Putting Ourselves Back in the Equation: Why Physicists Are Studying Human Consciousness and AI to Unravel the Mysteries of the Universe

(Hardback)

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Distant galaxies, dark matter, black holes elusive, incomprehensible and inhospitable these are the building blocks of modern physics. But where do we fit in this picture

For centuries, we have separated mind from matter. While physicists have pursued a theory of everything with single-minded purpose, the matter of the mind, of human consciousness, has been conveniently sidestepped and ignored consigned to priests, philosophers and poets.

With the ambition of Stephen Hawking, Carlo Rovelli and Brian Cox, Putting Ourselves Back in the Equation sets out a bold new vision for theoretical physics, unrestricted by sleek equations and neat formulations. Combining cutting-edge neuroscience with the latest in quantum mechanics, acclaimed writer Musser offers a new interpretation of human consciousness. From bizarre cognitive phenomena, like lucid dreaming and self-taught synaesthesia, to the latest technological developments in AI, Musser asks: what can physics teach us about what it means to be human

Reviews

'This is a delightful account of one of the deepest and most fascinating explorations going on today at the frontier of our knowledge.'

-- Carlo Rovelli, bestselling author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics

'The renowned science writer George Musser has taken on one of our times greatest issues: AI, how it works, and what makes it so powerful. This masterfully written book shows a surprising connection with theoretical physics.'

-- Max Tegmark, author of Life 3.0

'The philosopher Immanuel Kant wrote once: "The starry heavens begin at the place I occupy in the external world of sense, and they broaden the connection in which I stand into an unbounded magnitude of worlds beyond worlds." In this captivating book, George Musser takes us on a fascinating tour of the modern, surprising connections, scientists discover between the cosmos and our inner world of consciousness.'

-- Mario Livio, astrophysicist and author of The Golden Ratio

'I couldn't put this book down. The science of what makes reality tick, and what makes us conscious, all explored with lively, inviting prose that draws the reader in, from cover to cover.'

-- Susan Schneider, author of Artificial You: AI and the Future of the Mind

'Putting Ourselves Back in the Equationis a remarkable book. It offers a wonderful treatment of bleeding edge issues in the physics of consciousness, asking whether we are sentient observers of the universe or whether the universe emerges from our sentient observations. George Musser leaves the reader with burning questions about our place in the universe (orvice versa)questions whose answers seem tantalizingly within reach.'

-- Karl J. Friston FRS, professor of neuroscience at UCL

'Fifty years ago, the great theoretical physicist P. W. Anderson wrote an essay titled "More is different." He tried to explain how when "more" is large enough, it begets "new phenomena"entirely unlike the entities of which there are "more." In this book, George Musser entices the reader to ask whether in the gap between consciousness, qualia, and free will, on the one hand, and neurons, networks, electrophysiology, quantum mechanics, and neuroanatomy on the other, there might now be a new scientific synthesis necessary.Putting Ourselves Back in the Equationis sprightly, a good read, and beguiled this reader into thinking once again about "More is different."'

-- John Hopfield, professor emeritus at Princeton University and former president of the American Physical Society

'George Musser is one of my favourite science writers of all time.Putting Ourselves Back in the Equationis an important book that will inform both the future of physics and the philosophy of mind.'

-- Annaka Harris, author of Conscious: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind

'George Musser delivers stunning clarity on mother natures toughest puzzles. The reader will discover some things they thought they understood they don't. And mercifully, some things they thought they would never understand they now do.Putting Ourselves Back in the Equationis a great book.'

-- Michael S. Gazzaniga, author of The Consciousness Instinct

'InPutting Ourselves Back in the Equation, George Musser takes us on a fascinating journey that links the deepest mechanisms of human consciousness to the most advanced developments in AI.'

-- Guido Tonelli, author of Genesis

Author Bio

George Musser is an award-winning science writer and was a senior editor at Scientific American for fifteen years. He is the author of The Complete Idiots Guide to String Theory and Spooky Action at a Distance, and has written extensively for many publications, including the New York Times, Science, Nautilus, Quanta and Nature.