Being You

“Whenever I hear that someone has found a new theory of consciousness, I start to lose my own… So when the latest would-be Einstein announces yet another theory, my eyes start to glaze over in anticipation of drivel and disappointment. Neuroscientist Anil Seth’s Being You is the exception that proves the rule. If you only read one book about consciousness, it must be his… An impressive work that handles complex issues with exceptional insight and beautiful clarity.” —Julian Baggini, Wall Street Journal “[Seth] tells us about the Japanese roboticist who builds ‘Geminoids’—robots as similar to human beings as possible, including one resembling himself, which delivered a 45-minute lecture to a large audience of students. It is a brilliant book…” —Claire Tomalin, New York Times Book Review "Exhilarating... a vast-ranging, phenomenal achievement that will undoubtedly become a seminal text." — The Guardian “Seth makes a convincing case that perception masquerades as conscious reality… Fluent and accessible.” — Financial Times “Drawing on philosophy, biology, cognitive science, neuroscience and artificial intelligence, he argues that our brains are prediction machines that constantly invent our world and then correct our mistakes, so that our sense of self derives from our body.” — Nature “Imaginative and compelling…” — Scientific American “A fantastic exposition to a family of revolutionary ideas gaining increasing support both from neuroscience and artificial-intelligence research. It is a much-rewarding read, both for people familiar with the central questions of consciousness and the interested newcomer.” — World Literature Review “Exhilarating; informed, passionate and provocative in equal measure—as much a groundbreaking work of philosophy as of science. It’s a book that lingers with you, while at the same time forcing you to rethink exactly who and what “you” are." —Research Professional News “In lucid, engaging prose Seth deftly navigates long-standing philosophical debates over the nature of consciousness… awe-inspiring.” —New Statesman “An accessible, unfailingly interesting look inside the workings of the human brain, celebrating its beguiling nature.” — Kirkus “[Seth’s] extraordinary debut sets out his exhilarating new theory about how we experience the world.” — The Bookseller (Editor's Choice) “[Anil Seth] takes on the prodigious task of defining consciousness and explaining its origins in this intense survey.” — Publishers Weekly “One of the most authoritative voices in a central question of neuroscience: what is consciousness? His new book is a page-turner and a mind-blower. If you've ever wondered how billions of neurons chattering in the dark equate to your experience, start here... Beautifully written, crystal clear, deeply insightful.” — David Eagleman, neuroscientist at Stanford University, author of Livewired and Incognito “A brilliant beast of a book. A wide ranging synthesis pulling together disparate stands—from philosophy, science, literature, personal experience and speculation—this latter being the most exciting for me, despite some proposals being as yet unproven. Seth proposes to explain not just what and how we are, but probably provocative for some folks, why we are the way we are. Why do we have the feeling of continually being the same person? (When obviously I, at least, am not.) Why do we have this feeling of being self aware? What is it for? Hugely inspirational—I filled up 10 pages with exuberant notes. Keep a pencil handy.” — David Byrne , founding member of Talking Heads “There could hardly be a better guide to the theories—good and bad—currently swirling around the science of consciousness. Seth writes with grace and charm, gently demolishing bad ideas—such as panpsychism, and Integrated Information Theory—while building a case for his own very good idea that consciousness is a kind of controlled hallucination, the brain’s best guess at inventing the future.” — Nicholas Humphrey , neuropsychologist and author A History of the Mind and Soul Dust “Seth provokes us to think about thinking. And he offers what the interested reader always needs—a book which makes complex ideas readable, relatable, and gripping. If you want to understand his subject better—he’ll help you. And who wouldn’t want to better understand consciousness? In our lives, there is nothing weirder or more fundamental.” — Alex Garland , director of EX MACHINA “ Being You offers us new cause for astonishment and wonder. Through expert science writing and engaging personal narrative, Anil gives us a new perspective on everything we perceive, down to space and time itself. Being You is a must read for anyone seeking a better understanding of the brain and how nature sculpts the human experience.” — Annaka Harris , author of Conscious “Reality is real, but how our brains construct a picture of reality—perceiving; integrating, predicting—is far from direct. It's a complicated, fascinating mess, which neuroscientists