedazzlement | 127 Desire, Body, Writing | 130 Healing? | 139 An Other Language | 142 Risking Scandal | 145 Taking the Risk of Childhood | 148 Assiduity | 151 Risking the Future | 154 At the Risk of Beauty | 158 At the Risk of Spirit | 162 Risking the Universal? | 164 Hauntings | 167 Spirals, Ellipses, Metaphors, Anamorphoses | 170 Envisaging Night | 173 Revolutions | 176 At the Risk of Going Through Hell (Eurydice) | 180 Notes | 187

Read more less

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.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis unique book is about freeing psychology's poetic imagination from the dead weight of unconscious assumptions about the soul. Whether we think of the soul scientifically or medically, behaviourally or in terms of inner development, all of us are used to thinking of it in an individual context, as something personal. In this book, however, we are asked to consider psychology from a truly transpersonal perspective as a cultural, universal-human phenomenon.Cobb teaches us to look at the world as a record of the soul's struggles to awaken and as the soul's poetry. From this perspective, the real basis of the mind is poetic. Beauty, love, and creativity are as much instincts of the soul as sexuality or hunger. Cobb shows us how artists and mystics can teach us the meaning of love, death, and beauty, if only we can awaken to their creations. The exemplars here are Dante, Rumi, Rilke, Munch, Lorca, Schumann, and Tarkovsky.Trade Review'Archetypal Imagination finds wonderful new ways to bless psychopathology. Rich with good learning and clear writing."-- James Hillman, author of The Soul's Code'I like Noel Cobb's outcries on behalf of ferocity, loneliness, anxiety, "the hideous hag of life", beauty sitting in the lap of terror, Edvard Munch's paintings and Garcia Lorca's panther-like poems -- let's have more.'-- Robert Bly, author of Iron John and The Sibling Society'In this richly stuffed book, Cobb takes psychology to the threshold and invites it into the world, where the artist is bold enough to live, where its language may have more life and its images more independence.'-- Thomas Moore, author of The Care of the Soul and Original Self: Living with Paradox and Originality

Read more less

Book SynopsisNew edition, including a new introduction by the author, of this inspiring guide to developing your full potential. A perfect buy for the business market as well as those wishing to explore their power of their brain, this book shows you how to imitate Leonardo Da Vinci's thought processes and so enhance your aptitude in every area of your life.Learn how to fulfill your true potential by developing the thought processes used by Renaissance master Leonardo Da Vinci. Simply by imitating his insatiable quest for information and experience, we can all enhance our own aptitude in all facets of our lives.Michael Gelb discusses the seven fundamental elements of Da Vinci's thought process and offers practical ways to incorporate them into our own lives. The techniques outlined in the book help readers to develop the same traits of whole-brain thinking, creative problem solving and continuous learning, all of which are vital in today's world.Numerous exercises, anecdotes and illustrations help Trade Review‘Buy it. Read it. Live it!’ TONY BUZAN ‘By capturing the very essence of Da Vinci’s life and genius- the seeming perfect integration of mind, body, spirit and soul- Michael Gelb guides us in a discovery and understanding of the boundlessness of our own full human potential.’ DEEPAK CHOPRA ‘A brilliant and practical guide to awakening and training our vast, unused resources of intelligence and ability… Get this book and stick with it.’ TED HUGHES

