Patrick House (Ph.D.) is a neuroscientist and writer, and joined us during DISI 2020. He studies the neuroscience of free will – to be more precise, Patrick investigates (among other topics) the curious case of mind-controlling parasites that alter the host animal’s behavior. (We were considering embedding a video on this, but since we don’t want to be responsible for causing you nightmares, we encourage the brave of hearts to google this themselves.)
In 2022, Patrick did what most academics dream of doing: he published his very first book, titled Nineteen Ways of Looking at Consciousness. Taking about making a great start!
Those who lay their hands on his book will be treated with a comprehensive examination of various theories and perspectives on consciousness. Whilst consciousness is one of the most complex of matters (or not-matter!) to study, Patrick writes in an easy-to-understand manner. By blending elements of brain science, technology, gaming, analogy, and philosophy, he offers readers to gain a holistic understanding of consciousness, explaining how the brain functions and what may enable us to experience a world around and within us.
This book is an ideal introduction to consciousness for those who are new to the topic, as well as a valuable resource for experts looking to gain a deeper understanding of the current state of the field.
Whether you’re a cognitive scientist, philosopher, or just someone with a curious mind, Nineteen Ways of Looking at Consciousness is a book that we wouldn’t want you to miss. It’s available now, and we highly recommend giving it a read!