20 Best Books On Consciousness (2023 Update)

Concepts written about in this book how the universe downloaded all its knowledge into my mind – how to design your life experience the way you want it to be, before you have to live it – until now, mostly undiscovered universal success principles – creation – what was created at the "big bang" – who was "jesus", and what did he look like, according to the obscure roman writings, and other non-biblical records? – who / what is "god"? – who really created the first bible? – who / what are you? – who created you? – what is the physical world made of? – what is universal consciousness? – how to use the right techniques to access the universal consciousness to manifest good things in your life – "pearls of wisdom" and success principles you can only learn by talking to billionaires – what is the universal mind? – what is your "mind"? – what is the "power of the mind" – how does the subconscious mind work? – memory – perfect recall of memory – how does the super conscious mind work? – what is thought? – is your life predetermined by fate? – how does "free will" work for you? – what is spiritual creation? – what is physical creation? – who are the "guardians of the soul"? – quantum physics explaining creation, made simple, without the equations – can "god" be "good" and "evil" at the same time? – what really brings out "evil"? – why do most prayers go unanswered? – how to pray – what is the language in the spiritual world? – what is time? – time travel is possible – starting a new "time line" – what is hidden in the future for mankind? – telepathy – thought transference – was the "big bang" 14 billion years ago, an "accident"? – what is love? – you can transfer love to someone else – what is "heaven"? – what is the "great sea of light"? – what is the "soul"? – soul memory – pre-birth memory – where is our real "home"? – awakening – illumination – ascension – immortality – what is physical "death"? – where is "heaven"? – there is no spiritual "death" – reincarnation – karma – the importance of forgiveness – who was the "teacher of righteousness"? – the essenes – how do you know when you are on the right spiritual path? – the meaning of life – and more – much more.

A turning point in psychology and human historystanislav grof, m.d., formerly a professor at johns hopkins university school of medicine and founder of the international transpersonal association, has written many books, including 'realms of the

Drawing on laboratory studies of the brain and clos examination of archaeological evidence, the author concludes that consciousness is not a product of evolution but of catastrophic events in our own history, events that occurred as recently as three thousand years ago.

2010 reprint of 1905 edition.this work is the magnum opus of bucke's career, a project that he researched and wrote over many years. in it, bucke described his own experience, that of contemporaries (most notably whitman, but also unknown figures like "c.p."), and the experiences and outlook of historical figures including buddha, jesus, paul, plotinus, muhammad, dante, francis bacon, and william blake. bucke developed a theory involving three stages in the development of consciousness: the simple consciousness of animals; the self-consciousness of the mass of humanity (encompassing reason, imagination, etc.); and cosmic consciousness – an emerging faculty and the next stage of human development. among the effects of this progression, he believed he detected a lengthy historical trend in which religious conceptions and theologies had become less and less fearful. a classic work.

From the bestselling author of gratitude and musicophilia, a collection of essays that displays oliver sacks's passionate engagement with the most compelling ideas of human endeavor: evolution, creativity, memory, time, consciousness, and experience.oliver sacks, scientist and storyteller, is beloved by readers for the extraordinary neurological case histories (awakenings, an anthropologist on mars) in which he explored many now-familiar disorders–autism, tourette syndrome, face blindness. he was also a memoirist who wrote with honesty and humor about the remarkable experiences that shaped him (uncle tungsten, on the move, gratitude). in the pieces that comprise the river of consciousness (many first published in the new york review of books, among other places), dr. sacks takes on evolution, botany, chemistry, medicine, neuroscience, and the arts, and calls upon his great scientific and creative heroes–above all, darwin, freud, and william james. for sacks, these thinkers were constant companions from an early age. the questions they explored–the meaning of evolution, the roots of creativity, and the nature of consciousness–lie at the heart of science and of this book. the river of consciousness demonstrates sacks's unparalleled ability to make unexpected connections, his sheer joy in knowledge, and his unceasing, timeless endeavor to understand what makes us human.

