“Intriguing. . . . The most complete realization of his ethos yet; Damasio’s thesis might be, ‘I feel, therefore I am.’ . . . Damasio has shifted the burden of proof. Any theory that tries to explain consciousness while ignoring vulnerability, self-concern and the body’s ceaseless conversation with the brain now looks conspicuously incomplete.”—The New York Times
“[Damasio is] a unique scientist who has made us rethink consciousness, cognition and self-awareness.”—The Wall Street Journal
“An ambitious exploration of the origins of human consciousness. . . . Damasio combines science and philosophy to examine what makes us uniquely human.” —Alta
“A bold reimagination of what makes us sentient.”—Adam Grant, Granted substack
“A stirring reminder of the marvel of self-aware existence.”—Undark
“It’s hard to fathom how much is brilliantly packed into this slim volume. It’s like sneaking into one of Damasio’s legendary lectures and having the world of the mind, of the body, of consciousness, and experience explained to us in lucid, vivid, wonderfully voiced detail.”—Jorie Graham, author of To 2040
“While ‘brain’ and ‘mind’ have become legitimate topics for scientific examination, we’ve long looked to artists and philosophers to illuminate ‘feelings’ and ‘consciousness.’ Antonio Damasio’s book presents a powerful scientific framework that persuasively encompasses these enigmatic realms.”—Howard Gardner, author of Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences
“Antonio Damasio succeeds in revealing one of the great mysteries of our age: how consciousness came to be. He explores its making, from sensing to feeling, from natural intelligence to homeostatic feeling, to the precursor for everything we invent, know, experience, and theorize. Through consciousness the material and immaterial are one; through consciousness we understand ourselves. This is not only a significant book. This book is a victory for our species.” —Yo-Yo Ma
“Before presenting his current perspective on consciousness, Antonio Damasio occupied a prominent place in the history of the neurosciences. With his new work on consciousness, however, Damasio enters the history of science, tout court.” —Asier Arias Domínguez, Philosopher, Complutense University of Madrid
“Offers fascinating insights on what the evolution of human consciousness reveals about the development of fields like art, philosophy, and politics. . . . An ambitious and intriguing . . . take on what makes humans human.”—Publishers Weekly
“As artificial minds and embodied robots reshape debates over the essence of humanity, Damasio’s probe into the physical roots of consciousness feels especially timely. . . . The book joins accessibility with rigor [in a] captivating inquiry.”—Kirkus
“A timely intervention in the debate over artificial intelligence. . . . Damasio’s conversational and occasionally playful style makes complex neuroscience accessible to nonexperts. . . . While readers familiar with his earlier books may recognize recurring themes and material, this work distinguishes itself by applying his foundational theories to recent developments in AI and to the question of why AI cannot replicate the biological ‘feeling mind.’”—Library Journal
