What do you think?
Rate this book
Presence: The Strange Science and True Stories of the Unseen Other
A psychologist's journey to understand one of the most unusual experiences known to humankind: the universal, disturbing feeling that someone or something is there when we are alone.
These experiences of sensing a Presence when no one else is there have been given many names―the Third Man, guardian angels, shadow figures, “social” hallucinations―and they have inspired, unsettled, and confounded in equal measure.
While the contexts in which they occur are diverse, they are united by a distinct and uncanny feeling of visitation by another. But what does this feeling mean, and where does it come from? When and why do presences emerge? And how can we even begin to understand a phenomenon that can be transformative for those who experience it, and yet so hard to put into words?
The answers to these questions lie in this tour-de-force through contemporary psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience, and philosophy. Presence follows Ben Alderson-Day's attempts―as a psychologist and a researcher―to understand how this experience is possible. What is a voice when it isn’t heard, and how otherwise do we know or feel that someone is in our presence? Is it a hallucination connected to psychosis, a change in the working of the brain, or something else?
The journey to understand takes us to meet explorers, mediums, and robots, and step through real, imagined, and virtual worlds. Presence is the story of who we carry with us, at all times, as parts of ourselves.
These experiences of sensing a Presence when no one else is there have been given many names―the Third Man, guardian angels, shadow figures, “social” hallucinations―and they have inspired, unsettled, and confounded in equal measure.
While the contexts in which they occur are diverse, they are united by a distinct and uncanny feeling of visitation by another. But what does this feeling mean, and where does it come from? When and why do presences emerge? And how can we even begin to understand a phenomenon that can be transformative for those who experience it, and yet so hard to put into words?
The answers to these questions lie in this tour-de-force through contemporary psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience, and philosophy. Presence follows Ben Alderson-Day's attempts―as a psychologist and a researcher―to understand how this experience is possible. What is a voice when it isn’t heard, and how otherwise do we know or feel that someone is in our presence? Is it a hallucination connected to psychosis, a change in the working of the brain, or something else?
The journey to understand takes us to meet explorers, mediums, and robots, and step through real, imagined, and virtual worlds. Presence is the story of who we carry with us, at all times, as parts of ourselves.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 28, 2023
53 people are currently reading
5083 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
January 19, 2023
What happens when we feel that something — or someone — is present to us, and yet we can’t say how? A silent figure. A visitor. An indefinable change in feeling of a room. Something is there, unmistakably so. And try as we might, if someone asks how we know, we cannot explain it. We just know it. We just feel it. This is a felt presence.
Author Ben Alderson-Day is a British research psychologist with an interest in auditory verbal hallucinations; and while the phenomenon of “hearing voices” can be linked to schizophrenia and other pathologies, not all those who have this experience (or who otherwise sense invisible presences) suffer from a diagnosable condition — Alderson-Day simply refers to his core research subjects as “voice-hearers”. Starting with those who report hearing disembodied voices, the author cast his net wider to interview and collect research on those who report seeing or feeling the physical presence of someone who is invisible to others, and this net is cast so widely that Presence: The Strange Science and True Stories of the Unseen Other includes the stories of everyone from epileptics and ultramarathoners to mediums and Bronies; and I was pretty much fascinated by all of it. Sections where Alderson-Day shares other’s research and theory can be a little dry, but this was more than made up for by the sections where the author engagingly reports his own thoughts and conversations. This was not exactly the book that I expected it to be, but I am not a bit disappointed by what it is. (Note: I read an ARC through NetGalley and passages quoted may not be in their final forms.)
If you go looking for feelings of presence, the first stories you come across almost always involve snow. Lots and lots of snow. Blank expanses, extreme conditions, the enormity of nature — all seem to combine to conjure silent figures, as if some spaces appear tailor made for feelings of presence.
It was an abiding interest in polar exploration stories that led me to picking up this book, and Alderson-Day does discuss Sir Ernest Shackleton’s famous experience of having been led by a mysterious “other” across South Georgia Island in search of rescue for his beleaguered crew (and as that interest had previously led me to reading John Geiger’s The Third Man Factor, I was unsurprised to see that Alderson-Day shares a few stories from that collection). But this isn’t just an amalgam of stories of guardian angels: from the theory that Robin Williams’ suicide could be attributed to hallucinations tied to his Lewy Body Dementia, to sleep paralysis with menacing presences (or Exploding Head Syndrome!) and seeing scary ghosts (or SED: sensory experience of the dead), an encounter with a sensed presence isn’t necessarily benevolent. On the other hand, from meditating monks to tulpamancers to novelists, there are those who are able to use their minds to conjure wanted presences:
At Durham, we have worked with a wide range of remarkable people, reporting some of the most unusual experiences you could put into words. Voices, visions, presences; psychosis, dissociation, trauma; spirits, telepathy, and demons. But we have never had to try to work with data as slippery as what we got from the Edinburgh writers. Appropriately enough, it wasn’t hard to feel like you were being spun a yarn sometimes.
