Psychology: states of consciousness Books

Book SynopsisA fascinating look at the dark side of dreaming from a dream expert.

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Book SynopsisA rare colour-enhanced example of Oriental Romanticism and psychotropic drug use in late 19th century American fiction.

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Book SynopsisThis book is for professionals and general readers looking for ways to harness and focus their natural abilities to relax, ease pain, prepare for and recover from surgery, heal, overcome depression, and change themselves. The book includes inductions for sleep, anxiety and panic, weight loss, nonsmoking, recovering from illness, self-esteem, motivation, enhancing creativity, improving learning, healing the adult survivor of child abuse, natural childbirth, and loss and separation.

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Book SynopsisIs my experience real?Or just a movie in my head?Am I no more than a super computer? You are your brain, neuroscientists tell us. Everything happens in there. Yet even the most sophisticated brain scan cannot tell us who we are. Nothing in our neurons remotely suggests the rich nature of our experience, the colours, sounds and smells that make up our lives. When Tim Parks came across a radical new theory of consciousness, he set on a quest that moves through one sparkling encounter after another to arrive at the deepest of questions: what stuff exactly is consciousness made of? And where is it? Inside or out? ‘An exceptionally witty and compelling look at the nature of consciousness… Parks is a delight to read’ Iain McGilchrist‘[It has] wit, humanity and insight… Parks is an entertaining companion throughout’ Mail on SundayTrade ReviewWith wit, humanity and insight… [Parks] tackles a question that the greatest philosophical and scientific minds have struggled with for centuries: what is consciousness?... Parks is an entertaining companion throughout * Mail on Sunday *Consciousness is weighty philosophical and scientific ground, yet Parks plots a chatty, accessible path through impenetrable academic papers and conferences on his quest to understand more about being human. So chatty, in fact, he often has conversations with himself, making Parks an even more likable guide to these lofty concepts. He’s not afraid to question some of Manzotti’s more ridiculous ideas, and muses on everything from the meaning of a midlife crisis to the much-loved Pixar film Inside Out, in which five cartoon emotions battle for control of the heroine’s psyche... A thoughtful quest to understand consciousness. * Observer *Parks, who is best-known for his Toujours Provence-like memoirs of life in Italy, succeeds admirably in bringing difficult ideas down a level. Eleanora Gallitelli, his Italian partner, who accompanies him to a psychiatric hospital in Heidelberg for research purposes, also helps. Gallitelli recently told me that she is deaf in one ear. The story of her sudden irreparable deafness — how her brain began to develop a mind of its own, playing tricks with spatial awareness and balance — is quite brilliantly told here. Parks writes well enough to appeal to the layman and the mind boffin alike. Out of My Head is pleasurably nutty, self-regarding and at times quite hilarious. * Evening Standard *[A] fantastic journey into the human brain...Parks makes an excellent point about what he calls the "internalist" position (that our picture of reality is just that: a subjective one, concocted by our brains), which is that it flatters our sense of our own importance, making of us creators of our own effectively unique worlds. -- Will Self * New Statesman *By describing his efforts to understand the phenomenon of consciousness in the form of a candid and entertaining journal-cum-memoir, Tim Parks has made a difficult subject interesting and accessible. He is an amateur in this crowded field but he presents professional neuroscientists with some challenging questions. -- David Lodge

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Book SynopsisWhy are sleep disorders more common in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), and how can parents recognise the signs and symptoms? Which treatments are most effective, how easy are they to implement and how successful can they be? Full of helpful information and practical advice, this comprehensive guide introduces the most common sleep issues in children with ASDs, describing both mainstream and complementary options for treatment, what is involved and the outcomes that can be expected. The author describes common underlying conditions that might lead to sleep difficulties, including genetic conditions, diet and physical factors, explaining how parents can identify these. Various issues that can affect sleep are explored, including night terrors, teeth grinding, bedwetting and sleepwalking, and practical solutions are given. This is essential reading for parents of children and teenagers on the autism spectrum who have difficulties associated with sleeping, and will also be of great help to all individuals with ASDs who experience sleep problems.Trade ReviewA marvellous book...Filled with practical knowledge and comprehensive in coverage, this book addresses an important and little discussed topic and will be of value to parents and practitioners alike. -- Fred R Volkmar, M.D., Director, Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine and Editor in Chief, Journal of Autism and Developmental DisordersDifficulties in sleeping are a major concern for parents of children on the autism spectrum and significantly affect their behaviour and performance. Strategies for addressing these are very important to enhance the quality of life for both the children and their parents. This book by Ken Aitken fills an important gap in the literature and will enable parents and others to understand why this population experience more problems and help them to find ways to improve their quality and length of sleep. -- Dr Glenys Jones, Autism Centre for Education and Research, University of Birmingham, UKThis book is absolutely packed with useful current information that reflects research into sleep disorders. Although it is an excellent resource for professionals, the flow charts are well-designed and represent good practice to keep the focus for parents. The rating system for different interventions is particularly good. This will definitely become a resource frequently employed in Scottish Autism's sleep counselling services. -- Alan Somerville, Chief Executive, Scottish AutismAitken discusses the types of sleep problems and what is most likely to work. He talks about the need to gather evidence about the problem... You are provided with helpful checklists and are guided through the process. This book is very comprehensive and provides the reader with an explanation of a number of sleep problems from narcolepsy to sleep apnea. This book is a helpful guide to anyone who is struggling with sleep problems which provides sensible advice and support. -- Sylvia Lowery * Alex Lowery speaks about autism blog *The author not only identifies that many problems experience but families of children who do not sleep but also gives many different and practical solutions...Sleep Well on the Autism Spectrum is not only a resource for parents with autistic children, by could be applied to any family who has a child with sleeping difficulties... This is a seriously good book, everything you could possibly want to know about common sleep difficulties and assessments of the treatments available for them... All this delivered in an easy, unpretentious style, along with pertinent quotations, illustrative case studies, charts, lists, graphs, pictures and diagrams makes it a pleasure to read. -- Amazon - IHC in your community, New Zealand, Parent of an 11 old autistic boyTable of ContentsIntroduction. Section A: You Think There is a Problem, so What Can You Do About It? 1. Sleep Problems. 2. What Sorts of Sleep Problems Are There? 3. How Common Are They? 4. How You Can Work Out What Might Help. Being 'a bit of a Sherlock Holmes' - the art and science of problem solving. So, what is the problem you need to try and sort? Looking through your evidence. What sorts of things might make sleep problems more common in ASD? 5. Finding Out About Your Problem. Getting a baseline. If you think: 'This feels too much like schoolwork, maybe I'll just skip it'. Looking through your Evidence. Trying to understand the problem. i) Finding out what else is going on. ii) Describing the sleep problem. Finding a Pattern. Why it can be so difficult to do what would work. What if there is a problem but you are still strugging to see a pattern? In a nutshell. 6. Ways to Sort Out Sleep Problems. Doing a basic sleep clean-up. Basic 'sleep hygiene' - getting a good nighttime routine. What you should aim for: In children. In adolescents. Using Social Stories to encourage a good nighttime routine. Deciding on a plan. In a nutshell. 7. Why Are Sleep Problems More Common in ASDs? How common are sleep problems in ASD? Do you really need to do anything about them? Sleep problems are more common in ASDs - do we know why? Section B: Specific Sleep Difficulties - The Different Sleep Problems, What They Are, and What Can Help. The most common sleep difficulties in ASDs. How sleep problems are classified. 5.1-5.4. Difficulty Getting to Sleep, Staying Asleep and Problems with Excessive Tiredness. 5.1 Insomnia. Peter can't seem to get to sleep - we hear him up at all hours.' What is it? How common is it? Does insomnia tend to get better with time? What can be done to treat it? How likely is Insomnia to respond to treatment? In a nutshell. 5.2 Difficulties with Settling to Sleep and Frequent Night-Waking. 'He never goes down to bed and he's up and down like a yo-yo all night long.' What is 'difficulty settling to sleep'? What is 'frequent night-waking'? Do these two problems tend to go together? How common are they? Do settling and night-waking tend to get better anyway? So what can be done to treat them? How well do they to respond to treatment? In a nutshell. 5.3. Restless Sleepers. 5.3.i. Restless Legs Syndrome. 'Fidgity Philip - he never seems to stop' What is it? How common is it? Does it tend to get better over time anyway? What can be done to treat it? How likely is it to respond to treatment? In a nutshell. 5.3.ii. Nocturnal Seizures. 'He gets hot and sweaty, shakes in his sleep and usually wets his bed. We can always tell when one is coming.' What are they? How common are they? Do they tend to get better anyway? What can be done to treat them? How likely are they to respond to treatment? In a nutshell. 5.3.iii. Sleep-Related Rhythmic Movement Disorder / Periodic Limb. Movements in Sleep. 'Why on earth does he keep doing that?' What is it? How common is it? Does it tend to get better in any event? What can be done to treat it? How likely is it to respond to treatment? In a nutshell. 5.3.iv. REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder. 'The boy who fought with his dreams.' What is it? How common is it? Does it tend to get better anyway? What can be done to treat it? How likely is it to respond to treatment? In a nutshell. 5.4. Short Nighttime Sleep ('Hyposomnia'). 'Why doesn't she sleep?' What is it? How common is it? Does it tend to get better anyway? What can be done to treat it? How likely is hyposomnia to respond to treatment? In a nutshell. 5.5-5.9. Problems During Sleep: The "common PARASOMNIAS of ASD". 5.5. Nightmares. 'Exit, pursued by a bear.' What are nightmares? How common are they? Do they tend to get better anyway? What can be done to treat nightmares? How likely are nightmares to respond to treatment? In a nutshell. 5.6. 'Night Terrors'. 'He just seems to wakes up and scream and scream- nobody knows why.' What are night terrors? How common are they? Do they tend to get better anyway? What can be done to treat them? How likely are they to respond to treatment? In a nutshell. 5.7. Bedwetting (Nighttime enuresis). 'His bed is always saturated and he refuses to wear anything at night. We're sure he does it just to annoy us.' What is it? How common is it? Does it tend to get better in any event? What can be done to treat nighttime eneuresis? i) Behavioural Interventions. ii) Medications. iii) Alternative and Complementary Treatments. How likely is nighttime enuresis to respond to treatment? In a nutshell. 5.8. Sleepwalking (Somnambulism)/ Sleeptalking (Somnliloquy) / Sleep groaning (Catathrenia). 'We often pass him in the hall on our way to bed, walking around the house but fas asleep and oblivious to anything we say.' What are sleepwalking, sleep talking and sleep groaning? How common are they? Do they tend to improve without treatment? What can be done to treat them? How likely are they to respond to treatment? In a nutshell. 5.9. Excessive Daytime Sleepiness/Tiredness (EDS/'Hypersomnia'). 'He seems to be tired all the time no matter what we do.' What is it? How common is EDS? Does it tend to get better anyway? What can be done to treat it? How likely is EDS to respond to treatment? In a nutshell. 5.10-5.14. Other, less common sleep issues seen in ASDs. 5.10. Excessive Nighttime Sleep. 'Sometimes we start to think he'll never wake up.' What is it? How common is Excessive Sleep? Does it tend to get better anyway? What can be done to treat it? How likely is it to respond to treatment? 5.11. Night-time Eating Disorders. 'It's as if he can't stop eating and he just ignores us when we ask him why.' What are Night-time Eating Disorders? How common are they? Do they tend to get better anyway? What can be done to treat them? How likely are they to respond to treatment? 5.12. Sleep Bruxism (Tooth-grinding while asleep). 'We can hear her through the whole house, it feels like someone is using a drill in the house next door.' What is it? How common is it? Does bruxism tend to get better anyway? What can be done to treat bruxism? How likely is bruxism to respond to treatment? In a nutshell. 5.13. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). 'He could snore for us in the Olympics.' What is OSA? How common is OSA? Does it tend to get better in any event? What can be done to treat OSA? How likely is OSA to respond to treatment? In a nutshell. 5.14. Narcolepsy. 'Everything is going along fine, then sometyhing happens like a balloon popping or a car backfiring and we find him collapsed in a heap on the floor.' What is it? How common is it? Does it tend to get better in any event? What can be done to treat it? How likely is it to respond to treatment? In a nutshell. How to decide if all your hard work has been worthwhile. Maintaining improvements. Section CL Sleep: What Is It and What Do We Know About It? What is sleep? Why do we sleep? Do we know why we dream? What happens to us while we sleep. Electrical brain activity. Changes in body chemistry that happen while we sleep. Why good sleep is important for you and your brain. How our sleep-wake patterns change as we get older. The Brain at Rest. Sleep and diet. Alcohol consumption. Diet, Genetics and Brain Development. Social Interaction and Sleep. Why mum's laughter is probably one of the best medicines for the growing baby. Mother-Infant Co-sleeping. How babies calm themselves. Other factors that can affect sleep. How much sleep is normal? Do we need to sleep at all? What is a normal sleep pattern for a child? What is typical night's sleep? Section D: Some of the Reasons Sleep Problems Can Happen. Sleep and mum's mood. The biology of sleep. Differences in the chemical that triggers tiredness. Visual impairments and their link to poor sleep. Oxytocin. Why you yawn. Diet, Sleep and ASD. Physical factors that can affect sleep. Other Factors that can Influence Sleep. Sleep deprivation and brain growth. Brain injuries. Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Physical growth and sleep. Obesity. Genetic Conditions with high rates of sleep problems. 'Clock Genes'. Conclusion. Glossary of Terms. References. Further Suggestions for Reading. Appendix 1: Enuresis alarms and Epilepsy Sensors. Appendix 2: The Main Medications used in sleep disorders. Appendix 3: Complementary and Alternative Treatments. Appendix 4: Western Herbs used in sleep disorders. Appendix 5: Chinese Herbs used in sleep disorders. Appendix 6: Assessment Tools for Sleep Problems. Appendix 7: Preparing for Medical Procedures. Appendix 8: Troubleshooting. Appendix 9: Further Suggestions for Reading.

