Being You

A Book of the Year: Guardian, The Economist, New Statesman, Financial Times, Bloomberg. Anil Seth's radical new theory of consciousness challenges our understanding of perception and reality, contributing to brain research in the same way that Dawkins has to evolutionary biology.

A brilliant work. - David Byrne
Of enormous significance. - Jim Al-Khalili
Masterful... An exciting book: a comprehensive, phenomenal achievement that will undoubtedly become a foundational text. - Gaia Vince, Guardian

It's not as easy to be yourself as it sounds. Somehow, billions of neurons in each of our brains work to create our conscious experience. How does this happen? Why do we experience life in the first person? After over twenty years of research on the brain, the world-renowned neuroscientist Anil Seth presents a radically new theory of consciousness and self. His unique theory about what it means to 'be you' questions our understanding of perception and reality and turns upside down what you thought you knew about yourself.

Seth thinks clearly and sharply about one of the hardest problems in science and philosophy, cutting through the thicket with the mind of a scientist and the skill of a storyteller. - Adam Rutherford
A page-turner and a thought provoker... Beautifully written, crystal clear, profound. - David Eagleman
If you want to read a book about consciousness, it has to be Seth's. - Julian Baggini
Amazing. - Russell Brand
Captivating. - Alex Garland
I loved it. - Michael Pollan
Fascinating. - Financial Times
Awesome. - New Statesman
Brilliant. - Claire Tomalin.