As a cardiologist, pim van lommel was struck by the number of his patients who claimed to have near-death experiences as a result of their heart attacks. as a scientist, this was difficult for him to accept: wouldn't it be scientifically irresponsible of him to ignore the evidence of these stories? faced with this dilemma, van lommel decided to design a research study to investigate the phenomenon under the controlled environment of a cluster of hospitals with a medically trained staff. for more than twenty years van lommel systematically studied such near-death experiences in a wide variety of hospital patients who survived a cardiac arrest. in 2001, he and his fellow researchers published his study on near-death experiences in the renowned medical journal the lancet. the article caused an international sensation as it was the first scientifically rigorous study of this phenomenon. now available for the first time in english, van lommel offers an in-depth presentation of his results and theories in this book that has already sold over 125,000 copies in europe. van lommel provides scientific evidence that the near-death phenomenon is an authentic experience that cannot be attributed to imagination, psychosis, or oxygen deprivation. he further reveals that after such a profound experience, most patients' personalities undergo a permanent change. in van lommel's opinion, the current views on the relationship between the brain and consciousness held by most physicians, philosophers, and psychologists are too narrow for a proper understanding of the phenomenon. in consciousness beyond life, van lommel shows that our consciousness does not always coincide with brain functions and that, remarkably and significantly, consciousness can even be experienced separate from the body.

In the feeling of what happens: body and emotion in the making of consciousness, neuroscientist antonio damasio, director of ucla's brain and creativity institute, presents "the first truly compelling neurobiological account of the self…a remarkable work of intellectual daring" (nature). how is it that our conscious and private minds have a sense of self? in this groundbreaking book, damasio — a renowned and revered scientist and clinician who spent decades following amnesiacs down hospital corridors, waiting for comatose patients to awaken, and devising ingenious research using pet scans to piece together the great puzzle of consciousness — explores the biological roots of sentient awareness and its role in survival. consciousness is the feeling of what happens-our mind noticing the body's reaction to the world and responding to that experience. without our bodies there can be no consciousness, which is at heart a mechanism for survival that engages body, emotion, and mind in the glorious spiral of human life. linking body and emotion in an arresting and original study of what it is to be human, the feeling of what happens "will change your experience of yourself" (the new york times)." both descartes error and the feeling of what happens are essential reading. they are ground-breaking classics of psychology and neuroscience."–journal of the royal society of medicine

In his exciting and original view of the universe, itzhak bentov has provided a new perspective on human consciousness and its limitless possibilities. widely known and loved for his delightful humor and imagination, bentov explains the familiar world of phenomena with perceptions that are as lucid as they are thrilling. he gives us a provocative picture of ourselves in an expanded, conscious, holistic universe.

This is the simplest, most obvious truth of our existence, yet very few of us have really come to terms with this fact. in this way, instead of something to be feared or denied, death can become a positive experience.

Much evidence strongly indicates that bodily death is not the end of your life, but rather an entry point into the next phase of life. this evidence, combined with a highly probable emergence of spirit communication technology as early as 2018, will very likely create a major shift in the human experience. our goal is to provide an evidence-based integrative foundation for expanding your awareness of the greater reality, the vast portion of life that cannot be perceived by your five senses. from that perspective, you can best choose how to live, treat others and yourself, and enjoy greater reality living. the greater reality is all that actually exists. the vast majority of it cannot be perceived by your five senses, but is nonetheless very real. because so much of reality escapes the senses, you likely have viewed life on earth as though through a tiny pinhole and then wondered why things don't make sense. our perspectives are based on contemporary knowledge and understandings from scientific, clinical, and empirical evidence. a greater reality perspective indicates, with varying degrees of certainty, that you:a. continue living after physical death.b. do not really lose loved ones after their bodies end; you can reunite with them when you change worlds.c. can enjoy a continuing, although different, relationship with 'departed' loved ones. d. encounter not just one but many life experiences.e. are one with the one and an integral part of sourcef. receive assistance and guidance from sources described as angels, guides, master teachers, higher energies, and the light.g. create how heavenly or hellish your life feels, whether on earth or elsewhere, by your predominant thoughts, words and deeds.h. are interconnected with other people, animals, nature, and all of life.i. have special purposes for experiencing being on this planet now. none of the above is apparent when you rely on just your five senses per se. all of the above can assist having a more joyful, peaceful, and meaningful human experience. what is greater reality living? this term describes how you might choose to live as you expand your awareness of reality. how would you live and treat others if you deeply knew that, for the list above, statements (a – c) have a very high degree of certainty for being true, and the others are quite probably true? five keys to greater reality living – learn, internalize, vitalize, enjoy, serve – can be remembered by the acronym lives: 1. learn the evidence that your life continues after physical death. 2. internalize the comforting and inspiring news that death is not an end.3. vitalize and balance yourself holistically.4. enjoy the many benefits of greater reality living. 5. serve others to help them – and yourself – and make the world a better place. our understandings and the strategies described in this book, when applied consistently over time, can greatly assist these and other challenges.

The divine design reads like a sci-fi movie, yet it is a groundbreaking account of the courageous and complicated history of earth and humanity. get ready to witness the design and creation of earth, the human body, and all living organisms; the fall of humanity from a 5th dimensional state of awareness to a 3rd dimensional state of awareness; and the last 10,000 years of evolution as earth and humanity slowly shift their consciousness back into a 5th dimensional state of awareness. – by reading this book, you will embark on a journey of deep remembrance that will bring into your awareness the ancient knowledge and memories buried deep inside your cells. you will finally understand why you incarnated at this time and the role you came here to play during this grand awakening on the planet. – this book will also enable you to: find your life purpose and reclaim your infinite personal power – gain a deeper understanding of life – get unstuck on your spiritual path – navigate challenging times – accept and love yourself just the way you are – the time has come for you to embrace the power of remembrance and express your full potential, and the divine design is your faithful companion on this lifelong journey.

In which a scientist searches for an empirical explanation for phenomenal experience, spurred by his instinctual belief that life is meaningful. what links conscious experience of pain, joy, color, and smell to bioelectrical activity in the brain? how can anything physical give rise to nonphysical, subjective, conscious states? christof koch has devoted much of his career to bridging the seemingly unbridgeable gap between the physics of the brain and phenomenal experience. this engaging book–part scientific overview, part memoir, part futurist speculation–describes koch's search for an empirical explanation for consciousness. koch recounts not only the birth of the modern science of consciousness but also the subterranean motivation for his quest–his instinctual (if "romantic") belief that life is meaningful. koch describes his own groundbreaking work with francis crick in the 1990s and 2000s and the gradual emergence of consciousness (once considered a "fringy" subject) as a legitimate topic for scientific investigation. present at this paradigm shift were koch and a handful of colleagues, including ned block, david chalmers, stanislas dehaene, giulio tononi, wolf singer, and others. aiding and abetting it were new techniques to listen in on the activity of individual nerve cells, clinical studies, and brain-imaging technologies that allowed safe and noninvasive study of the human brain in action. koch gives us stories from the front lines of modern research into the neurobiology of consciousness as well as his own reflections on a variety of topics, including the distinction between attention and awareness, the unconscious, how neurons respond to homer simpson, the physics and biology of free will, dogs, der ring des nibelungen, sentient machines, the loss of his belief in a personal god, and sadness. all of them are signposts in the pursuit of his life's work–to uncover the roots of consciousness.

Who are you? when you start to explore this question, you find out how elusive it really is. are you a physical body? a collection of experiences and memories? a partner to relationships? each time you consider these aspects of yourself, you realize that there is much more to you than any of these can define. by tapping into traditions of meditation and mindfulness, singer shows how the development of consciousness can enable us all to dwell in the present moment and let go of painful thoughts and memories that keep us from achieving happiness and self realization. part two examines the experience of energy as it flows through us and works to show readers how to open their hearts to the energy of experience that permeates their lives. ways to overcome tendencies to close down to the rest of the world are the subject of part three. enlightenment, the embrace of universal consciousness, is the subject of part four. and finally, in part five, singer returns to daily life and the pursuit of unconditional happiness. throughout, the book maintains a light and engaging tone, free from heavy dogma and prescriptive religious references. the easy exercises that figure in each chapter help readers experience the ideas that singer presents.

