Mind out of Matter: Exploring human perception and the 'hard problem' of consciousness

Nowadays we have very smart software capable of mimicking humans to the point of almost passing the famous Turing test, but even so we are nowhere near close to understanding how to give computers conscious self-thought. Philosophers and scientists continue to theorize about the source of consciousness, and even about what it is exactly, but still there are almost as many theories as there are thinkers on the subject.

In an attempt to break new ground and gain a different viewpoint, Mind out of Matter examines lesser-charted areas that might open doors just enough to let through glimpses of new light on the subject, by investigating how we perceive qualia sensations such as the colour blue, or the smell of roses, and what has become known as the 'hard problem' of consciousness - namely how it arises.

A main hypothesis of this book is that consciousness is as much a part of the universe as gravity and the electromagnetic field, and that qualia experiences might be extra dimensions, alongside those of space and time. These and other theories are offered up as starting points with which to provoke thinking in new directions, as well as the book making a terrifically informing and entertaining journey.

Written in easy-to-understand plain English with simple explanations of the physics, chemistry and biology behind all our senses, Mind out of Matter is a hugely entertaining read, packed with numerous insights and experiments you can try for yourself to unluck hidden senses, such as seeing the color blellow (a combination of blue and yellow that is not green), or using body parts instead of ears to hear sounds.

Mind out of Matter doesn't hold back either, because it also looks into our emotional makeup, religious and spiritual experiences and even life and death. These are things experienced by us all, and which we take for granted without truly understanding them, and therefore they too are scrutinized under the microscope of this book.