Imagination: The Science of Your Mind's Greatest Power - Hardcover

Davies, Jim

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1643132032 ISBN 13: 9781643132037

Publisher: Pegasus Books, 2019

Synopsis

The first-ever book on the science of imagination, which sheds light on both the complex inner-workings of our mind and the ways in which we can channel imagination for a better life. 

We don’t think of imagination the way that we should. The word is often only associated with children, artists and daydreamers, viewed as something separate from everyday adult life. However, imagination is an integral part of almost every action and decision that we make. Simply put, imagination is a person’s ability to create scenarios in his or her head: this can include everything from planning a grocery list, to honing a golf swing, and even to having religious hallucinations.  And while imagination has positive connotations, it can also lead to more pernicious outcomes including decreased productivity and cooperation, and much worse, the continuous reliving of past trauma.

The human brain is remarkable in its ability to imagine―to create worlds and situations outside of its reality. We can imagine complex possible futures, fantasy worlds, and jars of peanut butter. We can use our imaginations to make us relaxed or anxious, and the most impressive feat of human imagination may be our ability to use it in creative endeavors. Sitting in a chair, with our eyes closed, we can imagine what the world might be, and construct elaborate plans. With such power, we have an obligation to use it for good―to make things better for ourselves, and for the world. 

People have been fascinated with the machination of the human brain and its ability to imagine for centuries, but until now, there have been no popular science books that are dedicated to imagination. There are books on creativity, dreams, memory, and the mind in general, but how exactly do we create those scenes in our head? With chapters ranging from hallucination and imaginary friends to how imagination can make you happier and more productive, Jim Davies' Imagination will help us explore the full potential of our own mind.

About this title

About the Author

Jim Davies is a professor at the Institute of Cognitive Science at Carleton University. He is the director of the Science of Imagination Laboratory and the co-author on two editions of The GNU Scientific Library Reference Manual. He is the author of Riveted: The Science of Why Jokes Make Us Laugh, Movies Make Us Cry, and Religion Makes Us Feel One with the Universe. He lives in Ottawa, Canada.

Review

“An ever engaging book. A worthy companion to books by Oliver Sacks, Daniel Dennett, and other students of the always puzzling human mind.”
- Kirkus Reviews

“A spirited overview of one of neuroscience’s most complex topics. Davies’s knack for translating the abstract into the tangible―while also doing justice to the original ideas―will make this scientific take on imagination appealing to generalists and specialists alike.”
- Publishers Weekly

“The sections are concise but thorough and provide readers with thoughtful presentations on just how complex the concept of imagination can be. This is serious brain science coupled with familiar topics, like ear worms, and Davies does a first-rate job of tying it all together with many a wink and nod along the way. Science book clubs will find this title well worth their time, and it's a certain winner for general readers.”
- Booklist

“Deeply researched study of imagination ― ranging from everyday practicalities such as planning a shopping list, to dreams and hallucinations.”
- Nature Magazine

About this edition

• Publisher: Pegasus Books
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 1643132032
• ISBN 13: 9781643132037
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 336