Nineteen Ways of Looking at Consciousness

A concise, elegant, and thought-provoking exploration of the mystery of consciousness and the functioning of the brain.

‘Intriguing … impressively rich. This is bursting with insight.’ Publishers Weekly

Despite decades of research, remarkable imagery, and insights from a range of scientific and medical disciplines, the human brain remains largely unexplored. Consciousness has eluded explanation.

Nineteen Ways of Looking at Consciousness offers a brilliant overview of the state of modern consciousness research in twenty brief, revealing chapters. Neuroscientist and author Patrick House describes complex concepts in accessible terms, weaving brain science, technology, gaming, analogy, and philosophy into a tapestry that illuminates how the brain works and what enables consciousness. This remarkable book fosters a sense of mystery and wonder about the strangeness of the relationship between our inner selves and our environment.

‘In Nineteen Ways of Looking at Consciousness, Patrick House explores intensely interesting, beautifully provocative ideas about the neurobiology of consciousness. In addition to being an intellectual pleasure, this is an aesthetic one as well – House writes like a dream, with great drollness and elegance of phrase. This book is a gem.’ – Robert Sapolsky, author of Behave and MacArthur Fellowship winner

‘A highly unusual but brilliant book…with a distinct voice that is fiercely unique.’ – Christof Koch, president and chief scientist, Allen Institute for Brain Science