I was rather pleased when a copy of "Out of Your Mind" landed on my desk for review. As someone who spends their days helping people explore their consciousness through lucid dreaming, I was naturally keen to dive in.
I must say, Jorge Cham and Dwayne Godwin have created something quite brilliant here – a properly accessible introduction to the fascinating world of how our minds work.
What I find particularly lovely about this book is how it tackles complex concepts about consciousness, memory, and human behaviour in a way that feels natural and engaging. The combination of Cham's delightful illustrations and Godwin's expertise works remarkably well, making even the trickier concepts digestible without oversimplifying them.
In my work teaching lucid dreaming, I often need to explain rather complex ideas about consciousness and the mind to my students. This book approaches these topics in much the same way I try to – with clarity, a bit of humour, and a proper appreciation for just how remarkable our minds truly are.
The chapters on consciousness and memory particularly resonated with me, offering clear explanations of concepts I regularly discuss in with my students.
The structure is quite well thought out, with chapters that are just long enough to be substantial but short enough to digest in one sitting. I rather appreciate how they're honest about what we don't yet understand about the brain – something I find crucial when discussing consciousness with my students.
There's no pretence here, just clear explanations of what we know and frank acknowledgment of what remains mysterious. Moreover, the tone is deliciously casual, without being patronisingly dumbed down, it's like having a conversation with a knowledgably witty friend over a nice cup of tea.
What makes this book particularly useful is how it serves as a brilliant starting point for deeper exploration. Whether you're interested in dreams, consciousness, or simply fancy understanding why your mind behaves the way it does, it provides a solid foundation of knowledge while encouraging further curiosity. The comic interludes help break up the more complex material, making it easier to process and retain the information.
As someone who reads quite a lot about consciousness and the brain, I found this to be a refreshingly straightforward addition to the field. It doesn't try to be revolutionary or make grand claims – instead, it offers a clear, engaging introduction to how our minds work, with just enough humour and interesting insights to keep readers engaged throughout.
If you're curious about the inner workings of your mind, whether as a stepping stone to exploring consciousness more deeply, or simply to better understand yourself, this book is well worth your time. It's the kind of introduction I will recommend to my students when they first begin exploring consciousness – accessible enough to draw you in, but substantial enough to make you think.
The authors have managed to create something that rather nicely bridges the gap between basic pop science and academic texts – a book that informs and entertains while respecting the complexity of its subject matter.
While it won't answer all your questions about the mind (no book really could), it will certainly get you thinking and might just spark a proper interest in understanding the remarkable organ between your ears.
In a nutshell, it's brain science made human — mixing grand ideas with all the gritty reality and silliness involved in our daily existence as apes on a rock in space.
Worth checking out, and a nice addition to the field.
Available on January 28th, 2025 from Pantheon Books NOTE: This is not a sponsored review and the opinions above are my own.
However, I was provided with a copy of the book for the purpose of review.