Being You: A New Science Of Consciousness by Anil Seth (book review)
Now this book, ‘Being You: A New Science Of Consciousness’ by Anil Seth, is looking at you. Actually what makes your conscious mind tick. His initial look at how anaesthetic can removed his mind for a time during medical operations shows how fragile it is.
As a Type One diabetic, I know the effects of low blood sugar has on the brain. People know we diabetics can go into coma when our blood sugar dips low, what is less well-known is the ‘white out’, where the body goes on automatic and the mind is effectively asleep when the blood sugar slowly dips. The first few times, revived thankfully by my mother eventually feeding me, left large gaps in my memory but quite compliant like those who are brainwashed. I also discovered that my autonomic reflexes could kick in to protect me when needed…eventually. As such, a book such as this needed to be fitted into my reading schedule, even if he doesn’t include this subject matter.
As Seth explores what makes our minds, he also shows how our senses can also delude us. His examples include the invisible gorilla, check out YouTube to test yourself, and he also includes examples of how our perceptions can be helped. Loved the horse picture. Distraction also shows how we can miss things showing its more than a conjuror’s trick.
Seth also covers experiments that seem to disprove things. A digital watch was rigged to show time fast to see when its wearer was in a stress situation and time apparently slowed down would see it a ‘normal’ speed which didn’t happen. Having been in a ‘slow time’ when I miscalculated a jump over a wall when young, it gave me enough time to stop me landing on my neck. I doubt if I would have had time to look at a watch, it just gave me time to make a decision. If anything, I was working at neuron speed. I tend to think of it as a safety feature and not sure if everyone has it in their mental make-up.
Oddly, his look at out-of-body experience in hospitals missed out on medical staff leaving a large sign on top of cupboards to see if the OOB patient could see it looking down. Perception without vision is an odd thing because then you have to consider how it’s done at a distance. If it truly worked, a blind person wouldn’t have to rely more on their other senses.
There’s a lot to digest here but spend your time reading because a lot of this book will make you think. It also enters philosophical issues between perception and existence. Oddly, Seth never uses ‘I think, therefore I am’.
He does look at various mammals as to whether they are self aware and also aware of being careful with anthropomorphism and anthropocentrism, both putting animals under human values. The obvious test of marking an animal and seeing if it can recognise itself in a mirror always depends on it if knows what a mirror is. I would question that from whether it recognises a reflection. I mean, how often do animals look at their reflections in water. The normal reaction to a reflection is to see it as a threat to itself first. Seth concentrates on mammals because we all have similar brains. Then he looks at octopus intelligence which is so radically different but still demonstrates self-preservation in dangerous situations and a desire to escape which will make you think.
Lastly, Seth have looks at Artificial Intelligence and cites various film robots and computers, although missed out on ‘Forbidden Planet’s Robbie the Robot, who must surely be the original AI, beating Marla from ‘Metropolis’. All his film examples shown are the end results, not how they got that way where you would have thought flaws would have been spotted early before being let loose. Hopefully, real life will be more cautious. All SF can do is give the warning signs. He does point out we have a long way to go before we have self-aware AI.
You’ll notice that a lot of my review is often reacting to what Seth writes which is good because it shows he’s making me think. He does say a lot of good things that you’ll want to compare to your own experiences. The fact that we can discuss our own consciousness is a demonstration of self and how we are similar in thinking non-vocally. I do think we ought to compare our similarities and where does particular talents come from, which really does address what makes our brains different from each other. There’s a lot to learn from this book and if you can question what you are from this book, then it’s also an important read.
GF Willmetts
March 2026
(pub: Faber, 2022. 358 pages actually 276 pages of text before notes and bibliography lightly illustrated small enlarged paperback. Price: varies. ISBN: 978-0-571-33772-9)
check out website: www.faber.co.uk