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Book Synopsis''Thoughtful, vastly knowledgeable, and genuinely brilliant'' Dr. Matthew Walker, New York Times-bestselling author of Why We Sleep________________________We need sleep to survive. It''s as essential as food, water, and oxygen. Without it, our bodies begin to shut down. So why is something that should be natural, instinctual, and automatic so difficult?Renowned sleep scientist, Dr Aric Prather, studies sleep for a living and the first - and most important - thing he''ll tell you about it is that we''re all unintentionally getting in the way of our own sleep. In this book, he shares his most powerful and sought-after solutions for achieving good quality, restorative sleep in just seven days, providing transformative antidotes for sleep like: Stabilising your sleep cycle Living your days so you can turn off at night Overcoming the afternoon slump without sabotaging sleep tonight Trade ReviewThoughtful, vastly knowledgeable and genuinely brilliant - this is how you describe Aric Prather. He can take detailed scientific concepts and distill them into wondrous bite size chunks, digestible to all. There is simply no other person to write this how-to guide on sleep -- Dr. Matthew Walker, New York Times bestselling author of Why We SleepDeceptively simple and refreshingly straightforward, Sleep Rx is an immediately useful guide to getting better sleep. Aric Prather is an internationally-recognized scientific authority on sleep health and his advice can help just about anyone sleep more restfully in just a week -- Dr. Michael Grandner, Director of the Sleep and Health Research Program, University of Arizona College of MedicineA practical guide to improving your sleep and enhancing your life. Prather offers a set of transformative and doable changes in sleep habits that can make you healthier, happier, and more productive -- Tom Boyce, MD, Author of The Orchid and the DandelionA game changer. It's an original and effective take on how we sleep and why so many of us struggle to do it well. A must-have for anyone looking to improve their waking life by fixing their sleeping one -- Dr. Sara Mednick, Author of Take a Nap! Change Your Life

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Book Synopsis** AS READ ON BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK IN DECEMBER 2022 **'Curious, lively, humble, utterly genuine ... a remarkable debut.' SUNDAY TIMESAlice Vernon often wakes up to find strangers in her bedroom.Ever since she was a child, her nights have been haunted by nightmares of a figure from her adolescence, sinister hallucinations and episodes of sleepwalking. These are known as 'parasomnias' - and they're surprisingly common. Now a lecturer in Creative Writing, Vernon set out to understand the history, science and culture of these strange and haunting experiences. Night Terrors, her startling and vivid debut, examines the history of our relationship with bad dreams: how we've tried to make sense of and treat them, from some decidedly odd 'cures' like magical 'mare-stones', to research on how video games might help people rewrite their dreams. Along the way she explores the Salem Witch Trials and sleep paralysis, Victorian ghost stories, and soldiers' experiences of PTSD. By directly confronting her own strange and frightening nights for the first time, Vernon encourages us to think about the way troubled sleep has impacted our imaginations.Night Terrors aims to shine a light on the darkest parts of our sleeping lives, and to reassure sufferers from bad dreams that they are not alone.Trade ReviewFascinating - just don't read it at bedtime. * The Observer *Curious, lively, humble, utterly genuine ... a remarkable debut. * Sunday Times *By writing this gruelling, honest book, Alice Vernon has done her small bit to try to puncture the power of nightmares. * Daily Mail *In a discourse fired by lively inquiry and personal anecdote, [Vernon] looks to art, literature and science to demonstrate the profound effect these eerie and surprisingly common nocturnal states have had on the human imagination. Fascinating - just don't read it at bedtime. * The Observer *Fascinating ... a rich, immersive study of not just nightmares but the full range of parasomnias - the strange sleep disorders that can afflict us. ... [Vernon] can really write. ... This book felt like an extended hand to me. It is curious, lively, humble, utterly genuine - and, if you're a sufferer too, wonderfully reassuring. It is a remarkable debut. * Sunday Times *A vivid history of sleep disorders ... a candid, intense look at what keeps people up at night. * Publishers Weekly *A welcome addition to the vast library it cites and celebrates, Vernon's work is a compelling guide to the uncanny grammar of our dread and desire. * Fortean Times *

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THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO CANNABIS AND YOUR HEALTHUnderpinned by his two-year research trial in partnership with the Royal College of Psychiatrists, involving up to 20,000 patients, which will create Europe's largest body of evidence on the plant's medicinal qualities - Professor David Nutt and his team of scientists will break the mould on the way we use Cannabis for our health in the future. In David's first ground-breaking book on the subject, he will cover its impact of all areas of the body and the brain and its effective use for treatment of illness from chronic pain, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and PTSD, to anxiety and depression. This is the essential knowledge that cuts through the noise and give us evidence-based information that will change people's lives.

