The Self Delusion The Surprising Science Of Our Connection To Each Other And The Natural World Tom Oliver by Tom Oliver 9781474611763, 1474611761, B0868FM3YR instant download after payment.

'A thought-provoking and worthwhile read' THE TIMES

'A timely, challenging book' GUARDIAN

'[A] rich, intriguing book' NATURE

WE ARE MUCH MORE CONNECTED TO NATURE AND EACH OTHER THAN WE REALISE . . .

- Most of our 37 trillion cells have such a short lifespan that we are essentially made anew every few weeks
- The molecules forming our bodies have been component parts of countless other organisms, from ancient plants to dinosaurs
- The bacteria, fungi and viruses that make up half our bodies influence our moods and even manipulate our behaviour
- Every word and every touch we receive from other people transforms the neural networks in our brain and changes our sense of self

THE SELF DELUSION is an explosive, powerful and inspiring book that brings together overwhelming evidence against the illusion we have of ourselves as independent beings - and explains how understanding our many connections may be the key to a better future.

A vision of a connected society - one that is conscious of its dependency on nature - is a glistening beacon in a gloomy ecological present. In an era that will be defined by its planetary action, Oliver's argument is timely and thorough―GEOGRAPHICAL

Ambitious . . . it has several important messages, many of which need to be more widely understood . . . a thought-provoking and worthwhile read―THE TIMES

As Tom Oliver takes us through this enlightening tour of our interconnectedness, from microscopic interactions to our collective cultural mind, he mercilessly dissects the very notion that our cherished individuality exists at all. Entertaining and thought-provoking, this book offers an urgently needed revaluation of our place in the world and what the next steps in our evolution might be― Nathan H. Lents, author of HUMAN ERRORS

As a recovering individualist, I need to be reminded of the dangers of the self delusion and the benefits of dispelling it, and this book is a fascinating and compelling presentation of the scientific evidence― Michael Foley, author of THE AGE OF ABSURDITY

Consciousness is one of the greatest of scientific mysteries . . . Fascinating―MAIL ON SUNDAY

Heraclitus famously said that no man can step in the same river twice. Oliver has the science to back up the philosophy― Christopher Bray , THE TABLET

Humans are less discrete entities than mash-ups of microbiota and shifting beliefs, declares ecologist Tom Oliver in this rich, intriguing book. We are, he shows, so interfused with the environment that all life might be seen as a web of genes, and all minds a web of memes. Oliver reframes the self as a fleeting union of molecules, a target for manipulation by parasites, a cooperative co-creator who is also destroying the biosphere. But by recognizing our connectedness, he argues, we enable needed societal and environmental change―NATURE