As a researcher, Alderson-Day uses these stories to try and understand the genesis of the broadly defined phenomenon of felt presence, and besides some general theories (it’s a body-based experience [a few different areas of the brain are referenced], it’s influenced by the process of mirroring and “coloured in” by expectation), but the most interesting thing to me was that the research is all so recent. We all get the feeling sometimes that we’re being watched when there’s no one there, we all hear our name whispered on the breeze — indeed, Alderson-Day writes that “we all occupy a space somewhere on a continuum of psychosis and we could in theory move up and down it” — yet we’re mostly uncomfortable admitting to hearing voices or feeling presences. It would seem that researchers are often surprised by how widespread these phenomena are because they tend to ask specific questions instead of allowing research subjects to freely describe their lived experiences; the most fascinating experiences come out when the subjects go off script ("Ooooh, I just left my body and floated above the table") and there’s a new research project, Psychosis Outside the Box, that’s attempting to elicit these types of responses. If nothing else, "felt presences" would seem to represent a common human experience that comes in a wide variety of forms:
In trying to understand felt presence, I have heard about the visceral visitors of psychosis, the harbinger of ill health among Parkinson’s sufferers, the doppelgänger of an intoxicated playwright, and a robot that can conjure a ghost. I have listened to stories of saviors but also pursuers, a stormy voice that only visited in the calm, and fellow travelers who aren’t always expected. I have been told about evil personified, heard of animal confidantes, and even been offered a theory on how to create such presences myself.
Again: I enjoyed the stories more than the theory (and perhaps mostly because Alderson-Day doesn’t have a settled theory to share), but I enjoyed the whole of this and am glad I picked it up.
April 20, 2023
"It is proposed we have an innate or early developing skill that can detect other things that act in an intentional way... Such a device would be biased towards erring on the side of spotting something, because the cost of missing a predator would be far too high"
Ever see something out of the corner or your eye, and have to do a double take? Ever wake up in the middle of the night, sure there is something in the room with you? Have you ever heard a voice, only to discover that is was simply an odd noise? Or perhaps you are someone with the ability to detect faces and voices out of shapes and sounds better than the average person.
Presence considers all these situations and more. Originally inspired after Alderson-Day encountered a patient who spoke of feeling a "presence", he became interested in the different kinds of "presences" that people encounter - and there are a wide variety of them. I think the average person considers voices, hallucinations, and presences as malevolent forces that appear due to mental health conditions or even evil spirits. However Alderson-Day introduces us to presences that were benevolent, even life-saving forces for those who experienced them, often during extreme duress such as traveling to the center of the south pole.
What I really like about this book is how thorough it is. It covers possibly the entire umbrella of reasons why someone might hear or see things, and is almost comforting in its message about why so many avoid telling others about their experiences. We also go into my personal favorite - night terrors and paralysis. It actually goes so far as into intentional creation of a presence through a Tulpa (Bronies do this!?). We also meet someone who hears voices "all the time", put her through a research study, and discover that her brain is actually like the most powerful at recognizing speech patterns of anyone else in the study? *mind explosion*
Overall a super interesting book. It is also written in an engaging way that keeps you entertained instead of feeling like you're drudging through a 300 page psychology book
Ever see something out of the corner or your eye, and have to do a double take? Ever wake up in the middle of the night, sure there is something in the room with you? Have you ever heard a voice, only to discover that is was simply an odd noise? Or perhaps you are someone with the ability to detect faces and voices out of shapes and sounds better than the average person.
Presence considers all these situations and more. Originally inspired after Alderson-Day encountered a patient who spoke of feeling a "presence", he became interested in the different kinds of "presences" that people encounter - and there are a wide variety of them. I think the average person considers voices, hallucinations, and presences as malevolent forces that appear due to mental health conditions or even evil spirits. However Alderson-Day introduces us to presences that were benevolent, even life-saving forces for those who experienced them, often during extreme duress such as traveling to the center of the south pole.
What I really like about this book is how thorough it is. It covers possibly the entire umbrella of reasons why someone might hear or see things, and is almost comforting in its message about why so many avoid telling others about their experiences. We also go into my personal favorite - night terrors and paralysis. It actually goes so far as into intentional creation of a presence through a Tulpa (Bronies do this!?). We also meet someone who hears voices "all the time", put her through a research study, and discover that her brain is actually like the most powerful at recognizing speech patterns of anyone else in the study? *mind explosion*
Overall a super interesting book. It is also written in an engaging way that keeps you entertained instead of feeling like you're drudging through a 300 page psychology book
March 22, 2023
This book does a deep scientific evaluation of the concept of “presence,” and how our brain perceives the inclusion of another entity around us whether it is in a spiritual, sensory, or hallucinatory way.
I was hoping for more of a paranormal investigation type of nonfiction read, but this is more focused on psychology such as hearing voices due to schizophrenia, or how the brain can sense things differently as a result of various medical conditions or trauma.
I was disappointed the stories weren’t about hauntings and such, and more about mental health studies. However, I did still find it to be interesting and thought the narrator did a great job of presenting the information.
I wish the audio narrator could have read my text books to me when I was in college getting my Bachelors of Science in Nursing degree because his voice was oddly soothing and I think it would have made my studying go smoother. That being said, I’m not sure how people who don’t have a background or interest in medicine or science will feel about this book. I genuinely like learning about these subjects, so I thought it was fine, but I could see some readers thinking the content is dry or over their heads.
In all, I appreciate all the research and thought that went into this book. It’s clear that the author really cares about the topic and is very knowledgeable by the way he is able to mostly simplify complex info.
I think fans of books that explores psychology and the connection that our brains have to our surroundings, such as the books written by Malcom Gladwell, may find this fascinating.
