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Book Summary

Zen and the Art of Consciousness weaves together Susan Blackmores scientific acumen and decades of Zen meditation practice to explore the nature of consciousness. The book is structured around ten probing questionsmany rooted in Zen and Mahamudra traditionssuch as “Am I conscious now?”, “Who is asking the question?”, “What was I conscious of a moment ago?”, and “Are you here now?”.

Rather than offering definitive answers, Blackmores goal is to bridge first-person introspective insight and third-person scientific inquiry, demonstrating how meditation can enrich our understanding of perplexing scientific mysteries like self, memory, time, and free will. For example, her reflections on whether there really is a stable “self” or how awareness arises in the moment open possibilities beyond conventional neuroscience.

Critics have praised the book for its clarity, intelligence, and warmthcalling it a thought-provoking hybrid of philosophy, science, and mindfulness. One reviewer even said it should be “compulsory reading for anyone in consciousness studies”.

About the Author

Susan Jane Blackmore is a British psychologist and writer renowned for her research in consciousness, memes, free will, and anomalous experiences. A former parapsychologist, she earned her degree in psychology and physiology from Oxford University in 1973 and a PhD in parapsychology from the University of Surrey in 1980.

Over her career, she has published dozens of books and over sixty academic papers, including the influential The Meme Machine (1999), Consciousness: An Introduction, and Conversations on ConsciousnessAlongside writing, she blogs for The Guardian, frequently appears on radio and television, and lectures widely.

Blackmore practices Zennot as a religious commitmentbut as a form of deep inquiry and mindfulness that complements her scientific perspective. She regards the book as an invitation to use questioning and meditation not to reach answers, but to deepen our understanding of what consciousness might be