This book gives the reader an understanding of what consciousness is about, and of how to make conscious experiences more pleasant. It expands on a new theory that describes the evolutionary trajectory leading to conscious life forms. In short, the evidence suggests that consciousness first evolved some 300 million years ago as a consequence of the introduction of feelings. Feelings offer a strategy for making behavioural decisions. Besides playing a crucial role in the evolution of the human mind, they are a key factor in regard to mental health and quality of life. Fortunately, the human brain is plastic. By exploiting available options for modulating the mind, it is therefore possible to impact on what sort of experiences the brain serves. More specifically, you can strengthen the capacity for positive feelings and reduce the sway of negative feelings. The text covers biological, neurological, psychological, and philosophical aspects of the mind.

“When I started reading this book, the feeling I had experienced when only browsing was confirmed:  it is magnificent. The text is very well written, and contains not only complete and thorough information, but also very interesting ideas. A masterpiece of knowledge and thinking. It gave me so much pleasure, I read it twice. Congratulations! Your book is both magnificent and enlightening! Thanks for bringing it to all readers.” (Michel Cabanac de Lafregeyre, Professeur émérite, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Canada)

“The most characteristic feature of the book is its broad scope. It brings together brain research, evolution, philosophical considerations, and psychology. Moreover, the text discusses what we can do to enhance our conscious experiences and thereby improve quality of life. The author writes clearly, concisely and engagingly making the book readable and highly recommendable for both an academic and a general public.” (Dagfinn Føllesdal, C.I. Lewis Professor of philosophy at Stanford University, Professor Emeritus at University of Oslo, Norway)

Presents a model and a strategy for improving the impact of consciousness on quality of life Deals with the Holy Grail of biology: Understanding consciousness Presents a novel approach that allows for practical applications Links happiness to biology and mental health Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras