An End to Upside Down Thinking: Dispelling the Myth That the Brain Produces Consciousness, and the Implications for Everyday Life Kindle Edition

The title falls a bit short in my opinion and does not really indicate what the book is about, or the seriousness of the content, which I think does it a disservice. This is essentially a summation of prior ideas and research regarding the nature of consciousness and other related "fringe" topics, such as psychic mediums, Near Death Experiences (NDEs), reincarnation and the like. It is quite thought-provoking and effectively challenges what we think we "know for sure" about reality. However, for my personal tastes, I did not care for the audio version of the book, as I feel it would have been much more appealing if it had been read by a professional voice actor rather than the author.As to the question of consciousness (a primary subject dealt with in this book), there seems to be substantial evidence suggesting that it is non-local; not created by, or housed in, the brain, and thus may survive bodily death. But, if true, the question as to where, exactly, does that consciousness go and in what form does it continue to exist after physical death is a much murkier one. That is one area that I wish the book had done a much deeper dive on, as the questions are essentially left unanswered, though they may be the most important questions of all.Also, this book seems to keep the notion of a supreme being almost completely out of the discussion, perhaps to enhance its appeal to non-religious readers. However, since many people who have experienced NDEs claim they encountered some kind of God-like figure, or even Jesus Himself in some cases, eliminating the possible existence of God from the larger discussion would seem to be a questionable approach in my estimation.Critics will continue to insist that all of this has been "thoroughly debunked" and proven patently false. When I read comments like that, it makes me wonder what source material the skeptics are referencing. These questions deserve serious thought, not flippant dismissal. It is hardly enough to declare that something has been debunked and then just walk away without ever explaining who supposedly debunked it, how it was ostensibly debunked, or addressing the substantial countervailing evidence suggesting otherwise. Granted, that certainly doesn't mean that every odd religious belief, bizarre paranormal theory, or alternative view of reality is correct. But it does indicate that no amount of research will suffice for those convinced that reductive materialism is all there is and explains absolutely everything, or at least eventually will. In some instances, the routine dismissal of supporting data closely resembles a form of bias and religious intolerance exercised under the guise of a commitment to rational thinking. However, I would argue that it is not rational to ignore information simply because it challenges your preconceived notions.While wishful gullibility in the absence of facts is no attribute, steadfast denial in the face of satisfactory evidence is no virtue either. It ought to be okay to admit that there are things happening around us that we cannot adequately explain with our conventional, current model of reality and may never be able to.

While I was waiting for it to arrive, I listened to all of Mr Gober's podcasts. "Where Is My Mind?" I listened to his interview with Dr Edith Ubuntu Chan- spectacular (and she is too). This book will cheer you. Have you ever been (or are you right now in?) to Hawaii? The Volcanoes are indescribable and they are certainly present. They are alive, as is Pachemama, Mother Earth, Gaia. I would not have thought that before I went there in 2016, but I know it now. I'm a hardcore dyed-in-the-wool scientist- biochemist, though my mind is blown and fully open, finally. There is a tremendous book about a cat Oscar living in a nursing home in Rhode Island. It's called "Making Rounds With Oscar". by David Dosa. The movie "Ghostbusters", the original- a quote. "These things are real". Dan Akroyd, one of the writer/actors, said his family had a Medium while he was growing up in Canada.Seeing isn't necessarily believing. But believing can certainly become seeing. There is another phenomenon that is not mentioned in this gem of a book that is worth looking into. People who have dissociative (multiple) personalities can have different physical characteristics in different 'bodies'. There are reports that eye color can change, scars can appear and disappear, cysts, medication dosages need to be altered, allergies shift or disappear, colorblind or not, changes in eyeglass prescription, - these events are documented. Thank you Mr. Gober for writing this phenomenal book.

I found this a helpful recapitulation of the current thinking regarding the metaphysics of Idealism. The introduction and early chapters provided an excellent restatement and insight into why this demonstrates a paradigm shift profoundly effecting existing scientific and philosophical reasoning. However, I found much of the evidence regarding psychic phenomena more of the nature of inferential supporting evidence rather than a proof and lacking a firm empirical or evidentiary foundation.

I've read about so many of the truly provocative studies and experiments that Mark Gober includes in this wonderful book, but I've never found them gathered together all in one place, and explained for the lay reader, as Gober has done here. Bravo, Mark, and thank you. I've recommended it to many of my friends, and a few family members, who are curious but skeptical about the metaphysical. No one will change the minds of anyone who is hell-bent on insisting that the phenomena you write about here are not real. People's belief systems are often unshakeable...and that's OK. But for those who have an open mind and are curious, you're provided a great roadmap here for exploration into what is often termed "the paranormal," but which I, for one, believe will soon be "the new normal." Again, bravo!