The famous American neurologist and neuropsychologist, whose works have been translated into 20 languages of the world, wrote a book about what our brain does against our will.
Most often, a hallucination is defined as a sensation that occurs in the absence of the real object of this sensation. But Sachs himself likes more than others the definition given by William James in 1890: «A hallucination is a sensation as vivid and as real as that which we perceive in the presence of a real object outside of us.» Why, you ask, should we, mentally healthy people, read a book on such a narrowly professional topic, even if its author is an American neurologist and neuropsychologist with a worldwide reputation, whose works have been translated into 20 languages of the world? Then, that hallucinations have many forms, and this is a huge and integral part of human culture, a frequent source of literature and folklore, painting and dance, all forms of beliefs and ritual practices. Or, for example, music: composing music almost always means hearing a melody that does not really exist. Hallucinations, distortions of perception, visions and just fantasies are different things, but, one way or another, they happened to everyone (we thought or heard). This does not mean that we are going crazy. But it does not interfere with understanding what our brain does against our will. The book is written in a familiar, fascinating, easy and even exciting way, which is important.
Translation from English by Alexander Anvaer.
AST, 350 p.