States of Consciousness

by Charles T. Tart

States of Consciousness, a classic by world authority Charles T. Tart, is a basic understanding of how the mind is a dynamic, culturally biased, semi-arbitrary construction and system. A systematic exploration of how and why altered states can come about and their possibilities. As a student of his remarked, For the first weeks of class I didnt understand what those diagrams were about, but Ive realized the book is all about the way my own mind works! Useful in understanding some of the important ways your mind works before you start altering it.

Genres: Psychology, Spirituality

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Charles T. Tart was an American psychologist and parapsychologist known for his psychological work on the nature of consciousness (particularly altered states of consciousness), as one of the founders of the field of transpersonal psychology, and for his research in parapsychology.

Reviews

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a dated, yet very thought-provoking book that presents a cybernetic (he never uses the term, but that is what it is) theory of consciousness that accounts for the existence of altered states of consciousness. It is well written for the educated lay-person. It is also written as a challenge to researchers in psychology to test his model of consciousness.

[Autumn Unrein · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Which one of the two selves is your real self?”
“They are both my real self.”

Dr. Tart, psychologist and parapsychologist, is internationally recognized for his research and work in the nature of consciousness; particularly altered states of consciousness. His 1969 classic explores the definition and nature of consciousness, contributing social and cultural constructs, as well as the stabilizing/destabilizing forces maintaining a discrete state. Although dated in the modern age, States of Consciousness remains a thought-provoking read. Tart discusses various altered states including the dream state, hypnosis, meditation, medically induced, as well as psychoactive/psychedelic induced. The recount of subject William’s transcendence into what is arguably one of the deepest hypnotic states on record is chilling (chapter 14); the implications more so. Tart further explores concepts of state-specific memory, variations and depth of a state, objectivity (or lack there of) to one’s self, the space/time subsystem of a discrete state, barriers to research, amongst many others. “It’s hard to realize the full impact of individual differences because of the deep implicitness of the assumption that we all share a common (discrete state of consciousness)” (p. 266). Certainly worth your time. Happy pondering!

Thank you for reading my first book review. 🫶🏻

[Cristian Keller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interessantissimo. E onestamente sono rimasto stupito di non aver mai sentito parlare di questo approccio per sistemi per spiegare i vari comportamenti umani.
Tart spiega tantissime cose in modo semplice. Spiega semplicemente i vari stati di coscienza alterati: sonno, ubriachezza, effetto di droghe. E spiega anche come sia possibile che in una persona ci sia alle volte il bene e alle volte il male. Come una persona solitamente gentile possa diventare violenta o sgradevole.
Mi ha aperto un mondo che non conoscevo assolutamente. Sicuramente leggerò altri libri sull'argomento

[melbutnotgibson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really fascinating, but hard to read merely because it is outdated and the world of psychology’s much more advanced. However, it is useful for future research. As a pleasure read, I wouldn’t recommend it to most, unless you’re a freak like me.

[Lucas Buckels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dated, but overall fascinating concepts. A lot of the book is speculation or only lightly backed up by evidence. However, the framework of discrete states of consciousness provides numerous insights into how our minds work. The idea of state specific sciences is an interesting concept but I do not think it has been expanded on much since this book was written. The biggest takeaway for me is your typical, waking state of consciousness is not necessarily a baseline state. It is a complex state with various interactions between systems of your brain leading to some stable “you”. This “you” is the product of your genetics and experiences within a given culture, putting bounds on what your normal, waking consciousness is. However, there are other states where this “you” is very different or gone all together. This “you” or your ego is there to help you survive in a given environment or culture. It protects your interests in the real world. But it is not innate, a given, or permanent. It is important to recognize your ego and how it processes and interprets information. Your brain processes the data from the environment in a way that protects the self, but can lead to harmful behaviors such as neuroticism, paranoia, or anxiety. Recognizing the processing and not attaching your emotions to it can help to free you from the chains of your ego.