Section 1.1: Understanding Consciousness

One of the most remarkable books I've encountered is Being You: A New Science of Consciousness by Anil Seth. Consciousness has captivated me since childhood, sparking my curiosity about how we and other creatures perceive our surroundings. Unfortunately, I found many scientific discussions on the topic lacking, often veering into metaphysical debates and overlooking the richness of subjective experience—what we term "qualia."

However, Seth's work shifted my perspective. He emphasizes that the core issue surrounding consciousness lies in perceptual diversity. Through engaging optical illusions, he illustrates that our brains construct experiences and consciousness through predictive models, akin to a Bayesian machine. What resonated with me most was his approach to consciousness as a plural concept, acknowledging how other animals perceive the world differently.

One of my favorite quotes from the book encapsulates this idea:

“Looking out across the wild diversity of life on Earth, we may value more — and take for granted less — the richness of subjective experience in all its variations and distinctiveness, in ourselves and in other animals too. And we may also find renewed motivation to minimize suffering wherever, and however, it might appear.”

This book is essential reading for anyone curious about the brain's role in shaping our subjective experiences and is what propelled me to explore consciousness academically.

Here’s a video that offers eight book recommendations for those interested in studying neuroscience.

Section 1.2: Exploring Animal Perception

Another favorite of mine is An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us by Ed Yong, which became a bestseller in 2023. This book delves into the concept of Umwelt, a German term that describes how different animals perceive their environments—each species inhabiting its own sensory bubble.

For instance, dogs and humans experience the world quite differently; our perception is primarily visual, whereas dogs rely heavily on their sense of smell. Similarly, while we see a blue sky, parrots can perceive a spectrum of colors, including ultraviolet light. Yong effectively conveys the error in assuming that human perception mirrors that of other animals.

Two aspects of this book particularly stand out:

1. Yong discusses multiple species in each chapter, offering a broad understanding of various perceptions.
2. He dedicates a chapter to how human activities are disrupting other creatures’ Umwelten.

This enlightening read is a must for anyone eager to learn about the diverse experiences of the animal kingdom.

Check out this video discussing three essential neuroscience books to read in 2022.

Section 1.3: The Unlikely Connection to Birds

Surprisingly, the book that tops my list is The Parrot in the Mirror: How Evolving to Be Like Birds Makes Us Human by Antone Martinho-Truswell. This remarkable work explores the extraordinary abilities of parrots and crows, considered among the most intelligent avian species.

Martinho-Truswell posits that humans share more similarities with birds than with other mammals in several key areas, including vision, longevity, intelligence, monogamous relationships, vocal learning, and even aspects of violence, rhythm, and music.

This book is a delightful surprise for anyone interested in avian life and is essential reading for those passionate about birds.

This particular book ignited my desire to pursue a PhD in Germany. Following a transformative discussion with Martinho-Truswell at the University of Sydney, he encouraged me to reach out to various laboratories, one of which is now my research group. His influence has been invaluable.

Check more book recommendations:

• This Non-Fiction Book Changed My Perspective of Life
• 4 Must-Read Python Books to Boost Your Skills by 10000%
• Top 5 Neuroscience Books to Read in 2024 That Changed My Life
• Top 5 Science Books That Changed My Life
• Learn Ultra-Learning with This Book

Thank you for reading!

Best,

Axel

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