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The science behind altered states of consciousness, revealed across a tour of experts and experiences in lucid dreams, mindfulness, hypnotic trances, virtual reality and drug use.
About the author
James Kingsland is a science journalist with more than 25 years' experience working for publications including New Scientist and Nature. Most recently he was a commissioning editor and Science Production Editor for the Guardian. He is the author of Siddhartha's Brain: Unlocking the Ancient Science of Enlightenment.
Summary
'Wonderful' Philosophy Now
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When a computer goes wrong, we are told to turn it off and on again. In Am I Dreaming?, science journalist James Kingsland reveals how the human brain is remarkably similar. By rebooting our hard-wired patterns of thinking - through so-called 'altered states of consciousness' - we can gain new perspectives on ourselves and the world around us.
From shamans in Peru to tech workers in Silicon Valley, Kingsland takes us on a dazzling tour of lucid dreams, mindfulness, hypnotic trances, virtual reality and drug-induced hallucinations. A startling exploration of perception and consciousness, this is also a provocative argument for using altered states to boost our mental health.
'Read this book and take part in one of the greatest intellectual adventures of all time.'Professor J. Allan Hobson
Foreword
A scientific travel guide to altered states of consciousness - and what we can learn from them
Additional text
When a computer goes wrong, we are told to turn it off and on again. In Am I Dreaming?, science journalist James Kingsland reveals how the human brain is remarkably similar. By rebooting our hard-wired patterns of thinking - through so-called 'altered states of consciousness' - we can gain new perspectives into ourselves and the world around us. From shamans in Peru to tech workers in Silicon Valley, Kingsland provides a fascinating tour through lucid dreams, mindfulness, hypnotic trances, virtual reality and drug-induced hallucinations. An eye-opening insight into perception and consciousness, this is also a provocative argument for how altered states can significantly boost our mental health.