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Book SynopsisStruggling with restless nights? Achieve better sleep with this scientifically verified, holistic approach to healing stress and trauma-affected slumber.Inspired by his work with military veterans, sleep expert Charlie Morley explores how to combat the harmful effects of stress and trauma in order to achieve restful sleep and healing dreams. This guide shares more than 20 body, breath, sleep and dreaming techniques, all proven to help reduce anxiety, improve sleep quality, integrate nightmares, increase your energy and transform your relationship with sleep.You'll discover:· a five-step plan that improves sleep quality in 87 per cent of participants· the science of how stress and trauma affect sleep · yoga nidra and mindfulness practices for deep relaxation· breathwork practices to regulate the nervous system· lucid dreaming methods to transform nightmaresWhether you're experiencing stressed-out sleep or not, these powerful practices will help you optimize the time you spend dreaming so that you can sleep better and wake up healthier.

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Book SynopsisThis book presents and elaborates on the rationale and implications of the transformational dimension of psychoanalysis. In so doing, it attempts to extend psychoanalytic theory and practice beyond neurosis and beyond what were formerly thought to be the limits of analytic understanding. Its theoretical vision sits at the crossroads of the thinking of Freud, Bion, Winnicott, Green and the Paris Psycho-Somatic School. Other sources include the contributions of contemporary French psychoanalysts such as Laplanche, Donnet, L. Kahn, P. Miller and the Botellas, along with the work of Alvarez, Scarfone, Ferro, Ogden, and more. In re-examining the very epistemological foundations of psychoanalysis and their implications for a theory of psychic functioning, it follows upon and extends the radical implications of Freud's 1937 Constructions paper, the thoughts of Bion on intuition and Winnicott's understanding of the working through of the consequences of early pre-verbal environmentalTrade Review"In this very important book about psychoanalytic process and the functioning of the analyst-patient dyad, Howard Levine offers an original synthesis of Freud’s metapsychology with the theories of authors such as Bion, Winnicott, Green and the Psychosomaticians of the Paris School. The result is a clinical approach to non-neurotic phenomena and unrepresented mental states that emphasizes representation, not as a given but as ‘a developmental achievement through which previously unbound or inchoate forces become bound and contained in the psyche." – Evelyne Sechaud, former president of the European Psychoanalytic Federation; former president, training and supervising analyst of the APF (French Psychoanalytic Association)"Howard B. Levine’s book rests on the idea that psychoanalysis is ultimately about the patient’s (and the analyst’s) thinking capacity and the psyche’s limitations in responding to the demands for work made by the clash between external and psychic reality. As every analyst knows, the task is complex, sometimes close to impossible. Psychoanalysts, therefore, need to resort to as many luminaries in their field as they can, granted that no single author, no matter how great, can be credited with possessing the final truth. But then another problem arises: the multiple analytic idioms represent a challenge of their own. Levine brilliantly meets that challenge by displaying an exemplary capacity to navigate between many exponents of the British, French, North- and Latin-American analytic traditions and offering a personal synthesis rich with original ideas and clinical illustrations." – Dominique Scarfone, training and supervising analyst, Canadian Psychoanalytic Society Institute, Montreal French Branch"What are the contents of the conscious and unconscious mind? The stuff that our inner worlds are made out of, the raw materials of our innermost selves? What happens when lacunae, lapses or failures occur, when we observe modalities of unstructured functioning, of unrepresented states of mind? Since Freud, psychoanalysis has acutely explored these issues offering a number of different accounts of the architecture, dynamics and texture of psychic life: the logic and logistics of the soul.Howard Levine is at the forefront of thinkers who are currently examining these issues in a contemporary framework. He expertly sums up decades of thinking deeply about these issues and presents his reflections in crystal clear prose and with all the exciting commitment and enthusiasm of the best psychoanalytic thinkers at work today. This is a book to be read, re-read and closely studied." – Elias M. da Rocha Barros, São Paulo Society and fellow of the British Psychoanalytical Society"This is a refreshing and vitalizing way of considering the clinical work of psychoanalysis: as exploring the intermixing of the somatic, affective and representational components of the human experience in the context of relating to another in the analytic space. In this meditation on psychoanalytic theory and practice, Levine leaves the reader with much to digest." - Review by Endre Koritar, The International Journal of Psychoanalysis, (2023). Int. J. Psychoanal., (104)(4):804-807Table of Contents1. Psychoanalysis and Subjectivity. A Personal Note 2. Freud’s Theory of Representation and the Expansion of Analytic Technique 3. Clinical Implications of Unrepresented States: Effacement, Discourse and Construction 4. The Fundamental Epistemological Situation 5. Psychoanalysis and the Problem of Truth 6. The Analyst’s Authority. Suggestion, Seduction, Compliance and Influence 7. Trauma and Representation 8. Making the Unthinkable Thinkable: Autism, ASD and Representation 9. Word, Body, Thing: On the Movement From Soma to Psyche 10. Psychosomatics and Unrepresented States

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Book SynopsisA TIMES AND SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024'COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED MY WAY OF THINKING ABOUT DREAMS' Jay Shetty'A JOURNEY THROUGH NEUROSCIENCE, NEUROCHEMISTRY, MAGIC, MYSTERY . . . A FANTASTIC READ' Dr Rangan Chatterjee'TRANSFORMATIONAL' Julia Samuel'ELEGANTLY LIFTS THE CURTAIN ON THE DREAMSCAPE TERRITORY' David Eagleman'THIS BOOK WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE' Lewis Howes'OUR POET LAUREATE OF NEUROSCIENCE' Greg Whyte'AN INSTANT CLASSIC' Bryan FogelDreams are a source of mystery. They have changed the course of individual lives and the world, spurring business deals, inspiring art and scientific breakthroughs, triggering military invasions and mental breakdowns. Yet the source of dreams is not mysterious. They are the product of an extraordinary transformation that occurs in the brain each night when we sleep. In this pioneering book, bestselling neurosurgeon Rahul Jandial delves into the dreaming brain and shares stories from his own practice to show the astonishing impact that dreams have on our waking life. He explains how dreaming of an exam might help you score up to 20% higher, why taking a long nap could make you better at problem-solving, and even that certain dream disorders can warn you of serious diseases like Parkinson's years ahead of other symptoms. He offers clear and compelling advice, backed by new research, to become a lucid dreamer, understand your dreaming patterns and unleash their creative power. Sharing the very latest discoveries in modern neuroscience, This Is Why You Dream provides answers to some fundamental questions: Why do we dream? How do we dream? What do dreams mean? And perhaps, most importantly, do we sleep in order to dream?

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Book SynopsisElectronic dance music was once the utopian frontier of pop culture. But three decades after the acid house 'summer of love', it has gone from subculture to the global mainstream. Does it still have the same power to inspire? From the pleasure palaces of Ibiza and Las Vegas to 'new frontiers' like Shanghai and Dubai, raving is now a multi-million-dollar business. But there are still hardcore believers upholding its DIY ethos - the techno idealists of Berlin and Detroit and the queer subcults of New York, the post-apartheid party people of South Africa and the outlaw techno travellers of France. In Rave On, Matthew Collin travels the world to experience these unique scenes first-hand, talk to the key players and hear the story of how dance culture went global - and find out if its maverick spirit can survive its own success.Trade ReviewPart history lesson, part vibrant dance-floor travelogue, Collin's smart geographical survey shows how club culture mutates and adapts, its meaning changing between Detroit, Durban and the conspicuously consuming Dubai ... Between those repetitive beats, there's still a world of possibility. -- Victoria Segal * Sunday Times *Ten x-rays of dance culture in ten global hotspots that lovingly trace the history of each locale's sound through its DJs, promoters and proponents ... Both scholarly and intimate ... Collin's quest is never short of illuminating ... fascinating -- Kitty Empire * Observer *Praise for Altered State: 'At last somebody has written the real history of the last ten years, and written it with such wit, verve, empathy and profound intelligence. I can't recommend this marvellous piece of work enough. -- Irvine WelshAltered State remains the definitive story of the last decade's love affair with MDMA and mucking about in fields just off the M25 * Q *The first book to forensically document the acid house explosion ... written with the authority of the first-hander * Mixmag *Altered State is not just timely; it was crying out to be written * Independent *Matthew Collin has a reporter's eye, a critic's erudition and a fan's passion -- Dorian Lynskey, author of 33 Revolutions Per MinuteA timely deconstruction of the interests and influences shaping international dance music - but with all the fun left in ... both an intoxicating field trip and a well-argued word to the wise on (not) selling out. -- Robert Bound * Monocle *Rave On describes in fascinating detail how electronic music scenes bubble up in places that are in the depths of poverty, despair or unrest. The Detroit and Berlin chapters are particularly powerful... Collin's descriptions of Berlin's superclub Berghain today are particularly wonderful -- Jude Rogers * New Statesman *

