It takes a special kind of person to write illuminatingly about consciousness – a person who is not only steeped in cognitive science, biology, and philosophy, but also has a fertile imagination, an openness to new ideas, and a sensitivity to the richness and variety of experience in humans and other animals. Nicholas Humphrey is such a person, and in his new book he cements his claim to be one of the most insightful writers on this notoriously difficult topic. Sentience is a beautifully written book, full of engaging vignettes, original ideas, and intriguing suggestions. It will fascinate general readers and inspire academic researchers.
Keith Frankish, author of Mind and Supermind
Nick Humphrey has been a hugely influential figure across the fields of experimental psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy for half a century, and, for my money, is the most inventive psychological thinker of his generation. Taking a long view of his entire scientific career, and peppered with brilliant anecdotes, Sentience crystallises Humphrey's latest thinking on the evolution of consciousness. There are many dazzling insights on offer but, for me, the most eye-catching development is the formulation of a framework for diagnostic sentience-testing, in other words for determining which other animal species are sentient, or even in possession of a sense of self. How staggeringly bold! Imagine what a shock wave such a test would generate, scientifically and philosophically, of course, but also out into the political sphere.
Paul Broks, author of The Darker the Night, the Brighter the Stars: A Neuropsychologist's Odyssey
A compelling treatise on the evolution of consciousness from one our finest psychologists. Humphrey combines a fascinating, often surprising, and occasionally hilarious scientific autobiography with a raft of well justified ideas about what it takes for an organism to be sentient. His excellent book will challenge you to think about nature's deepest and most personal mystery in a new and thoroughly enlightening way.
Anil Seth, author of Being You
Nobody has thought more deeply, originally or poetically about animal sentience and the notion of consciousness. In this bold and persuasive book he lays out how he came to his conclusions in a lifetime of studying animal and human minds.
Matt Ridley, author of The Red Queen and other books
Nicholas Humphrey is a psychologist who has always thought outside the box. In this bold book he goes back to basics, philosophical and biological. It's a provocative and fascinating read, brought to life by the account of his own pioneering work on blindsight.
Marian Stamp Dawkins, author of Why Animals Matter