3.5/5 stars rounded up for this review
I was hoping for more of a paranormal investigation type of nonfiction read, but this is more focused on psychology such as hearing voices due to schizophrenia, or how the brain can sense things differently as a result of various medical conditions or trauma.
I was disappointed the stories weren’t about hauntings and such, and more about mental health studies. However, I did still find it to be interesting and thought the narrator did a great job of presenting the information.
I wish the audio narrator could have read my text books to me when I was in college getting my Bachelors of Science in Nursing degree because his voice was oddly soothing and I think it would have made my studying go smoother. That being said, I’m not sure how people who don’t have a background or interest in medicine or science will feel about this book. I genuinely like learning about these subjects, so I thought it was fine, but I could see some readers thinking the content is dry or over their heads.
In all, I appreciate all the research and thought that went into this book. It’s clear that the author really cares about the topic and is very knowledgeable by the way he is able to mostly simplify complex info.
I think fans of books that explores psychology and the connection that our brains have to our surroundings, such as the books written by Malcom Gladwell, may find this fascinating.
3.5/5 stars rounded up for this review
September 26, 2023
3.5
Enjoyable but there was a lot of science. I found the stories and anecdotes interesting but sometimes the science behind them went over my head.
Enjoyable but there was a lot of science. I found the stories and anecdotes interesting but sometimes the science behind them went over my head.
November 17, 2022
Scholars want answers and Dr. Ben Alderson-Day has spent years researching what he calls a “presence” which encompasses the unknown. He digs deep into what causes people to have visions when something is not there or when people hear voices that are silent to everyone else. The title made me curious what this is about.
This book takes us on a journey of shared experiences that cannot be explained in a scientific way. He tells stories of those that have talked about “silent companions” while they’re in the midst of extreme conditions. He reviews reports of what happens when patients hallucinate with Parkinson’s disease, dementia, psychosis and schizophrenia. He examines various patients with sleep patterns, sleepwalking episodes and nightmares. And, of course psychics are included in the book with words of wisdom from spirits.
The author brings up the concept of someone with two minds: what’s real and what’s imagined. A participant from a survey said, “If the ‘voice’ of a good book gets into my head, it can seep into my own experience of the world, and I find myself thinking in that voice, as that character, while carrying out normal activities.” This happens to many of us. One scientist said, “There are probably daemon voices whispering to all of us all the time, and we have forgotten how to hear them.”
The book includes several quotes from doctors, professors, and scientists – some which were more interesting to me. I imagine the author’s desk is packed with a pile of notes everywhere or maybe they’re all stacked up in his mind. He did a remarkable job sharing this information. It’s a good book for discussions.
My thanks to Ben Alderson-Day, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy with an expected release date of March 28, 2023.
This book takes us on a journey of shared experiences that cannot be explained in a scientific way. He tells stories of those that have talked about “silent companions” while they’re in the midst of extreme conditions. He reviews reports of what happens when patients hallucinate with Parkinson’s disease, dementia, psychosis and schizophrenia. He examines various patients with sleep patterns, sleepwalking episodes and nightmares. And, of course psychics are included in the book with words of wisdom from spirits.
The author brings up the concept of someone with two minds: what’s real and what’s imagined. A participant from a survey said, “If the ‘voice’ of a good book gets into my head, it can seep into my own experience of the world, and I find myself thinking in that voice, as that character, while carrying out normal activities.” This happens to many of us. One scientist said, “There are probably daemon voices whispering to all of us all the time, and we have forgotten how to hear them.”
The book includes several quotes from doctors, professors, and scientists – some which were more interesting to me. I imagine the author’s desk is packed with a pile of notes everywhere or maybe they’re all stacked up in his mind. He did a remarkable job sharing this information. It’s a good book for discussions.
My thanks to Ben Alderson-Day, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy with an expected release date of March 28, 2023.
December 7, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with this e-ARC. This does not affect my opinion which is honest and my own.
To be frank, I initially thought this books was going to someone trying to explain ghosts with science, but I was pleasantly surprised by the actual material! Alderson-Day explains complex topics in psychology and neurology with enough simplicity that I could understand what he was explaining and arguing and I've only ever taken AP Psychology a few years ago.
The numerous real life stories and examples was a great break between the technical language and statistics. I greatly appreciated hearing all the different stories, and I also appreciate how Alderson-Day treated everyone with respect. I know this topic can sometimes lead to denigrating people who experiences presences, but he treated the subject as a perfectly normal thing to happen.
Overall, a solid non-fiction. My only critique was that it felt too clinical in some parts and reading became a bit of a drag, but that happens with a lot of non-fiction, to be honest.
4/5 stars.
To be frank, I initially thought this books was going to someone trying to explain ghosts with science, but I was pleasantly surprised by the actual material! Alderson-Day explains complex topics in psychology and neurology with enough simplicity that I could understand what he was explaining and arguing and I've only ever taken AP Psychology a few years ago.
The numerous real life stories and examples was a great break between the technical language and statistics. I greatly appreciated hearing all the different stories, and I also appreciate how Alderson-Day treated everyone with respect. I know this topic can sometimes lead to denigrating people who experiences presences, but he treated the subject as a perfectly normal thing to happen.
Overall, a solid non-fiction. My only critique was that it felt too clinical in some parts and reading became a bit of a drag, but that happens with a lot of non-fiction, to be honest.
