The User Illusion: Cutting Consciousness Down to Size - Softcover

9780140230123: The User Illusion: Cutting Consciousness Down to Size
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The 'user illusion' of this groundbreaking book's title comes from the computer industry and refers to the simplistic mental image most of us have of our PCs. Our consciousness, says Norretranders, is our user illusion of ourselves. In any given second, we consciously process only sixteen of the eleven million bits of information our senses pass on to our brains. Real communication consists of the vast amount of information that's left out - what the author calls 'exformation' - not the miniscule percentage that's left in. Drawing on scientific research from psychology and biology to physics and computer science, Norretranders makes a compelling case for putting consciousness in perspective.

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Synopsis:
First published in 1998, the title refers to the simplistic mental image most of us have of our PCs. The author says our consciousness is our user illusion of ourselves. Drawing on scientific research from psychology and biology to physics and computer science, he makes a compelling case for putting consciousness in perspective.
About the Author:
Tor Norretranders is the leading science writer in Denmark where THE USER ILLUSION was a bestseller. He is an award-winning author of more than ten books and hosts numerous television programmes on science-related topics. He lives in Denmark.

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  • PublisherPenguin
  • Publication date1999
  • ISBN 10 0140230122
  • ISBN 13 9780140230123
  • BindingPaperback
  • Number of pages480
  • Rating

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9780670875795: The User Illusion: Cutting Consciousness Down to Size

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ISBN 10:  ISBN 13:  9780670875795
Publisher: Viking, 1998
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  • 9780713991826: The User Illusion: Cutting Consciousness Down to Size (Allen Lane Science S.)

    Allen ..., 1998
    Hardcover

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Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. The "user illusion" of this groundbreaking book's title comes from the language of computer design and refers to the simplistic mental image most of us have of our PCs. Our consciousness, says Norretranders, is our user illusion of ourselves. The conscious part of us receives much less information than the unconscious part. We should trust our hunches and pursue our intuitions because they are closer to reality. The User Illusion makes the case that humans are designed for a much richer existence than processing a dribble of data from a computer screen. The fact that there is far too little information in the so-called Information Age may be responsible for the malaise of modern society, that nagging feeling that there must be more to life. There is - but we have to get outside and live life with all our senses to experience it more fully. Drawing on wildly disparate areas of scientific research, Tor Norretranders has made a compelling case for putting consciousness in perspective and embracing all that the world has to offer. As John Casti wrote, "Finally, a book that really does explain consciousness." This groundbreaking work by Denmark's leading science writer draws on psychology, evolutionary biology, information theory, and other disciplines to argue its revolutionary point: that consciousness represents only an infinitesimal fraction of our ability to process information. Although we are unaware of it, our brains sift through and discard billions of pieces of data in order to allow us to understand the world around us. In fact, most of what we call thought is actually the unconscious discarding of information. What our consciousness rejects constitutes the most valuable part of ourselves, the "Me" that the "I" draws on for most of our actions — fluent speech, riding a bicycle, anything involving expertise. No wonder that, in this age of information, so many of us feel empty and dissatisfied. As engaging as it is insightful, this important book encourages us to rely more on what our instincts and our senses tell us so that we can better appreciate the richness of human life. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780140230123

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