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Book SynopsisWe all dream, and 98 per cent of us can recall our dreams the next morning. Even in today’s modern age, it is human nature to wonder what they mean. With incredible new discoveries and stunning science, Why We Dream will give you dramatic insight into yourself and your body. You’ll never think of dreams in the same way again . . .Groundbreaking science is putting dreams at the forefront of new research into sleep, memory, the concept of self and human socialization. Once a subject of the New Age and spiritualism, the science of dreams is revealed to have a crucial role in the biology and neuroscience of our waking lives. In Why We Dream, Alice Robb, a leading American science journalist, will take readers on a journey to uncover why we dream, why dreaming matters, and how we can improve our dream life – and why we should. Through her encounters with scientists at the cutting edge of dream research, she reveals how: - Dreams can be powerful tools to help us process the pain of a relationship break-up, the grief of losing a loved one and the trauma after a dramatic event - Nightmares may be our body’s warning system for physical and mental illness (including cancer, depression and Alzheimer’s) - Athletes can improve their performance by dreaming about competing - Drug addicts who dream about drug-taking can dramatically speed up their recovery from addiction. Robb also uncovers the fascinating science behind lucid dreaming – when we enter a dream state with control over our actions, creating a limitless playground for our fantasies. And as one of only ten per cent of people with the ability to lucid-dream, she is uniquely placed to teach us how to do it ourselves.Trade ReviewIn a book that looks at the historical and social importance of dreams, and analyzes the latest science, Robb attempts to correct our misguided forsaking of this feature of our unconscious. Dreams don’t make for boring conversation, Robb argues in this persuasive, personable book. * Vogue *Why We Dream is a spirited rebuke to the idea of sleep as a mere parting with consciousness. In exploring the pleasures and uses of dreams, [Alice Robb] seeks to persuade us that sleep is not just the “off” to waking’s “on” but another realm of being, a second consciousness, rich in adventure and wisdom... In celebrating dreams as poetic artifacts, Robb offers a welcome antidote to the medicine administered by most sleep gurus. * New Yorker *Why We Dream is a spirited, cogent defense of dreams and dream-telling...We may not know why dreams 'traffic in garbled metaphor and disjointed imagery,' but by learning to decode them, we can learn to decode ourselves... All we need to do, Robb wants us to know, is pay attention. * NPR *For anyone who's ever kept a dream journal or fixated on the idea of lucid dreaming, a thorough exploration of the mysterious nightly phenomenon from a scientific point of view. * Elle *Why We Dream is an illuminating, surprising, often astounding look at the purpose and power of dreams. I hadn’t even finished by the time I was convinced to start my own dream journal. This is a beautiful work of science writing that will change the way you think of your own nightly voyage. -- David Epstein, best-selling author of The Sports GeneWho knew that the netherworld of sleep contained such psychological depths and biological purposes? A thrilling account of the wayward history of dream research, Why We Dream opens a door into the creative life of dreaming, ensuring that you will never fall asleep again without a sense of the vision-filled journey ahead. -- Daphne Merkin, critic, novelist, and author of This Close to HappyAfter reading this gripping and deeply researched book, you’ll never again be tempted to dismiss the surreal narratives of our nighttime lives as trivial or meaningless. Blending centuries of cultural history with cutting-edge science, Alice Robb makes a compelling case for dreams—as sources of wisdom and creativity, as a vital ingredient in psychological health, and as a portal to the strange and fascinating worlds lurking within yourself and everyone you know. -- Oliver Burkeman, Guardian columnist and author of The AntidoteAlice Robb’s Why We Dream was for me a gentle and affecting invitation to reconsider a seemingly boring daily routine. ....the “nightly journey” idea makes getting into bed feel like preparing for an adventure. Robb’s encouragement to think of dreams as rehearsals for waking hopes and fears has also been especially eye-opening. * The Cut *Table of ContentsIntroduction - i: INTRODUCTION Chapter - 1: How We Forgot About Dreams Chapter - 2: The Vanguard Chapter - 3: Dreams Enter the Lab Chapter - 4: The Renaissance of Sleep Research Chapter - 5: Problem-Solving Chapter - 6: Preparation for Life Chapter - 7: Nightmares Chapter - 8: Diagnosis Chapter - 9: Dream Groups Chapter - 10: Control Chapter - 11: My Night Life Section - ii: Acknowledgments Section - iii: Notes Index - iv: Index

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Book SynopsisCutting-edge sleep advice and a 10-day reset plan from a renowned functional medicine physician and co-founder of the popular sleep company Casper.If you are like most people, the odds are you aren''t getting enough sleep. Thanks to shifts in our culture, we are in the midst of an epidemic of sleeplessness, and unfortunately, sleep deprivation has bigger consequences than one might think, ranging from irritability, brain fog, and weight gain to serious conditions like hormone dysregulation, heart disease, memory impairment, diabetes, and Alzheimer''s disease.Better Sleep, Better Youoffers a one-stop resource to help you reap the benefits of sleeping well every night. Unlike the dozens of blogs and listicles offering a quick fix for insomnia, Lipman and Parikh understand that there''s no such thing as a one-sleep-fits-all solution. By clearly explaining the latest developments in sleep science and all the factors that affect your sleep including when and how you eat and exercise, how y

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Book SynopsisHow to Catch A Dream is the ultimate toolkit to become a lucid dreamer to create a happier and more fulfilling waking life.Theresa Cheung shows us that the way forward is to understand that consciousness/spiritual awareness is the fundamental ground of all experience.' DEEPAK CHOPRADream expert Theresa Cheung gives you everything you need to dream bigger and better in just three weeks.Week One: Dream Seeker Everybody dreams, but not everybody remembers them. Not only will week one help you to recall your dreams, it will also help boost your creativity and encourage healthier sleep hygiene for a dreamy night's sleep.Week Two: Dream Deeper Now your dream recall will be more consistent and you'll be aware of how linked your waking and dreaming lives are. Now it's time to dive deeper into your intuition and start trusting yourself more.Week Three: Dream Catcher By week three you will be sleeping better, dreaming bigger and feeling more connected to yourself. Equipped with this knowledge aTrade Review‘The best bit on the show [ITV’s This Morning] was dreams with Theresa. She is quite transcendent.’ DERMOT O’LEARY ‘Theresa offers fascinating and practical advice to aid people in personally exploring mind-bending concepts and applying them to their own lives.’ EBEN ALEXANDER, author of Proof of Heaven and Living in a Mindful Universe ‘Ms. Cheung's done it again – and better than ever! How to Catch a Dream is a brilliant yet completely accessible compendium of scientifically-based insights, time-tested meethods, and exploratory practical tips for those of us who know that our dreams contain essential keys to unlocking self-understanding, creativity, and success in life. Bravo to Cheung's unique ability to unite science with spirit – and bring it all home with a 3-week program that really works!’ Julia Mossbridge, MA, PhD. Executive Director, TILT: The Institute for Love and Time How to Catch a Dream took me on a fun-filled journey to more expansive thinking when awake as well as in my dreams. This book will blow your mind. Garret Yount, PhD. Molecular Neurobiologist, The Institute of Noetic Sciences

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Book SynopsisA great night's sleep starts long before your head hits the pillowWhen it comes to getting the sleep we need, we tend to focus on perfecting a bedtime routine in the hour before bed but, in doing so, we're missing the biggest factor that dictates our sleep quality: how we spend our days.In this groundbreaking and practical guide, sought-after sleep psychotherapist Heather Darwall-Smith explores how our always-on' lives are wreaking havoc when the time comes to rest. In doing so, she reshapes our understanding of sleep, and the struggles that surround it, to offer powerful insights for meaningful change.With practical exercises and expert guidance, you'll learn:What the stress of daily life is doing to your nervous systemSimple ways to reset, rest and recover during the day that will transform your sleepThe impact that environment, technology, nutrition, hormones and exercise have on you and your sleepHow to solve your sleep issues by looking at your whole lifeThis book will transform your relationship with sleep and help you create the conditions for a restful night, so you can wake up to a brighter, more energised tomorrow.

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Book SynopsisIan Wallace is a qualified psychologist who specialises in dreams and the dreaming process. He is a regular guest on the Steve Wright show, frequently appears in the press and on television and is the author of the bestselling Top 100 Dreams. For more information about Ian and his work visit ianwallacedreams.com or follow him on Twitter @ ianwallace.