4/5 stars.
April 27, 2023
I was under the impression this book would be about ghosts and was pleasantly surprised it was told from a science-based background that incorporated psychology and some philosophy.
I enjoyed the first-person viewpoint Doctor Ben Anderson- Day provided. As a criminology major with a minor in psych, it was refreshing to see such an open viewpoint on things some professionals consider taboo. Alderson entertained the reader with a beautiful mix of personal stories, historical views, and research interviews.
I listened to this book on audio, and the narrator had an incredibly soothing voice. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in psychology and the paranormal!
August 12, 2023
This was really interesting -- now I'm trying to determine whether I hear voices myself. Presence, no, but voices maybe.
March 24, 2023
Have you ever felt like you weren’t alone? You wake in the night and get the sense that someone has been watching you sleep even when no one is in the room with you. Does this mean a spirit is there? Or could there be a medical/scientific reason for what you feel.
Presence is a non fiction book written by a psychologist looking for answers behind the unknown. I think everyone has their own story of something spooky that made them feel like spirits could be real. If not personally you have probably heard someone tell their story. Alderson-Day isn’t saying it’s impossible. He is merely looking at all the possibilities. Could the person be under extreme stress or is there an underlying health issue causing hallucinations?
I believe in ghosts, spirits, and the possibility that sometimes afterlife isn’t strictly heaven or just…nothingness. I’ve never seen anything but I’ve definitely felt things that didn’t feel normal. I believe that people can sense otherworldly presences. I also believe that there can be scientific reasons for what someone sees, hears or feels.
I enjoyed the chapter on sleep paralysis because I suffer from it. Fortunately, I’ve never felt a malicious spirit while under but I have heard things. I’m very grateful that I’ve never sensed something evil. I liked hearing some of the scientific information around how it happens.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator has a lovely accent. I enjoyed the true stories more than the clinical side of things but that’s because I’m a spooky girl! If you are hoping for ghost stories, this isn’t the book for you. Presence is more scientific than story teller. While I did enjoy it, I would’ve enjoyed a more personal approach that allowed me to connect with the author and the people involved. It is very interesting to hear that we may be able to explain things that might scare others. I guess the takeaway is if you hear, see or feel something weird make an appointment with your doctor before you think your house is haunted!
Book Recommendations: Spook by Mary Roach for a technical approach to the afterlife. Episode 13 by Craig Dilouie for a fiction equivalent which features a team that investigates hauntings with a scientific aspect.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Presence. I have written this review voluntarily.
Presence is a non fiction book written by a psychologist looking for answers behind the unknown. I think everyone has their own story of something spooky that made them feel like spirits could be real. If not personally you have probably heard someone tell their story. Alderson-Day isn’t saying it’s impossible. He is merely looking at all the possibilities. Could the person be under extreme stress or is there an underlying health issue causing hallucinations?
I believe in ghosts, spirits, and the possibility that sometimes afterlife isn’t strictly heaven or just…nothingness. I’ve never seen anything but I’ve definitely felt things that didn’t feel normal. I believe that people can sense otherworldly presences. I also believe that there can be scientific reasons for what someone sees, hears or feels.
I enjoyed the chapter on sleep paralysis because I suffer from it. Fortunately, I’ve never felt a malicious spirit while under but I have heard things. I’m very grateful that I’ve never sensed something evil. I liked hearing some of the scientific information around how it happens.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator has a lovely accent. I enjoyed the true stories more than the clinical side of things but that’s because I’m a spooky girl! If you are hoping for ghost stories, this isn’t the book for you. Presence is more scientific than story teller. While I did enjoy it, I would’ve enjoyed a more personal approach that allowed me to connect with the author and the people involved. It is very interesting to hear that we may be able to explain things that might scare others. I guess the takeaway is if you hear, see or feel something weird make an appointment with your doctor before you think your house is haunted!
Book Recommendations: Spook by Mary Roach for a technical approach to the afterlife. Episode 13 by Craig Dilouie for a fiction equivalent which features a team that investigates hauntings with a scientific aspect.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Presence. I have written this review voluntarily.
April 26, 2023
I was very disappointed with this book and feel that the description is in error as all experiences were explained away by the author as a psychosis.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2023
A lot of nonfiction books give you the feeling of being a fly on the wall in other people’s life and that is definitely the case in Ben Aldersonday’s book P. Mostly it’s the author‘s life we’re privy to but with conversations without theirs he explores the different ways we feel other presence is when were supposed to be alone. From my good book to an apparition to mental illness this can come in many forms but that isn’t entirely what the book is about we get to hear about Luke and his experiences with the topic but also about him overcoming having to get a pacemaker at the age of 23 were also privy to a reading study that was done by an hour otologist and many other chapters with multiple people I found this book to be so interesting I love that he thought of things I would’ve never thought of such as feeling a present while reading or hearing the voice of the character you’re reading about which is so true this was a brilliant book and one I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend I think Jacob foam did a wonderful job narrating the book and had a great voice for the subject at hand. resents i’m not gonna lie I was only kind of interested in this book and thought it may be a little interesting so I was definitely surprised with the level of entertainment book provided kudos to the author and the narrator great job! I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
June 4, 2023
"I think it was a mistake to think that presences came from nowhere, that we didn't carry them with us already. They are other, and yet they are us - echoed, reflected, and transformed. They are what can come forth when times become strange or pressured, when we lose track of where we begin and where the world ends. Their origin gives presences that feeling of significance and familiarity, for they are that scaffold when all is otherwise lost. They have been beside us all this time." (p.229)
Alderson-Day, a researcher and academic, has put together this account of how presences can manifest in everyone from epileptics, to schizophrenics, to people going through extreme experiences. He explores possible causes for these felt and heard presences, and discusses the research himself and others have done in an accessible way.
