A review by roba
Conversations on Consciousness: What the Best Minds Think about the Brain, Free Will, and What It Means to Be Human by Susan Blackmore

4.0

Excellent series of interviews with many of the leading/famous figures in consciousness studies (Dennett, the Chalmers zombie guy, Penrose, John Searle, Thomas Metzinger etc.). Blackmore does an excellent job as an interviewer. Although she has her own definite opinions on the subject (she claims to actually experience Dennett's diffuse, bundle-y self), she's open-minded enough to really make sure she her subjects are telling us the truest, clearest explanation of their theories, while still giving them a challenge. As a consequence, there's a lot more nuance here than there might be in a more conventional survey of the field. Plus, you get an entertaining sense of various interesting personalities, plus a fair bit of academic bitchiness.

The only thing missing is an interview with Blackmore's husband, Adam Hart-Davis. You just know he's built his own mock-Tudor model of consciousness held together with G-clamps in his shed.