A provocative and entertaining scientific exploration of the self, and what it actually constitutes our sense of self.
'Witty, wise and wonderfully entertaining reading from its opening challenging paradox to its inspiring closing. It is surely a "must read" now selection' Philip G. Zimbardo, Professor Emeritus at Stanford University and author of The Lucifer Effect?
Who are we? Where is the boundary between us and everything else? Are we all multiple personalities? And how can we control who we become?
From distinguished psychologist Robert Levine comes this provocative and entertaining scientific exploration of the most personal and important of all landscapes: the physical and psychological entity we call our self.
Using a combination of case studies and cutting-edge research in psychology, biology, neuroscience, virtual reality and many other fields, Levine challenges cherished beliefs about the unity and stability of the self - but also suggests that we are more capable of change than we know.
Physically, our cells are unrecognizable from one moment to the next. Cognitively, our self-perceptions are equally changeable. Psychologically, we switch back and forth like quicksilver between incongruent sub-selves. Socially, we appear to be little more than an ever-changing troupe of actors. And culturally, the boundaries of the self vary wildly around the world. The self, in short, is a fiction: vague, arbitrary and utterly intangible. But it is also fluid. And this unleashes a world of potential.
Engaging, informative, and ultimately liberating, Stranger in the Mirror will change forever how you think about your self - and what you might become.
Robert Levine is a professor of psychology at California State University, Fresno. He has won awards for his teaching and research. He has published many articles in professional journals and trade periodicals such as Discover, American Demographics, The New York Times and American Scientist. He is the author of A Geography of Time and The Power of Persuasion.
POPULAR SCIENCE
(NB - no Improvement Zone logo or overcoming.co.uk address needed)
"Stranger in the Mirror is the most engaging book I have encountered in a long time. The content is thoroughly delicious and Robert Levine writes with compelling clarity." David Dunning, University of Michigan
