Presence by Ben Alderson-Day

Presence by Ben Alderson-Day

This book charts a psychologist's journey to understand one of the most unusual experiences known to humankind: the feeling that someone or something is there when we are alone. A tour-de-force through contemporary psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience and philosophy, Presence is the story of who we carry with us, at all times, as parts of ourselves. -- .

Winner of the British Psychological Society 2023 Book Award for Popular Science

'Alderson-Day offers a thrilling and erudite survey of the experience of "felt presence" – where one has the strong feeling that someone, or something, is there, but without any input from our traditional sensesThe book brings together rich testimonies of this core human experience, with the insights of myth, history, philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, and psychiatry. Reading it leaves one with an enriched appreciation of what we are and how much more we have yet to understand about ourselves.'
Matthew Broome, Professor of Psychiatry and Youth Mental Health and Director of the Institute for Mental Health, University of Birmingham

'The sense that you are not alone - that someone or something is "there" - is a fascinating topic and this marvellous book draws across many different kinds of experiences to give a coherent account of the kinds of processes that underlie this feeling.'
Sophie Scott, Director of the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London

'Presence is a fascinating read. The writing is lively and the stories are compelling. Thanks to Alderson-Day, the mysterious world of visions, voices and ghostly presences is just that bit more understandable.'
Jason Arunn Murugesu, New Scientist

'Those interested in developing a richer understanding of the phenomenon will appreciate Alderson-Day's in-depth exploration of the topic and detailed endnotes.'
Library Journal

'Alderson-Day’s wonderful book truly represents such an intellectual experience and is a rare achievement as well as being a delight to read.'
Alastair Morgan, The Polyphony

'This book is an excellent and enjoyable discourse on the topic, written engagingly for a general reader, and covering much associated ground.'
Graham Kidd, Journal of the Society of Psychical Research

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Ben Alderson-Day is a Professor of Psychology and the Co-Director of the Discovery Research Platform for Medical Humanities at Durham University. He is the co-founder of the Early Career Hallucinations Research group and the Scientific Chair of the International Consortium on Hallucinations Research. A specialist in atypical cognition and mental health, his work spans cognitive neuroscience, psychiatry, philosophy and child development. He lives in Newcastle upon Tyne with his wife and two daughters.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781526173508
ISBN 10	1526173506
Title	Presence
Author	Ben Alderson-Day
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Manchester University Press
Year published	2023-03-21
Number of pages	304
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.