The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind

Attheheartofthisclassic,seminalbookisJulianJaynes'sstill-controversialthesisthathumanconsciousnessdidnotbeginfarbackinanimalevolutionbutinsteadisalearnedprocessthatcameaboutonlythreethousandyearsagoandisstilldeveloping.Theimplicationsofthisrevolutionaryscientificparadigmextendintovirtuallyeveryaspectofourpsychology,ourhistoryandculture,ourreligion—andindeedourfuture.Fourteenyearsafteritsoriginalpublicationthisbookremainsasastoundingandcontroversialasever.Attheheartofthisbookistherevolutionaryideathathumanconsciousnessdidnotbeginfarbackinanimalevolution,butcameintobeingasrecentlyas3,000yearsago.Theimplicationsextendintoeveryaspectifhumanlife.