Although the author thoroughly explores the psychosis of hallucinations I wish he would have spent more time on the role of belief in people's experience of presence. It was addressed, but in my opinion, more as a sidebar. The whole focus felt a bit diagnostic to me.
I would still recommend this book for anyone with a serious interest in psychology.
Alderson-Day, a researcher and academic, has put together this account of how presences can manifest in everyone from epileptics, to schizophrenics, to people going through extreme experiences. He explores possible causes for these felt and heard presences, and discusses the research himself and others have done in an accessible way.
Although the author thoroughly explores the psychosis of hallucinations I wish he would have spent more time on the role of belief in people's experience of presence. It was addressed, but in my opinion, more as a sidebar. The whole focus felt a bit diagnostic to me.
I would still recommend this book for anyone with a serious interest in psychology.
December 31, 2022
This book was truly remarkable. I loved the incorporation of first person accounts and case studies as well as the diverse opinions of other scholars. It's a fascinating read and one I can't recommend highly enough. If you're intersted in the paranormal and aberrant psychology, this is the book for you!
April 11, 2023
I found this book well researched and somewhat interesting with many true accounts of people feeling the presence of or seeing something that is only visible to them.
The thing is, the book is not what I had anticipated. To box those who have experienced such phenomena into mental illness, disease and extreme conditions doesn’t do them justice. It is not until Section 9 when the author touches app on Spiritualism. A thought provoking book which makes one alert to the many ways and reasons presences reveal themselves.
I listened to the audio version from NetGalley and found it well done.
Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me to read and review the advanced copy.
The thing is, the book is not what I had anticipated. To box those who have experienced such phenomena into mental illness, disease and extreme conditions doesn’t do them justice. It is not until Section 9 when the author touches app on Spiritualism. A thought provoking book which makes one alert to the many ways and reasons presences reveal themselves.
I listened to the audio version from NetGalley and found it well done.
Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me to read and review the advanced copy.
April 16, 2023
Presence: The Strange Science and True Stories of the Unseen Other, written by Ben Alderson-Day with audiobook narration by Jacob Foan, is an engaging and accessible look at the phenomenon of a presence that many people have experienced when they "know" that there isn't anyone there.
What makes this book appealing for both those who might be in one of the fields concerned and a layperson is the interspersing of stories and theory. Whether science or philosophy, Alderson-Day offers clear explanations of the terms he is using and how he is using them. Coupled with the stories, some historic and some from research interviews, as examples the concepts become, at least on a basic level, accessible to any reader with an interest. Whether things we might be familiar with, such as sleep paralysis or grief-driven presences, or ones that may be new to us, such as tulpamancy in my case, we are given the theory in understandable terms.
The audiobook narration was wonderful, Foan's voice was clear and had enough inflection to make the work that much more engaging. I had both an audiobook and an eARC, so while I listened to all of the book I used the ebook to get sources and references for the areas I wanted to read more about. My experience with audiobooks on many nonfiction topics is that they are great for lay readers such as myself who primarily want to get a big picture understanding but don't need the notes or bibliography. If this was in a field I was actively engaged in, I would probably prefer the print version, but for most casual readers the audiobook will serve them well.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
What makes this book appealing for both those who might be in one of the fields concerned and a layperson is the interspersing of stories and theory. Whether science or philosophy, Alderson-Day offers clear explanations of the terms he is using and how he is using them. Coupled with the stories, some historic and some from research interviews, as examples the concepts become, at least on a basic level, accessible to any reader with an interest. Whether things we might be familiar with, such as sleep paralysis or grief-driven presences, or ones that may be new to us, such as tulpamancy in my case, we are given the theory in understandable terms.
The audiobook narration was wonderful, Foan's voice was clear and had enough inflection to make the work that much more engaging. I had both an audiobook and an eARC, so while I listened to all of the book I used the ebook to get sources and references for the areas I wanted to read more about. My experience with audiobooks on many nonfiction topics is that they are great for lay readers such as myself who primarily want to get a big picture understanding but don't need the notes or bibliography. If this was in a field I was actively engaged in, I would probably prefer the print version, but for most casual readers the audiobook will serve them well.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
June 20, 2023
Presence: The Strange Science and True Stories of the Unseen Other
by Ben Alderson-Day Published March 28, 2023
I must say, this was one spooky read! It being of the non-fiction genre around mental and emotional health, my own experiences with chronic sleep paralysis and "audio" events-as a reader I needed some hand holding to digest book. This was well written but totally the wrong genre for me giving my experience. I would recommend it to those interested in this topic though
#Presence #NetGalley.
A psychologist's journey to understand one of the most unusual experiences known to humankind: the universal, disturbing feeling that someone or something is there when we are alone.
These experiences of sensing a Presence when no one else is there have been given many names—the Third Man, guardian angels, shadow figures, "social" hallucinations—and they have inspired, unsettled, and confounded in equal measure.
