Susan Blackmore

Book by Susan Blackmore:
 CONSCIOUSNESS ISBN 978-1-444-10487-5

Can science explain human consciousness, or understand the minds of animals or machines? Or is consciousness itself an illusion?
This groud-breaking textbook by best-selling author Susan Blackmore brings together all the major theories of consciousness studies, from neuroscience and psychology to quantum theories and Eastern Philosophy.

The 'last great mystery of science', consciousness was banned from serious study for most of the last century, but is now a popular and fast expanding area for students of psychology, philosophy and neuroscience.

The book examines a diverse range of topics, including:

* how subjective experiences arise from objective brain processes
* the basic neuroscience of consciousness
* the nature of self  and free will
* out-of-body and near-death experiences
* the effect of drugs, dreams and meditation
* the evolution of consciousness

The new edition has been fully revised to include the latest developments in neuroscience, brain scanning, vision and robotics, and has a new website (www.hodderplus.co.uk/psychology) with self-assessment exercises, references, references with links to online papers, help with exercises, and links to what's on in the thriving field of consciousness studies.

For all those perplexed by what it means to be - to exist - this book could transform your consciousness.

Susan Blackmore is Visiting Professor of Psychology, University of Plymouth, UK. Her previous books include Ten Zen Questions, Conversations on Consciousness and  The Meme Machine.

Please visit http:/www.hodderplus.co.uk/psychology/  for additional resources accompanying this book.

A quote from this book, p359.
Practice - Living without psi.
The possibility of ESP is comforting. We might sense when a loved one is in danger, share our deepest feelings with others, or find ourselves guided by a supernatural power. For this exercise, try living without such comfort.


If you believe in psi, or angels, or life after death, or spirits, take this opportunity to live without them. You need not abandon your beliefs for ever; just set them aside for a few days and see how the world looks when you know you are completely on your own.


Sceptics should do this too. You may be surprised to find yourself willing something to happen even though you know you cannot affect it, or hoping someone will just know when you need them. Ask yourself this: Do we live better or worse for a belief in the paranormal? Don't give a glib, intellectual answer. Look and see what happens when you try to root it out completely.