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Book SynopsisSigmund Freud (1856-1939) was born in Moravia; between the ages of four and eighty-two his home was in Vienna: in 1938 Hitler's invasion of Austria forced him to seek asylum in London, where he died in the following year. His career began with several years of brilliant work on the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system. He was almost thirty when, after a period of study under Charcot in Paris, his interests first turned to psychology, and another ten years of clinical work in Vienna (at first in collaboration with Breuer, an older colleague) saw the birth of his creation, psychoanalysis. Freud's life was uneventful, but his ideas have shaped not only many specialist disciplines, but the whole intellectual climate of the twentieth century.Anna Freud (1895-1982), the youngest daughter of Sigmund Freud, not only became a leading authority on child analysis, in both its theoretical and clinical aspects, but also a principle exponent of her father's work. During her lifetiTrade ReviewHe was possessed of exceptional literary gifts. There can be no question that he was a great writer: to read him is to be beguiled by him... his influence on all of us was enormous, and it would be as impossible to return to a pre-Freudian way of thinking as to return to a pre-heliocentric theory of the solar system * The Times *The great founder of psychoanalysis * The Times *

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Book SynopsisJohn Bargh''s Before You Know It moves our understanding of the mysteries of human behaviour one giant step forward. A brilliant and convincing book.' Malcolm Gladwell, author of Blink and David and GoliathHow much of what we say, feel and do is under our conscious control? How much is not? And most crucial of all: if we understood how our unconscious worked if we knew why we do what we do could we finally, fundamentally, know ourselves?From checking a dating app to holding a cup of coffee or choosing who to vote for, our unconscious secretly governs everything we feel, think and do. In Before You Know It, Dr John Bargh the world's leading expert on the unconscious mind reveals the psychological forces that are at work behind the scenes as we go about our daily lives, and offers simple steps to improve your sleep, boost your memory and live better.Trade ReviewJohn Bargh's Before You Know It moves our understanding of the mysteries of human behaviour one giant step forward. A brilliant and convincing book. -- Malcolm Gladwell, author of 'Blink' and 'David and Goliath'Lucid, vivid, and entertaining; psychology reconceived through compelling and powerful storytelling. -- Gavin Francis, author of 'Adventures in Human Being' and 'Empire Antartica'This fascinating journey through the inner workings of the human mind reveals how our conscious thoughts and unconscious motives intertwine to shape who we are. An entertaining and intelligent book that will change the way you see yourself and the world around you. -- Jonah Berger, author of 'Contagious' and 'Invisible Influence'[A] sprightly book ... Daniel Kahneman referenced [Bargh] in the popular Thinking Fast and Slow ... A world-leading psychologist ... A useful textbook for anyone with a strong interest in the field. * Sunday Times *This book is a “must read” not only because it is about a fascinating topic – the nature of the unconscious mind – but because it is an engaging and accessible book by the scientist who did the groundbreaking research. Everyone should read it. -- Timothy D. Wilson

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Book SynopsisBuilding on the crucial insight that jokes use many of the same mechanisms he had already discovered in dreams, Freud developed one of the richest and most comprehensive theories of humour that has ever been produced.Jokes, he argues, provide immense pleasure by allowing us to express many of our deepest sexual, aggressive and cynical thoughts and feelings which would otherwise remain repressed. In elaborating this central thesis, he brings together a dazzling set of puns, anecdotes, snappyone-liners, spoonerisms and beloved stories of Jewish beggars and marriage-brokers. Many remain highly amusing, while others throw a vivid light on the lost world of early twentieth-century Vienna.

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Book SynopsisSigmund Freud was born in 1856 and died in exile in London in 1939. As a writer and doctor he remains one of the great voices of the twentieth century.

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Book SynopsisThe Psychedelic Experience, created by the prophetic shaman-professors Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzer and Richard Alpert, is a foundational text that serves as a model and a guide for all subsequent mind-expanding inquiries. In this wholly unique book, the authors provide an interpretation of an ancient sacred manuscript, the Tibetan Book of the Dead, from a psychedelic perspective. The Psychedelic Experience describes their discoveries in broadening spiritual consciousness through a combination of Tibetan mediation techniques and psychotropic substances.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewPollan is always an entertaining writer, and a deep thinker with a light touch ... it's a trip - engrossing, eye-opening, mind altering. -- Sophie McBain * New Statesman *This fascinating insight into our relationship with mind-altering plants weaves personal experimentation with cultural history ... Pollan is the perfect guide through this sometimes controversial territory; curious, careful and, as his book progresses, increasingly open minded. -- Tim Adams * The Guardian *Expert storytelling ... Pollan masterfully elevates a series of big questions about drugs, plants and humans that are likely to leave readers thinking in new ways. -- Rob Dunn * New York Times Book Review *Brilliant, compulsively readable ... Pollan's storytelling is deft, forthright and fascinating. -- Charles Foster * The Oldie *Like it or not, we are undergoing a drugs revolution ... thankfully Pollan is here to guide us through this putative challenge ... [this] relatable, middle class New York plant fancier might be the ideal standard bearer for today's calmer, more scientific approach to the subject. -- Josh Glancy * Sunday Times *Pollan's intertwining of reportage, citizen science and historical scholarship is a delightful and informative read ... [he] has a rational optimism that might tempt even the most sober and sceptical to try to broaden their horizons. -- AJ Lees * Literary Review *Pollan is a gentle, generous writer. -- David Aaronovitch * The Times *Michael Pollan weaves tales of drug experimentation into a historical account of our long relationship with them. -- Simon Ings * New Scientist *This Is Your Mind on Plants is witty, entertaining and polite, but it is not trivial. Subtly but assuredly, Pollan argues that which plants (and fungi) we are allowed and how depends, consciously or otherwise, on the interests of power. -- Josh Raymond * Times Literary Supplement *The descriptions of London's coffee house culture and Honoré de Balzac's barbarous habit of ingesting dry coffee grounds to fuel all-night scribbling sessions are worth the book's price alone ... The book is really about the relation between each plant and the humans who consume it, tackled in a non-judgmental and objective way that seeks to dispel the ignorance, prejudice and demonisation they attract. * Financial Times *Fascinating and occasionally terrifying ... His opium chapter is mesmerising. -- Marcus Berkmann * Daily Mail *A tour around three substances: caffeine, mescaline and opium. The first is legal, the others remain mostly illegal. Pollan offers us rich historical contexts for them that are often surprising. -- Peter Carty * Independent *Every now and then to be put in touch with what really matters - what could be more important than that? -- Emily Hourican * Irish Independent *

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Book SynopsisPhillip H. Wiebe provides a critical study of contemporary visions of Jesus. Based on accounts by thirty people, Wiebe discusses each vision in vivid detail and discusses such issues as why these individuals believe their visions were of Jesus, what impact the experience has had on their lives, how the visions differ from dreams, and the possibility that the visions were actually hallucinations.Trade ReviewWiebe's book shows the importance of exploring contemporary religious experience. * Paul Badham, Church Times *

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Book SynopsisWhat, if anything do dreams tell us about ourselves? What is the relationship between types of sleep and types of dreams? Does dreaming serve any purpose? Or are dreams simply meaningless mental noise--''unmusical fingers wandering over the piano keys''?With expertise in philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience, Owen Flanagan is uniquely qualified to answer those questions. And in Dreaming Souls he provides both an accessible survey of the latest research on sleep and dreams and a compelling new theory about the nature and function of dreaming. Flanagan argues that while sleep has a clear biological function and adaptive value, dreams are merely side effects, ''free-riders'', irrelevant from an evolutionary point of view. But dreams are hardly unimportant. Indeed, Flanagan argues that dreams are self-expressive, the result of our need to find or create meaning, even when we are sleeping. Rejecting Freud''s theory of manifest and latent content--of repressed wishes appearing in disguiseTrade Review"Flanagan's Dreaming Souls is, quite simply, a masterpiece: learned, lively, and surpassingly smart. Owen's voice in this book is so honest, direct, lovable and funny, it kept reminding me of Frank McCourt. And yet it IS neurophilosophy. It is about the whys and wherefores of our dreaming brains."--Patricia S. Churchland, Presidential Professor of Philosophy, University of California, San Diego, author of Neurophilosophy: Toward a Unified Science of the Mind-Brain "Owen Flanagan does it again. He takes one of the most fascinating and elusive topics in mind/brain research, the 'why' of dreams, and ropes it into a coherent notion that one and all can understand. I won't spoil it for you and tell you his intriguing idea. But I will tell you, I think he is on to something big."--Michael S. Gazzaniga, Director, Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Dartmouth College, author of Cognitive Neuroscience: The Biology of the Mind and The Mind's Past "Are dreams just the noise that the brain makes during sleep? Flanagan makes us take this question seriously as he builds dream consciousness into his new brain-based philosophy of mind."--J. Allan, Director of Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Harvard Medical School and author of Sleep, The Dreaming Brain, and most recently Consciousness "How important to have a philosopher dedicate himself to the basic questions of human psychology. Owen Flanagan challenges and synthesizes contemporary theories of mind to arrive at a provocative understanding of the relationship of dream and dreamer."--Peter D. Kramer, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, author of Listening to Prozac and Should You Leave? "An informative review of current research on sleep and dreams and a new theory about the nature and function of dreaming, presented with clarity, wit, and finesse.... Science writing at its best."--Kirkus Reviews "Excellent book to start off a science-oriented philosophy of mind...course. The style and content are engaging, and Flanagan provides an excellent introduction to the philosophical issues surrounding mind/brain research."--Ilya Farber, George Washington University "[An] intriguing book....Flanagan has developed an original, plausible, and empirically grounded account of the activity of dreaming. He has demonstrated...successfully, that his account is superior to the depth psychological and somatic noise alternatives. And he has done so in the form of an engaging, accessible, and often amusing book."--The American Journal of Psychology "Flanagan's Dreaming Souls is, quite simply, a masterpiece: learned, lively, and surpassingly smart. Owen's voice in this book is so honest, direct, lovable and funny, it kept reminding me of Frank McCourt. And yet it IS neurophilosophy. It is about the whys and wherefores of our dreaming brains."--Patricia S. Churchland, Presidential Professor of Philosophy, University of California, San Diego, author of Neurophilosophy: Toward a Unified Science of the Mind-Brain "Owen Flanagan does it again. He takes one of the most fascinating and elusive topics in mind/brain research, the 'why' of dreams, and ropes it into a coherent notion that one and all can understand. I won't spoil it for you and tell you his intriguing idea. But I will tell you, I think he is on to something big."--Michael S. Gazzaniga, Director, Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Dartmouth College, author of Cognitive Neuroscience: The Biology of the Mind and The Mind's Past "Are dreams just the noise that the brain makes during sleep? Flanagan makes us take this question seriously as he builds dream consciousness into his new brain-based philosophy of mind."--J. Allan, Director of Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Harvard Medical School and author of Sleep, The Dreaming Brain, and most recently Consciousness "How important to have a philosopher dedicate himself to the basic questions of human psychology. Owen Flanagan challenges and synthesizes contemporary theories of mind to arrive at a provocative understanding of the relationship of dream and dreamer."--Peter D. Kramer, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, author of Listening to Prozac and Should You Leave? "An informative review of current research on sleep and dreams and a new theory about the nature and function of dreaming, presented with clarity, wit, and finesse.... Science writing at its best."--Kirkus Reviews "In his fascinating new book, Dreaming Souls, Flanagan submits that, while sleep is certainly an evolutionary adaptation, and consciousness probably is, too, consciousness during sleep is merely a by-product of the two."--Jim Holt, Lingua Franca "Flanagan's writing is conversational--gracious, humorous, and intelligent. He examines objections to theories without being demeaning or condescending...a thought-provoking and entertaining read."--Choice "In contrast to Jouvet, Hobson and Winson, the American philosopher Owen Flanagan thinks that both sleep and consciousness are products of evolution, but consciousness during sleep (dreaming) is merely an accident of nature, a side effect of the two. Both consciousness and sleep have a clear biological function, but dreams don't. During sleep, the brain stocks up neurotransmitters that will be used the next day. By accident, pulses that originate from this stockpiling chore (coming from the brain stem) also reactivate more or less random parts of memory. Unaware that the body is actually sleeping, the sensory circuits of the cerebral cortex process these signals as if they were coming from outside and produce a chaotic flow of sensations. Thus we dream. Dreams are just the noise the brain makes while working overnight. If Flanagan is correct, dreams are meaningless and pointless." -- Piero Scaruffi, Thymos.comTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Prologue: "To Sleep: Perchance to Dream" 1: Heart Throbs 2: The Dreaming Mind 3: Sleepy Heads 4: Dreams: The Spandrels of Sleep 5: Self-Expression in Dreams 6: Philosophical Perplexities Epilogue: Here Comes the Sun Selected Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe Cognitive Unconscious provides an overview of fifty years of research into unconscious cognition. Its focus is on the role that unconscious processes play in perception, cognition, personality, and social processes. The book brings together some of the leading minds in the field to both summarize past research findings and highlight potential research avenues for the future.Trade ReviewThis substantial collection of chapters examining what has been called by many names-the unconscious, the non-conscious, implicit memory, or tacit memory-will serve a number of different audiences...the text reads well, and is representative of modern views on the issues from researchers who have spent long and fruitful time in the field. * J. F. Heberle, CHOICE *Research on implicit learning and memory has played a pivotal role in modern psychology and neuroscience. The Cognitive Unconscious provides a comprehensive and engaging overview of the impressive progress that has been made during the past half-century. With contributions from leading experts, this authoritative volume is must reading for anyone interested in the implicit influences that shape the human mind and behavior. * Daniel L. Schacter, author of The Seven Sins of Memory Updated Edition *One of the great discoveries about the structure of cognition is the extent to which implicit (unconscious) processes determine what we see and how we learn. This engaging and wide-ranging collection of ably edited chapters describes the origin of this idea and shows how unconscious cognitive processes have proven to be ubiquitous and fundamental to mental life. * Larry Squire, coauthor of Memory: From Mind to Molecules *This book is a tour de force, a definitive guide for still mysterious topic of the cognitive unconscious. Reber and Allen organized an excellent collection of authors and writings at the forefront of this vibrant but oft-neglected topic, reaching out into areas including general neuro-physiology and biology. Chapters are written in informative style, accessible also to general readers. An absolute must for anybody interested in implicit learning and the cognitive unconscious. * František Baluška, Professor of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Bonn, Germany *Implicit learning is an exacting field in which experimental designs must be explicitly clever. The Cognitive Unconscious is a remarkable collaboration of renowned experts and a tour de force contribution to this field. Its insights transcend psychology, encompassing all disciplines that investigate cognitive awareness, the subconscious mind, and their adaptive role in evolution, extending from the primordial conscious cell forward. I highly recommend this absorbing, benchmark book. * William B. Miller, Jr., coauthor of Cellular-Molecular Mechanisms in Epigenetic Evolutionary Biology and The Singularity of Nature *This volume provides comprehensive coverage of a remarkable array of topics related to the cognitive unconscious. It is rare, in our increasingly fragmented academic environment, to integrate such a diverse range of approaches through a cohesive organizing theme. The personal notes throughout the volume offer an engaging first-hand perspective on the development and flowering of research on implicit learning and the cognitive unconscious. * Jenny Saffran, Rubenstein Professor of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Madison *This book is bursting with insights into what lies below the surface of our conscious minds. We may not be privy to the cognitive unconscious directly, but this fascinating underworld (what Kahneman called System 1) actually dictates much of what we do and who we are. * Ken Paller, Professor and James Padilla Chair in Arts & Sciences, Northwestern University *

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Book SynopsisThe cooperative action of different regions of our brains gives us an amazing capacity to perform activities as diverse as playing the piano and hitting a tennis ball. Somehow, without conscious effort, our eyes find the information we need to operate successfully in the world around us. The development of head-mounted eye trackers over recent years has made it possible to record where we look during different active tasks, and so work out what information our eyes supply to the brain systems that control our limbs. We are now in a position to explore the strategies that the eye movement system uses in the initiation and guidance of action.Looking and Acting examines a wide range of visually guided behaviour, from sedentary tasks like reading and drawing, to dynamic activities such as driving and playing cricket. A central theme is that the eye movement system has its own knowledge about where to find the most appropriate information for guiding action - information not usually availabTable of ContentsPRELIMINARIES ; 1. Introduction ; 2. The human eye movement repertoire ; 3. How our eyes question the world ; OBSERVATIONS ; 4. Sedentary tasks ; 5. Domestic tasks ; 6. Locomotion on foot ; 7. Driving ; 8. Ball games: when to look where? ; 9. Social roles of eye movements ; COMMENTARIES ; 10. Representations of the visual world ; 11. Neuroscience of gaze and action ; 12. Attention, memory and learning

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Book SynopsisThe central problem in the study of addiction is to explain why people repeatedly behave in ways they know are bad for them. For much of the previous century and until the present day, the majority of scientific and medical attempts to solve this problem were couched in terms of involuntary behavior; if people behave in ways they do not want, then this must be because the behavior is beyond their control and outside the realm of choice. An opposing tradition, which finds current support among scientists and scholars as well as members of the general public, is that so-called addictive behavior reflects an ordinary choice just like any other and that the concept of addiction is a myth. The editors and authors of this book tend to take neither view. There has been an increasing recognition in recent literature on addiction that restricting possible conceptions of it to either of these extreme positions is unhelpful and is retarding progress on understanding the nature of addiction and whTrade ReviewPsychologists, philosophers, behavioral scientists, neuroscientists, curious clinicians, and researchers with a wide array of interests would find something here to challenge them. This volume provides a thoughtful, comprehensive, and rewarding analysis of the dilemma of addiction where individuals seem enslaved and yet can break the bonds of this slavery. * Carlo DiClemente, PsyCRITIQUES *Table of ContentsSECTION I: INTRODUCTION; SECTION II: PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS; SECTION III: PERSPECTIVES FROM NEUROSCIENCE; SECTION IV: PERSPECTIVES FROM BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS AND COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY; SECTION V: IMPLICATIONS FOR TREATMENT, PREVENTION, AND PUBLIC HEALTH; SECTION VI IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF ADDICTION AND FOR LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR; SECTION VII CONCLUSIONS

