The Self Illusion: Why There is No 'You' Inside Your Head
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Review
Fascinating, timely and important ... Hood's presentation of the science behind our supersense is crystal clear and utterly engaging--New Scientist
Wonderful. Illuminating. Full of insight, beauty, and humor. Get to know thyself--David Eagleman, author of Sum
Startling and engrossing... --Robin Ince
Wonderful. Illuminating. Full of insight, beauty, and humor. Get to know thyself--David Eagleman, author of Sum
Startling and engrossing... --Robin Ince
Book Description
A fascinating examination of how the latest science shows that our individual concept of a self is in fact an illusion.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a non-specialist i.e. not in the field of neuroscience, I was a little concerned I would find this book dry and a difficult concept to understand. I could not have been more wrong. It was enlightening, interesting and full of fascinating anecdotes and illustrations. Bruce Hood has a natural gift as a writer for the general public. His style is accessible, funny and yet educational. I have learned more about my "self" than I thought I would and also understand more about your "self". I read SuperSense also by Hood with interest and I can honestly say if you enjoyed that or even found it a little controversial, this matches it easily. Hood is an expert in his field and translates ideas and concepts to the general public with ease and aplomb.
I would recommend this book to anyone thinking of exploring what it means to be a human being even if you have little previous experience in reading this sort of literature.
Highly entertaining, hugely enjoyable, a must have.
I would recommend this book to anyone thinking of exploring what it means to be a human being even if you have little previous experience in reading this sort of literature.
Highly entertaining, hugely enjoyable, a must have.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book examines the basic nature of our personal identity from the point of view of neuropsychology. Julian Baggini gave us a fascinating account of it from the point of view of philosophy last year in his book "The Ego Trick". Hood writes an equally fascinating account to address the question, "What (or who) is the `I' that Descartes refers to when he wrote `I think. Therefore I am'"? The inroads into neuroscience is paving the way we look at things, the way we see others, and most importantly, the way we see ourselves. A decade ago the phrase "My brain made me do it" would have brought howls of laughter from people thinking it might be a spoof on criminal conduct. Read Hood and you may see the serious studies in this field.
The competing theories of Galen Strawson (the "pearl view") and Hume's (the "bundle theory") are examined and Hood tells us that modern science is inclining towards the "bundle theory", namely that our "self" emerges not from an accretion of our past experiences - "a bundling together of these experiences". The "pearl theory" holds that our self is a single immovable entity at the core of our existence.
Arising from this, it will become apparent that if the self is a bundling of one's past experiences, then one's memory is an important factor to be studied. Hood tells us that neuroscience shows that possession of memory and identity is what makes us unique individuals. Hood lucidly explains how experiments show this connection that starts with children from about five years of age. He also tells us how the self of the "moment" differs from the self of the "memory". Citing Daniel Kahnemann (whose book `Thinking Fast & Slow' is an essential reading material for all professionals who make judgments for a living - lawyers, doctors, economists etc), he explains that we have about 600,000 experiencing moments a month, each of which lasts about 2 or 3 seconds, but most are lost. That is why our memory is always fragmented, and why we often believe so strongly that our recollection is correct when it is not.
Next, the nature of human learning is also a critical factor in the development of the self. Hood draws on the studies as to how babies learn things, how adults learn things, and using examples of groupthink - shows how and why we think like the group we are in when, if left alone, we actually think differently. If the self - our self - is an accretion of experiences, built up layer by layer, then the question must arise - are we really in control of our thoughts? Hood spends a couple of chapters on his belief that neuroscience indicates that we do not really have free-will. This is, of course, a controversial topic, but if we are to see both sides of the question, we ought to see Hood's view. Right or wrong, it has the merits of clarity.
The competing theories of Galen Strawson (the "pearl view") and Hume's (the "bundle theory") are examined and Hood tells us that modern science is inclining towards the "bundle theory", namely that our "self" emerges not from an accretion of our past experiences - "a bundling together of these experiences". The "pearl theory" holds that our self is a single immovable entity at the core of our existence.
Arising from this, it will become apparent that if the self is a bundling of one's past experiences, then one's memory is an important factor to be studied. Hood tells us that neuroscience shows that possession of memory and identity is what makes us unique individuals. Hood lucidly explains how experiments show this connection that starts with children from about five years of age. He also tells us how the self of the "moment" differs from the self of the "memory". Citing Daniel Kahnemann (whose book `Thinking Fast & Slow' is an essential reading material for all professionals who make judgments for a living - lawyers, doctors, economists etc), he explains that we have about 600,000 experiencing moments a month, each of which lasts about 2 or 3 seconds, but most are lost. That is why our memory is always fragmented, and why we often believe so strongly that our recollection is correct when it is not.
Next, the nature of human learning is also a critical factor in the development of the self. Hood draws on the studies as to how babies learn things, how adults learn things, and using examples of groupthink - shows how and why we think like the group we are in when, if left alone, we actually think differently. If the self - our self - is an accretion of experiences, built up layer by layer, then the question must arise - are we really in control of our thoughts? Hood spends a couple of chapters on his belief that neuroscience indicates that we do not really have free-will. This is, of course, a controversial topic, but if we are to see both sides of the question, we ought to see Hood's view. Right or wrong, it has the merits of clarity.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is an excellent book and one that was a joy to read. Having a fascination with conscioussness and the idea of 'self', I have read almost everything by Antonio Damasio, Joseph Ledoux and VS Ramachandran et al. Damasio in particular, although clearly a genius, does not make the lightest of reading and it can take many months to wade through his books, sometimes being reduced to reading only a couple of pages at a time.
This is much more easy going but crucially, it does not sacrifice scientific explanation for an easy ride. I think Damasio could learn a lot from Hood when it comes to writing style.
It is also very pleasing to see a scientist draw philosiphical conclusions from neuroscientific evidence. Although Ramachrandan sticks his neck out somewhat in 'the tell-tale brain', Hood is quite happy to draw the most fundamental philosophical conclusions which is enlightening in itself as it least it reassures you that you are drawing proper inferences from the evidence (at leat that is if you come to the same conclusions).
If you plan to read this is a light introduction to the subject or if it is intended as a resume of the current scientific standpoint, it is an excellent resource.
This is much more easy going but crucially, it does not sacrifice scientific explanation for an easy ride. I think Damasio could learn a lot from Hood when it comes to writing style.
It is also very pleasing to see a scientist draw philosiphical conclusions from neuroscientific evidence. Although Ramachrandan sticks his neck out somewhat in 'the tell-tale brain', Hood is quite happy to draw the most fundamental philosophical conclusions which is enlightening in itself as it least it reassures you that you are drawing proper inferences from the evidence (at leat that is if you come to the same conclusions).
If you plan to read this is a light introduction to the subject or if it is intended as a resume of the current scientific standpoint, it is an excellent resource.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Thought provoking and easy to read
I really enjoyed this book and found it a pleasure to read (albeit you do need to concentrate in parts). Read more
Published 18 days ago by Caspar Thomas
Engaging and Entertaining - A MUST READ!!!
as I read a lot during work, I am extremely fussy about what I read for pleasure. Even though I had read and loved Supersense, I had treated Hood's new piece with the same rule of... Read more
Published 24 days ago by Claire White
Interesting, Thought Provoking and Readable
As a Buddhist who has a passion for trying to understand myself and others I was most keen to read this book, and I was not disappointed. Read more
Published 29 days ago by Jackie Turnbull
Just what I needed to help me be a better Trainer
Just finished reading this book this morning, I design training (Train in the Grain of the Brain) and particularly liked the references to - we remember more ( a list of words)... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Sheila
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