Altered States of Consciousness by Marc Wittmann Summary
Overview of Altered States of Consciousness
Explore consciousness beyond boundaries in Wittmann's mind-bending journey through time perception and selfhood. Challenging mainstream science, this neuropsychologist reveals how psychedelics, meditation, and near-death experiences unlock therapeutic potential. What if dissolving your sense of self is the key to profound happiness?
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Key takeaways
The Timeless Self: Exploring the Boundaries of Consciousness
Have you ever experienced that disorienting moment upon waking when you momentarily forget who or where you are? This fleeting state of pure awareness-consciousness without identity-offers a rare glimpse into the fundamental nature of our existence. In these brief gaps of memory, we experience only our "minimal self," the basic feeling of existence without autobiographical knowledge. These moments aren't mere curiosities but doorways to understanding how consciousness, self-awareness, and time perception intertwine at the core of human experience. When Swedish poet Tomas Transtromer described this phenomenon as a "struggle in the hell of oblivion" before his identity returned "like an angel," he captured something profound about our relationship with time and self - a relationship that shapes every aspect of how we perceive reality. Time stretches and contracts depending on our emotional state - a phenomenon most dramatic in moments of danger. During life-threatening situations, people consistently report that "time slowed down," allowing them to notice extraordinary details. Car crash survivors describe accidents unfolding "in slow motion," while mountain climbers recall noticing individual snowflakes during near-fatal falls. This temporal distortion isn't just subjective impression. Laboratory studies confirm that emotionally charged stimuli - whether negative like crying babies or positive like erotic images - are judged to last longer than neutral ones. Objects moving toward us (potential threats) are perceived as lasting longer than static or receding objects. This likely evolved as a survival mechanism, giving our ancestors extra processing time when facing danger.
Chemical Timescapes and Altered States
Life at the Threshold: Near-Death Experiences and Timelessness
The Architecture of Now: How We Structure Experience
Embodied Time: How Our Bodies Create Consciousness
Mystical States and Expanding Time Through Mindfulness
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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