Who are you? when you start to explore this question, you find out how elusive it really is. are you a physical body? a collection of experiences and memories? a partner to relationships? each time you consider these aspects of yourself, you realize that there is much more to you than any of these can define. by tapping into traditions of meditation and mindfulness, singer shows how the development of consciousness can enable us all to dwell in the present moment and let go of painful thoughts and memories that keep us from achieving happiness and self realization. part two examines the experience of energy as it flows through us and works to show readers how to open their hearts to the energy of experience that permeates their lives. ways to overcome tendencies to close down to the rest of the world are the subject of part three. enlightenment, the embrace of universal consciousness, is the subject of part four. and finally, in part five, singer returns to daily life and the pursuit of unconditional happiness. throughout, the book maintains a light and engaging tone, free from heavy dogma and prescriptive religious references. the easy exercises that figure in each chapter help readers experience the ideas that singer presents.

A new york times new and noteworthy bookfrom the bestselling author of waking up and the end of faith, an adaptation of his wildly popular, often controversial podcast"sam harris is the most intellectually courageous man i know, unafraid to speak truths out in the open where others keep those very same thoughts buried, fearful of the modish thought police. with his literate intelligence and fluency with words, he brings out the best in his guests, including those with whom he disagrees." — richard dawkins, author of the selfish gene"civilization rests on a series of successful conversations." –sam harrissam harris–neuroscientist, philosopher, and bestselling author–has been exploring some of the most important questions about the human mind, society, and current events on his podcast, making sense. for harris, honest conversation, no matter how difficult or controversial, represents the only path to moral and intellectual progress.this book includes a dozen of the best conversations from making sense, including talks with daniel kahneman, timothy snyder, nick bostrom, and glenn loury, on topics that range from the nature of consciousness and free will, to politics and extremism, to living ethically. together they shine a light on what it means to "make sense" in the modern world.

Jack pransky demonstrates through entertaining stories how the three principles of universal mind, consciousness and thought work together to create everyone's unique "reality," out of which they then think, feel and act. defying description, this captivating, profound book has been depicted as part self-help manual, part spiritual autobiography, in which the author uses his own life experiences and those of his clients in a revealing, raw and honest manner to contrast the difference between the peace, love, joy and wisdom that occur when these principles are realized in one's life, and the suffering that occurs when this understanding remains unrealized or forgotten. this book creates a special opportunity for readers to have insights that reveal the answer, and this will change lives.about the author: jack pransky, ph.d. is founder/director of the center for inside-out understanding. he authored numerous books on the three principles, including somebody should have told us , widely recognized as one of its best introductory books. pransky worked in the field of prevention since 1968 and now is an international consultant in the three principles, a trainer of trainers, coach of coaches and counselor of counselors. his book, modello: a story of hope for the inner city and beyond received the martin luther king storyteller's award for the book best exemplifying king's vision of "the beloved community."