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Book SynopsisWhat is it for you to be conscious? There is no agreement whatever in philosophy or science: it has remained a hard problem, a mystery. Is this partly or mainly owed to the existing theories not even having the same subject, not answering the same question? In Actual Consciousness, Ted Honderich sets out to supersede dualisms, objective physicalisms, abstract functionalism, externalisms, and other positions in the debate. He argues that the theory of Actualism, right or wrong, is unprecedented, in nine ways. (1) It begins from gathered data and proceeds to an adequate initial clarification of consciousness in the primary ordinary sense. This consciousness is summed up as something''s being actual. (2) Like basic science, Actualism proceeds from this metaphorical or figurative beginning to what is wholly literal and explicit--constructed answers to the questions of what is actual and what it is for it to be actual. (3) In so doing, the theory respects the differences of consciousness wiTrade ReviewI admire Honderich's insightful self-reflective re-examination of the facts of consciousness as he perceives them . . . That Honderich's discussion of actual consciousness opens so many avenues for philosophical exploration is the measure of its success and likely long-lasting contribution to the study and understanding of consciousness. The book is highly recommended for its topic, approach and new perspectives on the challenging problem of adequately understanding consciousness in a scientific philosophy of mind. For those with minimal objection to countenancing as many actualities as there are perceiving minds, then the subjective actuality of consciousness may have found an ideal situation in Honderich's theory of actual consciousness. * Dale Jacquette, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews Online *Honderich's thought in Actual Consciousness is as always entirely accessible . . . For its genre this is an unusual book, not least, though engagingly, for the virtually "actual" presence of its author on every page. Honderich's checklists and their interrelations should provide themes for many seminars to come. * Alastair Hannay, Philosophy *This audacious venture should certainly be praised . . . good philosophy presses readers to think for themselves, and Actual Consciousness gives us much food for thought. * Roberta Locatelli, Times Higher Education *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction 1: Need for an Adequate Initial Clarification 2: Five Leading Ideas About Consciousness 3: Something's Being Actual 4: Dualisms, Functionalisms, Consciousness-Criteria 5: Other Consciousness Theories, Criteria Again 6: What It Is To Be Objectively Physical 7: Perceptual Consciousness--What Is and Isn't Actual 8: Perceptual Consciousness--Being Actual Is Being Subjectively Physical 9: Cognitive and Affective Consciousness--Theories, and What Is And Isn't Actual 10: Cognitive and Affective Consciousness--Being Actual is Being Differently Subjectively Physical 11: Conclusions Past and Present Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisWe feel therefore we are. Conscious sensations ground our sense of self. They are essential to our idea of ourselves as psychic beings: present, existent, and mattering. But is it only humans who feel this way? Do other animals? Will future machines? To answer these questions we need a scientific understanding of consciousness: what it is and why it has evolved. Nicholas Humphrey has been researching these issues for fifty years. In this extraordinary book, weaving together intellectual adventure, cutting-edge science, and his own breakthrough experiences, he tells the story of his quest to uncover the evolutionary history of consciousness: from his discovery of blindsight after brain damage in monkeys, to hanging out with mountain gorillas in Rwanda, to becoming a leading philosopher of mind. Out of this, he has come up with an explanation of conscious feeling - ''phenomenal consciousness'' - that he presents here in full for the first time. Building on this theory of how phenomenal cTrade ReviewSentience is full of provocative ideas, as well as lively anecdotes from decades of pondering these issues. Humphreys thesis offers a great deal to think about. * Philip Ball, New Scientist *4* Review: "bold, brilliant, honest" * Charles Foster, Fortean Times *Humphrey's arguments are both plausible and lucid, the product of exhaustive research and decades spent weighing the possibilities...a stimulating exercise in experiment and speculation. * , Kirkus Reviews *an intriguing journey...that stimulates questioning * Jonathan Cowie, Concatenation *A compelling treatise on the evolution of consciousness from one our finest psychologists. Humphrey combines a fascinating, often surprising, and occasionally hilarious scientific autobiography with a raft of well justified ideas about what it takes for an organism to be sentient. His excellent book will challenge you to think about nature's deepest and most personal mystery in a new and thoroughly enlightening way. * Anil Seth, author of Being You *It takes a special kind of person to write illuminatingly about consciousness -- a person who is not only steeped in cognitive science, biology, and philosophy, but also has a fertile imagination, an openness to new ideas, and a sensitivity to the richness and variety of experience in humans and other animals. Nicholas Humphrey is such a person, and in his new book he cements his claim to be one of the most insightful writers on this notoriously difficult topic. Sentience is a beautifully written book, full of engaging vignettes, original ideas, and intriguing suggestions. It will fascinate general readers and inspire academic researchers. * Keith Frankish, author of Mind and Supermind *Nobody has thought more deeply, originally or poetically about animal sentience and the notion of consciousness. In this bold and persuasive book he lays out how he came to his conclusions in a lifetime of studying animals and human minds. * Matt Ridley *Nick Humphrey has been a hugely influential figure across the fields of experimental psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy for half a century, and, for my money, is the most inventive psychological thinker of his generation. Taking a long view of his entire scientific career and peppered with brilliant anecdotes, Sentience crystallizes Humphreys latest thinking on the evolution of consciousness. There are many dazzling insights on offer but, for me, the most eye-catching development is the formulation of a framework for determining which other animal species are sentient or even in possession of a sense of self. How staggeringly bold! Imagine what a shock wave such a test would generate, scientifically and philosophically, of course, but also out into the political sphere. * Paul Broks, author of Into the Silent Land: Travels in Neuropsychology and The Darker the Night, the Brighter the Stars: A Neuropsychologists Odyssey Through Consciousness *Wonderfully approachable... with a writing style somewhere between a deep conversation and a thought process... Reading this book was a real pleasure. * Brian Clegg, Popular Science (UK) *This book serves as an illuminating starting point for those intrigued by the question of whether machines can attain sentience. * Jurgita LapienytÄ, Cybernews *Nicholas Humphrey's beautiful theory of mind... [how] consciousness evolved to make us feel that life is worth living. * Nick Romeo, The New Yorker *bold, brilliant, honest... [Humphreys'] directness and philosophical sophistication are unusual in the crowded and noisy neuroscientific marketplace... [An] important contribution to the debate. All future writers on consciousness will need to take Humphrey's speculations seriously. It is no less significant because it's written breezily and accessibly. I know of no better survey of the big questions in discussions about consciousness. * Charles Foster, Fortean Times *The kind of book to keep and read more than once. * Riadh Abed and Paul St John-Smith, British Journal of Psychiatry *Table of ContentsPrologue 1: Sentience and Consciousness 2: Foothills 3: Phosphenes: The Touch of Light 4: Blythe Spirits 5: What the Frog's Eye Tells the Monkey's Brain 6: Blindsight 7: Sight Unseen 8: Red Sky at Night 9: Nature's Psychologists 10: On the Track of Sensations 11: Evolving Sentience 12: The Road Taken 13: The Phenomenal Self 14: Theoretical Misprisions 15: Coming to Be 16: Devising a Test 17: Panpsychism 18: Sentience All the Way Down? 19: Mapping the Landscape 20: Getting Warmer 21: Testing, Testing 22: Qualiaphilia 23: The Self in Action 24: Taking Stock 25: Machina ex Deo 26: Closer to the Truth Acknowledgements References and Notes

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Book SynopsisAims to bring phenomenology and analytic philosophy together, by demonstrating how work in phenomenology may help in analytic research, and how analytical philosophy of mind may shed light on phenomenological concerns. This book includes essays on topics as consciousness, intentionality, perception, action, self-knowledge, and temporal awareness.Trade ReviewPhenomenology and Philosophy of Mind shows how to use phenomenology in a fruitful way * Mind & Machine *...informative about the several, important respects in which phenomology meets the analytic tradition...a welcome addition to the expanding literature on the subject. * Dimitris Platchias, Journal of Consciousness Studies 13/03 *Table of ContentsI. THE PLACE OF PHENOMENOLOGY IN PHILOSOPHY OF MIND ; II: SELF-AWARENESS AND SELF-KNOWLEDGE ; III. INTENTIONALITY ; IV. UNITIES OF CONSCIOUSNESS ; V. PERCEPTION, SENSATION, AND ACTION

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Book SynopsisLSD has a controversial and extraordinary reputation, due to the special effects it can induce on human consciousness. Its experimental use lead to some groundbreaking discoveries about the brain and the deeper layers of the human psyche. After its application in neuroscience, and as a tool within psychotherapy, it was increasingly used by laymen for producing euphoria and religious experiences. Today, there is a resurgence of interest in LSD, including its possible uses in psychotherapy and for the treatment of some headache disorders. This book represents the first ever comprehensive review of the psychological and pharmacological effects of LSD. It draws on data from more than 3000 experimental and clinical studies.The Pharmacology of LSD provides a unique and valuable resource for anyone interested in better understanding this controversial hallucinogenic drug - including brain scientists, psychopharmacologists, addiction researchers, and psychiatrists.Trade ReviewAnnelie Hintzen andTorsten Passies welcome book, The Pharmacology of LSD:A Critical Reader provides an overview of human, animal and molecular experiments involving LSD. This is no small achievement. . . It should sit on the bookshelf of anyone interested in psychedelic pharamacology. * Matthew J. Baggott, Human Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory, University of Chicago, USA; Drug & Alcohol Review, 32 (Sept. 2013) *This book represents the first ever comprehensive review of the psychological and pharmacological effects of LSD...[it] provides a unique and valuable resource for anyone interested in better understanding this controversial hallucinogenic drug - including brain scientists, psychopharmacologists, addiction researchers, and psychiatrists * gaiamedia.org *...the first book of its kind. It brings together a vast amount of information into one accessible location. Drawing upon a vast number of animal and human studies, it provides a thorough review of what is currently known about LSD's action on specific receptor sites. * Doody's Notes *Table of Contents1. Foreword by Leslie Iversen ; 2. Pharmacological and toxicological effects ; 3. Interactions of LSD ; 4. Psychological Effects ; 5. Neuropsychological effects ; 6. Effects of LSD on psychiatric patients ; 7. Long-term and untoward effects of LSD use

