Time Expansion Experiences: The Psychology of Time Perception and the Illusion of Linear Time

by Steve Taylor

Have you ever been in an accident and felt that time slowed down? Have you felt time stretch radically, or even apparently disappear, in a state of deep meditation?

Psychologist Dr Steve Taylor calls these Time Expansion Experiences, and in this book he shares his years of research into this life-changing phenomenon.

Most of us will have experienced a TEE, an experience of time slowing down in an extreme situation, and yet it is a phenomenon that has never been fully explored or explained—until now.

Psychologist Dr. Steve Taylor has spent several years analysing “time expansion experiences” (or TEEs), after collecting hundreds of reports. He has also found many examples of "time cessation experiences" (or TCEs), in which time appears to disappear altogether. In this book he shares the fascinating psychology and shared features behind all of these case studies, coming to an incredible TEEs are a real altered state of consciousness, rather than a trick of recollection. Not only this, but TEEs and TCEs are almost always positive, with a sense of calm well-being, clarity and heightened awareness. In this ground-breaking book, discover profound What do unusual states of consciousness such as mystical experiences, psychedelic experiences, and near-death experiences tell us about time and consciousness?

What can the countless reports of “life review”—when people view a whole lifetime of events and experiences within a few seconds—tell about the past, present and the future?

What does modern physics have to say about the idea that linear time is illusory?

If our perception of time is an illusion, is it possible to speed up and slow down time at will, including inducing TEEs?

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction

304 pages, Paperback

Published November 19, 2024

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Steve Taylor is a senior lecturer in Psychology at Leeds Beckett University, UK. His latest books in the US are The Calm Center and Back to Sanity: Healing the Madness of the Human Mind. He is also the author of The Fall, Waking From Sleep, and Out Of The Darkness. His books have been published in 19 languages. His research has appeared in The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, The Journal of Consciousness Studies, The Transpersonal Psychology Review, The International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, as well as the popular media in the UK, including on BBC World TV, The Guardian, and The Independent.

Reviews

[Bharath · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have previously read Steve Taylor’s “Making Time” and liked it. While we intuitively know that time seems to pass differently depending on the circumstance, his book introduced the framework of psychological time to me. The first chapter of this book summarizes “Making Time”, but I would say its footprints are through the book as well.

The book starts with the example of his car accident. This is one of those situations where time feels expanded (it goes slow) and this is referred to as “Time Expansion Experience (TEE)” through the book. Time does return to a normal flow after such experiences. There are many such situations leading to TEEs – medical emergencies (near death experiences & life reviews such as that experienced by Anita Moorjani), new places & experiences, lesser ego/separation from others (as in childhood), rich perceptions (as in meditation) and others. The more information we need to process, slower time seems to flow. In contrast, intense experiences speed up psychological time and so does growing older.

There are very detailed descriptions of scenarios and experiences. The later sections deal with – whether we can induce TEEs, structure of time – linear time & passing being illusions, block time, precognition and free will.

Steve mentions that he has devoted his life to researching psychological time. He also credits through the book others who work in related areas. I found many of the descriptions to be too elaborate and similar scenarios to repeat. Time is a fascinating concept, and this is an important book. While his earlier book “Making Time” is summarized, I still suggest reading that first if you can.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher Watkins Audio and the author for a free electronic review copy.

[Christopher M H Nunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What we all are like

An outline of 22nd century psychophysics! It's inevitably blurry in places. But, if you want to know what you are, this tells you where to start looking.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, Steve Taylor explores time expansion experiences (TEEs) and how it can be seen in real life examples. I especially enjoyed that he describes how TEEs are present in life reviews and near death experience.
He includes multi-perspective views not just from Transpersonal psychology, includes references to sport and physics as well! This book is extremely well written and thorough and gives an interesting insight on the perceived illusion of time!
This is by far one of my favourite books he has written and would recommend!

[Isabel Bermudez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative and well structured piece on a notoriously ineffable topic. As a neuroscientist who studies psychedelics and has an interest in time perception, I felt this book covered all the bases and I was happy to see an investigation into physics as well. Would have liked to see more about Penrose/Hameroff orchestrated objective reduction theory. A few typos and too many repetitive quotations and hedged statements in my opinion.

[John Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spurious anecdotes & uncorroborated science to fit his agenda. I accept people have experiences but his conclusions are biased.

[George Kanakaris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writer has analyzed this topic very extensively. The examples of descriptions from the future in particular continue to have added value. Recommended.

[Christina McCaffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book described the science and first person narratives surrounding time expansion.
It covers life reviews or forward looking projections during near death experiences, expanded time passing during emergencies, and, of course, stories of people being so in the zone that they stretched time and everything became super focused during competitions, etc.
The reader will also get insight into how scientists are attempting to test or explain this and why they're struggling so hard to come up with a definitive answer.
Fascinating stuff!
I am also taking a course with the author and have seen him previously on a podcast because I am fascinated with his insights. This is the first book of his I have read but I am going back for more because he has such a calm and rich way of teaching and explaining what is happening.
On a side note, I listened to this book on Audible and when he tells the story of someone from another country he puts on their accent. It's charming as heck because all Americans sound like they're from Atlanta, Georgia, but the Scots are dead on!
Overall this was a really informative book if you're into learning how perception works or how science is trying to comprehend time.
And, his attempts at accents will probably make you smile too. 😊