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhy do people reject science and believe online conspiracy theories? How are people radicalized online and go on to commit acts of violence? Why is our society so politically polarized?Astonishingly irrational ideas are spreading. Covid denial persists in the face of overwhelming evidence. Anti-vaxxers compromise public health. Conspiracy thinking hijacks minds and incites mob violence. Toxic partisanship is cleaving nations, And climate denial has pushed our planet to the brink. Meanwhile, American Nazis march openly in the streets, and Flat Earth theory is back. What the heck is going on? Why is all this happening, and why now? More important, what can we do about it?In Mental Immunity, Andy Norman shows that these phenomena share a root cause. We live in a time when the so-called ?right to your opinion? is thought to trump our responsibilities. The resulting ethos effectively compromises mental immune systems, allowing ?mind parasites? to overrun them. Conspiracy theories, evidence-defying ideologies, garden-variety bad ideas: these are all species of mind parasite, and each of them employs clever strategies to circumvent mental immune systems. In fact, some of them compromise cultural immune systems ? the things societies do to prevent bad ideas from spreading. Norman shows why all of this is more than mere analogy: minds and cultures really do have immune systems, and they really can break down. Fortunately, they can also be built up: strengthened against ideological corruption. He calls for a rigorous science of mental immune health ? what he calls ?cognitive immunology? ? and explains how it could revolutionize our capacity for critical thinking.Hailed as ?a feast for thought,? Mental Immunity melds cutting-edge work in science and philosophy into an ?astonishingly enlightening and productive? solution to the signature problem of our age. A practical guide to spotting and removing bad ideas, a stirring call to transcend petty tribalism, and a serious bid to bring humanity to its senses.Trade Review“A splendid idea for a book: original, controversial, and timely." — Steven Pinker, author of How the Mind Works and Enlightenment Now “Important, provocative, and just what humanity needs!” — Angela Duckworth, New York Times bestselling author of Grit “Gentle yet powerful, humble yet wise. . . .A feast for thought.” — Patricia Churchland, author of Conscience and Touching a Nerve “The most important book you will read this year.” — Brian Hare, coauthor of Survival of the Friendliest “Astonishingly enlightening and productive.” — Michael Tomasello, author of Becoming Human and A Natural History of Human Thinking “An exhilarating ride . . . destined to change the way we think about science and religion.” — Lee McIntyre, author of Post-Truth and How to Talk to a Science Denier “Norman’s tools for inoculating minds should be taught to everyone. . . .A masterful treatise.” — Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic and author of The Moral Arc and Heavens on Earth “Charming, simple, and intelligent narration carrying ideas that can change the world.” — Eric Lotke, author of Making Manna and Union Made “A fine example of philosophy at work to solve real social problems.” — Peter Singer, Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics, Princeton University “A thrilling expedition on an emerging scientific frontier.” — Dennis Trumble, author of The Way of Science

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe writings of William James represent one of America''s most original contributions to the history of ideas. Ranging from philosophy and psychology to religion and politics, James composed the most engaging formulation of American pragmatism. ''Pragmatism'' grew out of a set of lectures and the full text is included here along with ''The Meaning of Truth'', ''Psychology'', ''The Will to Believe'', and ''Talks to Teachers on Psychology''.Table of ContentsIntroduction by Giles GunnSuggestions for Further ReadingA Note on the TextsPragmatism (1907)PrefaceLecture I: The Present Dilemma in PhilosophyLecture II: What Pragmatism MeansLecture III: Some Metaphysical Problems Pragmatically ConsideredLecture IV: The One and the ManyLecture V: Pragmatism and Common SenseLecture VI: Pragmatism's Conception of TruthLecture VII: Pragmatism and HumanismLecture VIII: Pragmatism and ReligionFrom The Meaning of Truth (1909)PrefaceThe Tigers in IndiaHumanism and TruthFrom Psychology: Briefer Course (1892)The Stream of ConsciousnessFrom The Will to Believe and Other Essays in Popular Philosophy (1897)PrefaceThe Will to BelieveIs Life Worth Living?The Moral Philosopher and the Moral LifeFrom Talks to Teachers on Psychology: And to Students on Some of Life's Ideals (1899)II. On a Certain Blindness in Human BeingsIII. What Makes a Life SignificantMiscellaneous EssaysAddress at the Centenary of Ralph Waldo Emerson (1903)A World of Pure Experience (1904)Is Radical Empiricism Solipsistic? (1905)Notes

Read more less

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.

Read more less

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 *

Read more less