...............................................................................................................
While the contexts in which they occur are diverse, they are united by a distinct and uncanny feeling of visitation by another. But what does this feeling mean, and where does it come from? When and why do presences emerge? And how can we even begin to understand a phenomenon that can be transformative for those who experience it, and yet so hard to put into words?
The answers to these questions lie in this tour-de-force through contemporary psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience, and philosophy. Presence follows Ben Alderson-Day's attempts—as a psychologist and a researcher—to understand how this experience is possible. What is a voice when it isn't heard, and how otherwise do we know or feel that someone is in our presence? Is it a hallucination connected to psychosis, a change in the working of the brain, or something else?
The journey to understand takes us to meet explorers, mediums, and robots, and step through real, imagined, and virtual worlds. Presence is the story of who we carry with us, at all times, as parts of ourselves.
by Ben Alderson-Day Published March 28, 2023
I must say, this was one spooky read! It being of the non-fiction genre around mental and emotional health, my own experiences with chronic sleep paralysis and "audio" events-as a reader I needed some hand holding to digest book. This was well written but totally the wrong genre for me giving my experience. I would recommend it to those interested in this topic though
#Presence #NetGalley.
A psychologist's journey to understand one of the most unusual experiences known to humankind: the universal, disturbing feeling that someone or something is there when we are alone.
These experiences of sensing a Presence when no one else is there have been given many names—the Third Man, guardian angels, shadow figures, "social" hallucinations—and they have inspired, unsettled, and confounded in equal measure.
...............................................................................................................
While the contexts in which they occur are diverse, they are united by a distinct and uncanny feeling of visitation by another. But what does this feeling mean, and where does it come from? When and why do presences emerge? And how can we even begin to understand a phenomenon that can be transformative for those who experience it, and yet so hard to put into words?
The answers to these questions lie in this tour-de-force through contemporary psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience, and philosophy. Presence follows Ben Alderson-Day's attempts—as a psychologist and a researcher—to understand how this experience is possible. What is a voice when it isn't heard, and how otherwise do we know or feel that someone is in our presence? Is it a hallucination connected to psychosis, a change in the working of the brain, or something else?
The journey to understand takes us to meet explorers, mediums, and robots, and step through real, imagined, and virtual worlds. Presence is the story of who we carry with us, at all times, as parts of ourselves.
November 17, 2022
Presence by Ben Alderson-Day is one of the sort of niche topic non-fiction books I love. This book looks specifically at the idea of unseen presences. Not always unheard, as a good portion of the book covers those that hear voices, but the presence of someone or something unseen. This could be the sleep paralysis demon you wake up too on your chest or just the feeling of someone looking over your shoulder.
Mr. Alderson-Day takes the time to speak both with first person accounts of all these types of iterations of presences (when possible) and to speak with specialists. Some of these are doctors and patients who hear or see things. Others are long distance travelers (like the man who rowed across the ocean). The stories are fascinating and really tie together things you wouldn’t immediately think of when you think ‘presence’. He even briefly touches on mythology and delves into some spiritualism and faith based presences.
It could be possible with that many perspectives and mini-topics under this book to loose track or get bogged down but this clearly pulls through, keeping a strong line through each chapter and section to a solid conclusion (as solid as one can get on this). That ultimately made this book incredibly readable and kept me hooked in through to the end.
This was possibly one of the better non-fiction books I’ve read this year and I’ll certainly be referring to it in the future. Not only did I learn from this but my partner got to be the recipient of the classic ‘Listen to this!’, always the mark of a good nonfiction book. Presence is a solid, approachable read on a sometimes spooky and always intriguing topic. I highly recommend it for anyone interested!
Mr. Alderson-Day takes the time to speak both with first person accounts of all these types of iterations of presences (when possible) and to speak with specialists. Some of these are doctors and patients who hear or see things. Others are long distance travelers (like the man who rowed across the ocean). The stories are fascinating and really tie together things you wouldn’t immediately think of when you think ‘presence’. He even briefly touches on mythology and delves into some spiritualism and faith based presences.
It could be possible with that many perspectives and mini-topics under this book to loose track or get bogged down but this clearly pulls through, keeping a strong line through each chapter and section to a solid conclusion (as solid as one can get on this). That ultimately made this book incredibly readable and kept me hooked in through to the end.
This was possibly one of the better non-fiction books I’ve read this year and I’ll certainly be referring to it in the future. Not only did I learn from this but my partner got to be the recipient of the classic ‘Listen to this!’, always the mark of a good nonfiction book. Presence is a solid, approachable read on a sometimes spooky and always intriguing topic. I highly recommend it for anyone interested!
April 7, 2023
I haven’t devoured a nonfiction audiobook like this one in a LONG time! I will preface this by saying that I do have an extensive medical education and background, and this is also a subject that deeply fascinates me which all probably aid in my enjoyment of this one. But even without any medical background, this is written in a way that is digestible for all.
The author does a great job of alternating between fascinating true stories and then the heavier, science background. For me, it was told in a way that gave you a good break between some of the drier topics (even though equally as interesting) and the true stories that really keep the pages turning. I am just so utterly fascinated by the brain and how it works that I was just found myself continuing to find things to do so I could spend time listening to this.
