Presence : The Strange Science of the Unseen Other

This book charts a psychologist's journey to understand one of the most unusual experiences known to humankind: the feeling that someone or something is there when we are alone. A tour-de-force through contemporary psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience and philosophy, Presence is the story of who we carry with us, at all times, as parts of ourselves. -- .

In this enthralling book, Ben Alderson-Day explores one of the most curious experiences known to humankind: the universal, disturbing sense that someone or something is there when we are alone – the feeling of an unseen presence. When and why do presences emerge? What does this feeling mean and where does it come from? And how can we even begin to understand a phenomenon that can be transformative for those who experience it and yet so hard to put into words? The answers to these questions lie in this fascinating exploration through cutting-edge research in contemporary psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience and philosophy. Taking the reader on a riveting and emotional journey, Presence offers remarkable insights into the experience of felt presence and how it relates to a range of medical conditions, including sleep paralysis, dementia and Parkinson’s. This compelling story will stoke the fascination of sceptics and ardent believers alike who are drawn to the mystery of the unseen. -- .