The Lost Knowledge of the Imagination

By: Gary Lachman

Narrated by: Leslie James

Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's Summary

Imagination is a core aspect of being human. Our imagination allows us to fully experience ourselves in relation to the world and reality. Imagination plays a key role in creativity and innovation. 

Since the 17th century, however, imagination has been sidelined and dismissed as "make believe". Four centuries ago, a new way of knowing the world and ourselves emerged in the west and has gone on to dominate human life: science. 

Imagination has been marginalized - depicted as a way of escaping reality, rather than coming to grips with it - and its significance to our humanity has been downplayed. Yet as we move further into the strange new world of the 21st century, the need to regain this lost knowledge seems more necessary that ever before. 

This insightful and inspiring book argues that, for the sake of the future of our world, we must redress the balance. Through the work of Owen Barfield, Goethe, Henry Corbin, Kathleen Raine, and others, and ranging from the teachings of ancient mystics to the latest developments in neuroscience, The Lost Knowledge of the Imagination introduces the listener to a philosophy and tradition that restores imagination to its rightful place, and argues that it is not only essential to our knowing reality to the full, but to our very humanity itself.

©2017 Floris Books (P)2018 SpokenTome.media

Atrocious narration

The book seems great, but it’s impossible to follow a reader who pays no attention to punctuation and seems to never breath. He just powers through the whole thing, from the first syllable in the book, to the last. I would recommend you buy the book and forget the audio edition.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Enlightening content. We'll researched! Just what I was looking for on the topic. Didn't enjoy the narrator unfortunately.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Good ideas, terrible narration

It's like the narrator ignored all punctuation! there are some complex ideas described, and lots of important players, but the narrator just bulldozes over everything in a hurry. Pro tip: set your app to 0.95 or 0.9 reading speed so at least you can follow it - yes, make it go slower than usual! The book itself is Lachman's usual sweeping story of ideas on the need for an intuitive and creative thinking to match our rational and linear one. The author flows easily from Plato to Heidegger and spending time with poets, most notably Kathleen Raine.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Good book but narration problems

There is much to enjoy and think about in this book (if you liked McGilchrist's 'The Master and his Emissary' then you will probably like this) but the narrator machine guns the words at you. I have slowed the speed down but, Terminator like, he just keeps on without pausing for breath or punctuation (Kyle Reese to Sarah Connor: "That [narrator] is out there. It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear and it absolutely will not stop - ever - until you are dead"). The unstoppable narration by the at makes it harder to absorb the ideas - just be prepared for that. Bon chance mes braves!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Narrated by a robot

I’m fascinated by Gary Lachlan’s books and own most of what he’s written. So, when this new offering was made available on audiobook, I purchased without hesitation. Unfortunately, it seems to be narrated by a robot who wasn’t programmed to ever take a breath. The result is an exceedingly un-pleasurable listen. To the publishers of Mr. Lachlan’s books: Please do better! This work deserves better.

Great thesis of thought

More than food for thought. Validity of arguements on why we have imagination and the effect of its current lack of use. The reader sounds a little robotic at first...bear with...the content of the book is worth hanging into there!