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Book SynopsisIf you suffer from chronic pain, whether as a result of an injury, illness, or accident, you know it can interfere with every aspect of your life. You may also know the medical treatments currently available are limited and, for many, ineffective. Current research has shown hypnosis to be an effective treatment for managing chronic pain, and almost all patients who learn self-hypnosis skills benefit from this approach. The hypnosis treatment found in this workbook has been scientifically tested and proven effective for reducing the intensity of chronic pain, including migraines, back pain, and tension headaches, among others. This workbook explains how to use these techniques to manage your chronic pain and take back control of your life and your health. Used in combination with the program described in the corresponding therapist guide, this workbook teaches you self-hypnosis skills for lessening your pain, enhancing your sleep, and improving your mood. The first chapters will help yoTrade ReviewReaders will come away with an overview of how to approach using hypnosis with those experiencing chronic pain and a good sense of both the issues involved in working with chronic pain and in using hypnosis. The workbook is likely to be useful for patients wishing to consider whether hypnosis may be useful for them as well as those who are actually engaged with the approach. * Dr Angela Busuttil, The Journal of Critical Psychology, Counselling and Psychotherapy *This is a very important book, because of the great need for chronic pain treatment and because hypnosis is a very successful approach to this. It has a clear structure, is scientifically sound and up-to-date, and explains how hypnosis can work particularly well when combined with other treatment methods such as cognitive behavioural therapy. * Hypnose *Table of ContentsPart I Understanding Pain ; Chapter 1 The Biological Basis of Pain ; Chapter 2 How Thoughts and Coping Responses Influence Pain ; Part II Understanding Hypnosis ; Chapter 3 What is Hypnosis? ; Chapter 4 What Hypnosis can do for Pain ; Part III Using Self-Hypnosis for Chronic Pain Management ; Chapter 5 Hypnosis and Self-Hypnosis for Chronic Pain Management: The Basics ; Chapter 6 Practicing Self-Hypnosis: Entering the Hypnotic "State" ; Chapter 7 Using Self-Hypnosis for Pain and Fatigue Management ; Chapter 8 Using Self-Hypnosis for Thought and Mood Management ; Chapter 9 Using Self-Hypnosis for Activity and Sleep Management ; Chapter 10 Summary and Conclusions

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Book SynopsisIn January of 1999, an otherwise nonviolent man under great stress at work brutally murdered his wife in their backyard. He then went back to bed, awakening only when police entered his home. He claimed to have no memory of the event because, while his body was awake at the time, his mind was not. He had been sleepwalking.In The Twenty-four Hour Mind, sleep scientist Rosalind Cartwright brings together decades of research into the bizarre sleep disorders known as parasomnias to propose a new theory of how the human mind works consistently throughout waking and sleeping hours. Thanks to increasingly sophisticated EEG and brain imaging technologies, we now know that our minds do not simply turn off during sleep. Rather, they continue to be active, and research has indicated that one of the primary purposes of sleep is to aid in regulating emotions and processing experiences that occur during preceding waking hours. As such, when sleep is neurologically or genetically impaired or just tooTrade Review"Professor Rosalind Cartwright is a true pioneer of sleep research. She was there in the field's formative years and her particular interest in the function and meaning of dreams is reflected in a record of high-quality scientific publications spanning more than four decades. In The Twenty-four Hour Mind, Cartwright describes both her research as well as that of many other sleep scientists in an exciting, eminently readable and thought provoking narrative. She examines numerous important and intriguing topics, including insomnia, depression, sleep walking, forensic sleep medicine and the role of dreams in human consciousness. In her Introduction, Cartwright writes, 'Come Along. I promise it will be an interesting ride.' The Twenty-four Hour Mind is a promise well kept!"--Michael V. Vitiello, University of Washington, Seattle, and Past President, Sleep Research Society "An engaging account of the history of sleep research. [Cartwright] skillfully weaves in her 50 years' worth of work in the field, delving into her own theories about the purpose of dreams and highlighting the importance of sleep to maintain our physical and mental well-being."--Scientific American Mind "This is an easy-to-read, interesting, and informative book about the neurophysiology, purposes, and meanings of sleep and dreaming...Often surprising, and richly informative." --JAMA "Rosalind Cartwright, a well-respected sleep researcher and therapist, presents a strong argument for viewing sleep and its resulting dreams in a new light that is reflected in the title of her book, The Twenty-Four Hour Mind: The Role of Sleep and Dreaming in Our Emotional Lives... The combination of sleep research and clinical analysis that Cartwright brings to The Twenty-Four Hour Mind should be of interest to a broad audience. It is well written and should be generally appreciated because most of us have a self-interest in a better understanding of the mysteries of sleep." --PsycCRITIQUES "A respected pioneer in the field, Professor Cartwright is the leading authority on the role of sleep and dreaming in our emotional lives. Her unique and personal experience as a researcher, clinician, teacher, and sleep expert in court cases involving murder and other acts of non-lethal aggression makes this book a captivating read...I highly recommend it as the go-to source for reviewing important dream and sleep studies, fascinating clinical cases, and what we have learned about the sleeping mind-body connection along the way." --Doody's "This very absorbing and beautifully written book describes cogently some of the psychophysical aspects of sleep and how our present understanding of them has been reached, and in doing so underscores just how much remains outside our comprehension. It also reviews the illustrious career of one of the pioneers in sleep research, compelling in its own right. Readers interested in either will not be disappointed. " --Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine "The work is focused and concise, emphasizing the author's own contributions and career experiences to a greater degree than the large corpus of research pertinent to the question of sleep/dream function. It is therefore an excellent primer for the sleep neophyte, an informed guidebook for the practicing clinician, and a solid review of Cartwright's theoretical position on the function of sleep and dreaming. Readers should be better able to appreciate the '24-hr mind' theory as an increasingly valid perspective in the ever-growing field of nocturnal neuroscience." -- SLEEP "Cartwright offers an absorbing history of sleep research, at once revealing how far we've come in understanding this vital third of our lives and how much still remains outside our grasp." -- Maria Popova, Brain PickingsTable of ContentsIntroduction: The Role of the Night Mind in our Emotional Economy ; Chapter 1. In the Beginning: The Early Days of Sleep Research ; Chapter 2. Collecting Dreams: Watching the Sleeping Mind ; Chapter 3. Short Sleep and Its Consequences: Insomnia ; Chapter 4. Sleep and Dreams in Depression ; Chapter 5. Sleepwalking into Danger: Murders without Motives ; Chapter 6. More NREM Parasomnias: Those Who Injure Themselves, Seek Food or Sex, Explore, and Protect ; Chapter 7. Sleepwalking and State of Mind in the Courtroom ; Chapter 8. Warnings from the Land of Nod: Nightmares and REM Behaviour Disorder ; Chapter 9. Dreaming and the Unconscious ; Chapter10. The Role of Dreams in the Twenty-four Hour Mind: Regulating Emotion and Updating the Self

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Book SynopsisThe idea of a disjunctive theory of visual experiences first found expression in J.M. Hinton''s pioneering 1973 book Experiences. In the first monograph in this exciting area since then, William Fish develops a comprehensive disjunctive theory, incorporating detailed accounts of the three core kinds of visual experience--perception, hallucination, and illusion--and an explanation of how perception and hallucination could be indiscriminable from one another without having anything in common. In the veridical case, Fish contends that the perception of a particular state of affairs involves the subject''s being acquainted with that state of affairs, and that it is the subject''s standing in this acquaintance relation that makes the experience possess a phenomenal character. Fish argues that when we hallucinate, we are having an experience that, while lacking phenomenal character, is mistakenly supposed by the subject to possess it. Fish then shows how this approach to visual experience isTrade ReviewIn Perception, Hallucination, and Illusion, Fish does an admirable job of summarizing the current state of the debate about Naive Realism, as well as advancing the dialectic beyond that state. Most importantly, he identifies a promising yet hitherto overlooked motivation for Naive Realism, one which should bring even Naive Realism's most trenchant critics to admit that the view is worth taking seriously. ... In short, anyone on either side of the debate over Naive Realism, and those wanting to learn what all the fuss is about, would do well to study Fish's book closely. * Philosophical Books *Perception, Hallucination, and Illusion is a substantial contribution. Fish communicates a clear sense of the philosophical landscape that naive realists confront, and defends a stimulating proposal about how naive realists should deal with key parts of this landscape.... the book as a whole is a clear presentation of an intriguing and comprehensive naive-realist view, a work that harpens our understanding of the debate to which this theory contributes. * Matthew Kennedy, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *Fish's core thesis is that the phenomenal character of any visual experience- in so far as it has one-consists in being acquainted with mind-independent facts. Fish's central contentions are clearly and carefully presented, their motivations and challenges even-handedly laid out, and interesting responses to the latter are offered. His view is illuminatingly placed in relation to recent discussions in the philosophy of perceptionEL Fish's book is recommended to anyone interested in disjunctivism for providing, in a reader-friendly format, both an introduction to the state of the art in the disjunctivist approach, and a stimulating version of it. * Anders Nes, Mind *Table of Contents1 Naive Realism: The Theory and its Motivations ; 2 Naive Realism: Past and Future ; 3 Perception ; 4 Hallucination ; 5 Consciousness and the Brain ; 6 Illusion ; References ; Index

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