So many great things were explored here. From sleep paralysis, Parkinson's disease, Antarctic expeditions, Bronies, and even the mind of readers and writers. It is clear that it was really well researched.
If you are interested in this topic, enjoy a good nonfiction read, or have experienced this yourself I would highly recommend this one. **Side note: This is FANTASTIC on audio. The reader was top notch and really helped me to stay tuned in to this story. If you have not tried listening to a good nonfiction book, I highly recommend you give it a try.
The author does a great job of alternating between fascinating true stories and then the heavier, science background. For me, it was told in a way that gave you a good break between some of the drier topics (even though equally as interesting) and the true stories that really keep the pages turning. I am just so utterly fascinated by the brain and how it works that I was just found myself continuing to find things to do so I could spend time listening to this.
So many great things were explored here. From sleep paralysis, Parkinson's disease, Antarctic expeditions, Bronies, and even the mind of readers and writers. It is clear that it was really well researched.
If you are interested in this topic, enjoy a good nonfiction read, or have experienced this yourself I would highly recommend this one. **Side note: This is FANTASTIC on audio. The reader was top notch and really helped me to stay tuned in to this story. If you have not tried listening to a good nonfiction book, I highly recommend you give it a try.
March 23, 2023
It happens to everyone sometimes: you think you see a familiar face in the crowd, you hear a voice when you’re alone, you feel someone’s eyes upon you… in this volume, psychologist Ben Alderson-Day discusses some theories as to why and how this happens. These are not exceptional occurrences, though, but recurring episodes for many people, who have had to learn to live with the voices in their head. The obvious answer is a malfunction in the brain, extreme circumstances or a hallucination. The author explores these explanations, but many others. Did you know that the Shackleton crew felt another man walking with them while trying to get help for their infamous expedition? I didn’t. All the experiences here are very interesting and Jacob Foan’s narration keeps a steady rhythm that adds to the atmosphere. The author doesn’t discard more supernatural explanations so, whatever you think about the issue, this is an eye-opening book.
I chose to listen to this audiobook and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#RB Media, Recorded Books!
I chose to listen to this audiobook and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#RB Media, Recorded Books!
April 16, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and Recorded Books Media for the ALC of this audiobook.
I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect when I picked this one up, but it was insightful. Alderson-Day explores that feeling that we’re not alone and many of the different ways we experience that feeling. Between scientific exploration and personal stories, the book shares a better understanding, if not universal explanation for, this sensation.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I like micro histories and oddly specific nonfiction books every now and again, and this definitely fits the bill. The range of conditions and stories that might display this phenomenon are varied and fascinating. I enjoyed the personal stories as much as the exploration of the whys of them. Recommend if you enjoy podcasts about random and odd things. You’re bound to learn something.
I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect when I picked this one up, but it was insightful. Alderson-Day explores that feeling that we’re not alone and many of the different ways we experience that feeling. Between scientific exploration and personal stories, the book shares a better understanding, if not universal explanation for, this sensation.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I like micro histories and oddly specific nonfiction books every now and again, and this definitely fits the bill. The range of conditions and stories that might display this phenomenon are varied and fascinating. I enjoyed the personal stories as much as the exploration of the whys of them. Recommend if you enjoy podcasts about random and odd things. You’re bound to learn something.
May 28, 2023
4.5 stars
This book gave a complete perspective on the different ways to approach the concept of presence in relation to normal and abnormal human psychology and health. The middle chapters did get rather technical and took some time to break up into shorter reading periods, however the anecdotes and dialogue throughout the book help the reader connect more personally with scientific concepts. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and blew through the first half and last quarter very quickly. Thank you for providing these insights that took an unbiased approach where the subject was fully listened to and encouraged to share their ideas. The skepticism was not from a negative viewpoint, but rather clinical to address and potential conflicts in information provided by participants. Also- thank you for adding the additional titles for further reading into this subject matter.
This book gave a complete perspective on the different ways to approach the concept of presence in relation to normal and abnormal human psychology and health. The middle chapters did get rather technical and took some time to break up into shorter reading periods, however the anecdotes and dialogue throughout the book help the reader connect more personally with scientific concepts. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and blew through the first half and last quarter very quickly. Thank you for providing these insights that took an unbiased approach where the subject was fully listened to and encouraged to share their ideas. The skepticism was not from a negative viewpoint, but rather clinical to address and potential conflicts in information provided by participants. Also- thank you for adding the additional titles for further reading into this subject matter.
July 6, 2024
The brain does all kinds of weird things.
That’s my simplified take on Presence.
The author is a psychologist who researches auditory hallucinations and the feeling of an unseen presence. In this book, he discusses various case studies, such as trauma-induced voices and imaginary friends. I really enjoyed the section on books, where we look at how readers and writers can often perceive characters as real people. Unfortunately, that was also the shortest piece.
The writing is far more academic than engaging narrative. I would have liked more personality from the writing. I needed more of a storytelling vibe, rather than a college lecture.
If you’re looking for any sort of paranormal or supernatural exploration, you won’t find it here. This book is strictly science based.
*I received a free copy from St. Martin’s Press, with no obligation to review.*
That’s my simplified take on Presence.
The author is a psychologist who researches auditory hallucinations and the feeling of an unseen presence. In this book, he discusses various case studies, such as trauma-induced voices and imaginary friends. I really enjoyed the section on books, where we look at how readers and writers can often perceive characters as real people. Unfortunately, that was also the shortest piece.
