To the extent that consciousness is useful, it is useful in small quantities, and for very particular kinds of tasks. It's easy to understand why you would not want to be consciously aware of the intricacies of your muscle movement, but this can be less intuitive when applied to your perceptions, thoughts, and beliefs, which are also final products of the activity of billions of nerve cells.
From the Blog
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Emily Blunt reads "The Cast" from Sum
Hear actress Emily Blunt read the story "The Cast" from Sum.
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Documentary on the History Channel
Interested in issues of memory and the brain? Watch a clip of David on the History Channel.
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Will Self
The author Will Self and I appeared on stage together to discuss life, death, and what makes good writing.
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Ten books I love
I have been asked in the past to list ten books that have "inspired, moved, and enlightened" me. Here's my list:
In other news...
Why Brain Science Matters
Why should the US invest in brain science? See David's opinion in the New York Times.
Book of the Week
Sum was selected as Book of the Week by both The Guardian newspaper and The Week newsmagazine.
Eagleman and Brian Eno bring Sum to Sydney Opera House
In June, 2009, David Eagleman collaborated with musician/producer Brian Eno to perform a musical reading of Sum to 1,000 people at the Sydney Opera House. In May of 2010 they performed together again to 1,200 people at the Brighton Dome in England. Stay tuned for further performances.