Philosopher peter godfrey-smith dons a wet suit and journeys into the depths of consciousness in other minds although mammals and birds are widely regarded as the smartest creatures on earth, it has lately become clear that a very distant branch of the tree of life has also sprouted higher intelligence: the cephalopods, consisting of the squid, the cuttlefish, and above all the octopus. in captivity, octopuses have been known to identify individual human keepers, raid neighboring tanks for food, turn off lightbulbs by spouting jets of water, plug drains, and make daring escapes. how is it that a creature with such gifts evolved through an evolutionary lineage so radically distant from our own? what does it mean that evolution built minds not once but at least twice? in other minds, peter godfrey-smith, a distinguished philosopher of science and a skilled scuba diver, tells a bold new story of how subjective experience crept into being—how nature became aware of itself. as godfrey-smith stresses, it is a story that largely occurs in the ocean, where animals first appeared. tracking the mind’s fitful development, godfrey-smith shows how unruly clumps of seaborne cells began living together and became capable of sensing, acting, and signaling. as these primitive organisms became more entangled with others, they grew more complicated. the first nervous systems evolved, probably in ancient relatives of jellyfish; later on, the cephalopods, which began as inconspicuous mollusks, abandoned their shells and rose above the ocean floor, searching for prey and acquiring the greater intelligence needed to do so. taking an independent route, mammals and birds later began their own evolutionary journeys. but what kind of intelligence do cephalopods possess? drawing on the latest scientific research and his own scuba-diving adventures, godfrey-smith probes the many mysteries that surround the lineage. how did the octopus, a solitary creature with little social life, become so smart? what is it like to have eight tentacles that are so packed with neurons that they virtually “think for themselves”? what happens when some octopuses abandon their hermit-like ways and congregate, as they do in a unique location off the coast of australia? by tracing the question of inner life back to its roots and comparing human beings with our most remarkable animal relatives, godfrey-smith casts crucial new light on the octopus mind—and on our own.

When lsd was first discovered in the 1940s, it seemed to researchers, scientists and doctors as if the world might be on the cusp of psychological revolution. it promised to shed light on the deep mysteries of consciousness, as well as offer relief to addicts and the mentally ill. but in the 1960s, with the vicious backlash against the counter-culture, all further research was banned. in recent years, however, work has quietly begun again on the amazing potential of lsd, psilocybin and dmt. could these drugs in fact improve the lives of many people? diving deep into this extraordinary world and putting himself forward as a guinea-pig, michael pollan has written a remarkable history of psychedelics and a compelling portrait of the new generation of scientists fascinated by the implications of these drugs. how to change your mindis a report from what could very well be the future of human consciousness.

Read the new york times bestseller everyone is talking about. this beautiful hardcover gift edition with satin ribbon bookmark features a new preface by author and spiritual teacher michael a. this special deluxe edition makes the perfect gift for any occasion. if you've ever wondered what it would it be like to free yourself from limitations, soar beyond your boundaries, and discover true inner peace and serenity, the untethered soul can show you the way. whether this is your first exploration of inner space, or you've devoted your life to the inward journey, this book will transform your relationship with yourself and the world around you. by tapping into traditions of meditation and mindfulness, singer shows how the development of consciousness can enable us all to dwell in the present moment and let go of painful thoughts and memories that keep us from achieving happiness and self-realization. copublished with the institute of noetic sciences (ions) the untethered soul begins by walking you through your relationship with your thoughts and emotions, helping you uncover the source and fluctuations of your inner energy. it then delves into what you can do to free yourself from the habitual thoughts, emotions, and energy patterns that limit your consciousness. finally, with perfect clarity, this book opens the door to a life lived in the freedom of your innermost being.

Read the new york times bestseller everyone is talking about. this beautiful hardcover gift edition with satin ribbon bookmark features a new preface by author and spiritual teacher michael a. this special deluxe edition makes the perfect gift for any occasion. if you've ever wondered what it would it be like to free yourself from limitations, soar beyond your boundaries, and discover true inner peace and serenity, the untethered soul can show you the way. whether this is your first exploration of inner space, or you've devoted your life to the inward journey, this book will transform your relationship with yourself and the world around you. by tapping into traditions of meditation and mindfulness, singer shows how the development of consciousness can enable us all to dwell in the present moment and let go of painful thoughts and memories that keep us from achieving happiness and self-realization. copublished with the institute of noetic sciences (ions) the untethered soul begins by walking you through your relationship with your thoughts and emotions, helping you uncover the source and fluctuations of your inner energy. it then delves into what you can do to free yourself from the habitual thoughts, emotions, and energy patterns that limit your consciousness. finally, with perfect clarity, this book opens the door to a life lived in the freedom of your innermost being.