The writing is far more academic than engaging narrative. I would have liked more personality from the writing. I needed more of a storytelling vibe, rather than a college lecture.
If you’re looking for any sort of paranormal or supernatural exploration, you won’t find it here. This book is strictly science based.
*I received a free copy from St. Martin’s Press, with no obligation to review.*
March 31, 2023
I want to preface this by saying that I am a hardcore believer in the supernatural, while also firmly in the camp of science. Contradiction? Probably. But this book - this book gets it.
What are we feeling when there’s nothing there? What are we hearing when no one is there? Who are we talking to when the conversation is in our heads? Is it some form of psychopathy or is there another explanation? This books takes every possible explanation into consideration and spells it out. It’s not judgmental, it presents facts and theories and it does it in a way that keeps it interesting.
I received the audiobook through NetGalley and the narrator was perfect. With a soothing voice this topic is presented perfectly in this format. Definitely recommend.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What are we feeling when there’s nothing there? What are we hearing when no one is there? Who are we talking to when the conversation is in our heads? Is it some form of psychopathy or is there another explanation? This books takes every possible explanation into consideration and spells it out. It’s not judgmental, it presents facts and theories and it does it in a way that keeps it interesting.
I received the audiobook through NetGalley and the narrator was perfect. With a soothing voice this topic is presented perfectly in this format. Definitely recommend.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 2, 2024
Thank you so much to @stmartinspress for this complimentary copy of Presence by Dr. Ben Alderman-Day. It’s almost like a dissertation on the psychology of the unseen presences we can experience, both typically and pathologically. It was so fascinating!
I actually got this book a while ago, so it’s widely available for you to find if you’re interested. Some of the topics: seeing a “third man” when experiencing extremity, adult imaginary friends, phantom feelings, night terrors, ghosts, that feeling you’re not alone, schizophrenic and other neurological symptoms creating a sense of the other.
Books like these always make me want to go back to school to study psychology but right now I feel too old and tired for that.
I actually got this book a while ago, so it’s widely available for you to find if you’re interested. Some of the topics: seeing a “third man” when experiencing extremity, adult imaginary friends, phantom feelings, night terrors, ghosts, that feeling you’re not alone, schizophrenic and other neurological symptoms creating a sense of the other.
Books like these always make me want to go back to school to study psychology but right now I feel too old and tired for that.
February 26, 2023
The phenomenon of felt presences is mysterious, other-worldly, and unfathomable, but Ben Alderson-Day is a psychologist, and comes at the question with a scientific curiosity, which enables him to move the phenomenon from the realm of the supernatural to that of the rational and worldly. I found his examination of the subject fascinating. He doesn't shy away from the strangest episodes that challenge our sense of realism and rationality, yet he presents and investigates them in a way that suggests both an eagerness to get at a scientific truth, at the same time that the author allows room for other possibilities. I found the stories fascinating, troubling, funny, and touching.
Read
December 25, 2025It was interesting in its own right, but I should have read the description more carefully. It was completely not what I expected. It really is about hallucinations, but it has very little to do with the paranormal. It seeks to explain why our brain hallucinates under various conditions ranging from brain injury to extreme isolation. I think there may have been one chapter that dealt with ghosts and did not really take a clear stance on them (which I think is more of what I anticipated).
I had to push myself to get through it largely because I lack the background knowledge for some of the scientific concepts that are taken for granted.
I had to push myself to get through it largely because I lack the background knowledge for some of the scientific concepts that are taken for granted.
October 24, 2023
I never finished this audiobook as it was interesting and fascinating at times but then felt tedious and repeated. I’m a huge fan of the topic of the felt presence and was excited that a book came out about this with real stories and some scientific ideas behind it, but at the end of the day it felt like the writer always wanted to find a scientific solution to this presence desperately. And the openness from the beginning had disappeared in the middle. I stopped listening at 58%. I usually always finish books, especially audiobooks, but this one didn’t want me to desperately end it.
June 12, 2023
Adopts a scientific approach to investigating the question of "presence": the sometimes unsettling feeling that someone else is there with you despite there not being any concrete evidence. I quite like it! The author is very knowledgeable and can simplify difficult ideas and concepts, making it easy for people with little to no background to psychology to parse through the text. I would recommend this book to people who would like to understand presence under a psychological context.
June 14, 2023
Presence is a really interesting book about felt presence, which is a quite unique and unexplored topic. The stories Ben wrote about are engaging and curious, and uncover how felt presence may in some cases be a clinical symptom or an effect of extreme conditions, while in other cases it may happen in "regular" people. I've really enjoyed getting to know this field of psychology more through this book!
April 19, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for the audiobook ARC!
Presence is a fascinating examination of the phenomena, folklore, history, and science behind presence, whether real, imagined, or other-worldly. The anecdotes are relevant and interesting, with detailed interviews of some very intriguing people. Definitely a must-read for fans of Mary Roach, Jon Ronson, Jon Krakauer, etc.
Presence is a fascinating examination of the phenomena, folklore, history, and science behind presence, whether real, imagined, or other-worldly. The anecdotes are relevant and interesting, with detailed interviews of some very intriguing people. Definitely a must-read for fans of Mary Roach, Jon Ronson, Jon Krakauer, etc.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews