The origin of consciousness in the breakdown of the bicameral mind
by Julian Jaynes · first published 1976
49% recommend45% neutral6% critical
Why HN recommends it
Speculative theory that ancient people experienced their own thoughts as commanded voices, drawing on Homer, schizophrenia and religion. Suits readers curious about mind and consciousness who can enjoy an unproven idea.
Common criticism: Its central hypothesis is widely considered probably wrong and biologically implausible
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
At the heart of this classic, seminal book is Julian Jaynes's still-controversial thesis that human consciousness did not begin far back in animal evolution but instead is a learned process that came about only three thousand years ago and is still developing. The implications of this revolutionary scientific paradigm extend into virtually every aspect of our psychology, our history and culture, our religion -- and indeed our future.
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2016–2017The self-aware universe
Amit Goswami
Recommended by 2 · mentioned by 22 recommend · 2 mention2 recommend · 22 recommend
2008–2025The Quest for Consciousness
Koch Christof
Recommended by 2 · mentioned by 32 recommend · 3 mention2 recommend · 32 recommend
2010–2024Human knowledge
Bertrand Russell
Recommended by 1 · mentioned by 31 recommend · 3 mention1 recommend · 31 recommend
Mind magic
Bill Harvey
Recommended by 1 · mentioned by 21 recommend · 2 mention1 recommend · 21 recommend
2010–2018Everything Is Illuminated
Jonathan Safran Foer
Recommended by 2 · mentioned by 42 recommend · 4 mention2 recommend · 42 recommend
2013–2026The master and his emissary
Iain McGilchrist
Recommended by 30 · mentioned by 5330 recommend · 53 mention30 recommend · 5330 recommend
2007–2026The Mind's I
Douglas R. Hofstadter, Daniel C. Dennett
Recommended by 36 · mentioned by 5736 recommend · 57 mention36 recommend · 5736 recommend
I just finished "The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind" by Julian Jaynes. It's one of those books that constantly leaves you uneasy and unsure whether you understand what you are reading but what an amazing read.
on “Ask HN: Whats the most challenging book you have ever read?” ↗C-f Jaynes Nothing. Modern psychology needs to come to grips with The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind. A trove of riches for anyone interested in practical psychology.
on “People Who Hear Voices Could Be on to Something” ↗Recommended reading: "The origin of consciousness in the breakdown of the bicameral mind" by Julian Jaynes "Left in the dark" by Graham Gynn and Tony Wright (and apparently, 2nd hand recommendation - "Return of the brain to eden" from the same authors) Consider both science fiction rather…
on “The split brain: A tale of two halves (2012)” ↗It seems like this sort of inquiry would connect with Julian Jaynes' The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind. It is a fascinating thesis, one what has been somewhat beyond science to test. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicameralism_(psychology)
on “Why Doesn’t Ancient Fiction Talk About Feelings? (2017)” ↗Try Julian Jaynes book "The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind". Whether his conjectures are right or wrong, their scope is mind-blowing. Don't be put off by the title - it became a surprise hit as a popular science book.
on “Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same as before?” ↗One thing Julian Jaynes discusses in his book Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind (highly recommend, but a hard read) is that consciousness is comprised of a number of different qualities, one being excerptification - the ability to take a number of indiscriminate ideas/memories/images…
on “Can computers become conscious?: My reply to Roger Penrose” ↗Scott Alexander's review of the book is worth reading: > Julian Jaynes’ The Origin Of Consciousness In The Breakdown Of The Bicameral Mind is a brilliant book, with only two minor flaws. First, that it purports to explains the origin of consciousness. And second, that it posits a breakdown of the bicameral mind. I think it’s possible to…
on “The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind (1976)” ↗I doubt you're going to get any answers here. I've seen GEB mentioned already and if you're a reader I highly recommend Julian Jaynes' Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind. Fascinating theory, but the consensus seems to be that it's probably not correct. I picked it up after encountering references to it in a diverse set of sources.
on “Ask HN: Where does consciousness come from?” ↗Philosophy/Psychology: The origin of consciousness in the breakdown of the bicameral mind, / Julian Jaynes. Hard to tell if crazy or genius, but well worth a read. Read at 38, wish I had read this at 20 or so. Most of us take our inner voice for granted, but should we really? And what if there…
on “Ask HN: Books you wish you had read earlier?” ↗Finally got around to reading The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind by Julian Jaynes. It was on my list for the past like, twenty years, and after reading it I really wish I would have read it back then. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_Jaynes
on “Ask HN: Best books you read in the past decade?” ↗I’m personally fascinated by Julian Jaynes’ The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind that posits that humans had an innate ability to reason linguistically but that it was disjointed from their everyday living experience until some point in the historical record. Richard Dawkins famously…
on “How Did Consciousness Evolve? (2016)” ↗…absolute free for all of weaponized content, created for commercial or political purposes. Critical reading and thinking skills are needed to navigate the internet. ----- This book is kind of funny: [The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind](https://www.amazon.com/Origin-Consciousness-Breakdown-Bicame...) ... but it is good for hypothesizing about how consciousness has evolved. The relevant part to this discussion is when he writes about…
on “Taking things less personally” ↗There is a fascinating book by Julian Jaynes called The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind that goes even deeper into this area. Basically, he says, our two minds were previously split and "you" would "hear" your other mind issuing instructions about what to do. (Much like Snow Crash and the…
on “Think You're Operating on Free Will? Think Again” ↗Sorry, but did he really quote from the new testament, or was it instead the ramblings of "God"? I have a special academic interest in schizophrenia; btw, Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind is a fantastic read.
…lacking focus, but then it was meant to provoke discussion and debate rather than offer a final answer. By far the most intriguing counter-proposal to the conventional wisdom is the late Julian Jaynes' The origin of consciousness in the breakdown of the bicameral mind which is such a monumentally good book that it's worth reading even if it is entirely wrong.
on “No, really—consciousness is worth thinking about” ↗