The Head Trip

Adventures on the Wheel of Consciousness

By: Jeff Warren

Narrated by: Raymond Todd

Length: 11 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

Few of us realize how many states of consciousness we pass through on a regular basis. In this entertaining guide, Jeff Warren explores 12 distinct, natural states we can experience in a 24-hour day, each offering its own kind of knowledge, insight, and adventure.

©2007 Jeff Warren (P)2007 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

fascinating overview of experience

Book was interesting because it covered a range of different topics related to an assortment of conscious/unconscious experiences. Some of these topics include sleep, trance, mindfulness/meditation, etc. The presentation by the narrator was ok, but the voice was mostly monotone it seemed. Some funny anecdotes and notes did make the listening interesting, but the narration could have been improved. I did get used to the narration though so its not terrible, just kind of annoying at first.

Reader apparently had somewhere to be

The content of this book is very interesting but be aware that the reader reads at a nearly breathless pace. This often makes it very difficult to absorb what is being read, and I say that as someone with a technical background. For this title, you might want to get the actual book and, relaxing, read it yourself.

Excellent Content...Terrible Narrator

the content of the book allowed me to ignore the terrible narration. Mr. Todd reminded me of the guy who announces summary of the stock market in 20 seconds or less. like he was in a race to finish reading the book. everyone once in while he'd fall into a comfortable cadence, but more often not.

with a different narrator this book would get 5 stars from me. the author has a unique way about explaining the subjective experience in a way that is both helpful and highly entertaining.

The book is great but listen at .85 speed

It's definitely an exploration of both real science and stuff a little on the edge of reasonable, so it's best seen as a compilation of many interviews and opinions. It's better if you're curious and ready to look stuff up but Jeff Warren definitely looks into some of the more underappreciated and important parts of our everyday experience.

5 star writing

2 star demerit for manic and odd cadence of the narrator. This was an annoying listen; but a book well worth reading. Go paper on this one.

Slowed it down

Although the content is good, I was having a problem with the high speed reading. Using the -1 setting on my iriver solved the problem and I enjoyed this very much. A nice update on what has been going in studies on consciousness. I was particularly interested to hear about the new, more sophisticated methods of biofeedback.

a guide to the mind

a little long winded in places, overall intresting. this is a different aproach to a book about the brain. rather that talking about how the different areas of the brain are responsible for various tasks, this book talks about how the mind works as a whole. what's going on when you are in different states of mind. what's going on to make those states of mind unique. worth a credit if you're a budding armchair neurologist like me :)

Give the Early Chapters Time

In this text, Warren takes listeners through the various states of human consciousness devoting a chapter to each. I look for books that inform and are read well. This one did not disappoint. It took me a little time to get into the topic, but once the listener comes to an understanding of the author's intent and method, everything else falls into place.

Readers may think that the author is on something when reading portions of the book. However, I found interesting things to consider every few minutes. I was particularly taken by the authors explanation of how creative people (Edison for example) actually were able to retrieve insights from their light sleep. It was also helpful to understand the role sleep plays in how people learn. Ths discussion on spacial learning and experience of the blind was eye opening (pardon the pun). (The ramifications for students who get by with little rest would have helped me in graduate school for sure!).

This is a highly instructive, informative, entertaining volume that will keep you thinking about the world in a different way for many weeks.

Very interesting topic

I disagree about the narrator. He definetly talks quickly (which takes some getting used to) but he is also pretty funny, and makes it interesting.

The content was great! It was very interesting and I havent read a book yet that is much like that. It has a very different style and unique content.

It was definetly worth the listen.

informative

Answers a lot of questions I have always wondered about. If you are interested in the mind you can not miss this one.