Important Julian Jaynes Society updates and developments that you might have missed… also be sure to check out our latest blog posts in the menu to the right.

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March 2024

Read the Spring 2024 Newsletter.
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Subscribe to “Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind,” the Julian Jaynes Society podcast.

February 2024

Read the second revised edition of Reflections on the Dawn of Consciousness, now available worldwide.

November 2023

RSVP for this upcoming event:
The Psychology of Ancient Egypt with Brian J. McVeigh, November 16, 2022

October 2023

New for supporters: Watch Julian Jaynes present his ideas to science-oriented children at the Talcott Mountain Science Center.

September 2023

Read The Psychology of Ancient Egypt: Reconstructing A Lost Mentality, by Brian J. McVeigh, just published by the Julian Jaynes Society.

As of September 3rd, Amazon is running a flash sale on our latest book, Conversations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind. Take advantage of this very low price while it lasts! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1737305534

Read our Fact Checks of psychiatrist Dr. Scott Alexander’s review of Julian Jaynes’s theory.

August 2023

Read the Summer 2023 Newsletter.
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Read our latest book, Conversations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind, on sale through the September 8th.

Read “Consciousness as ‘Super-perception‘” by Brian J. McVeigh on the JJS Blog.

Read “Fact Checking Erik Hoel’s The World behind the World: Consciousness, Free Will, and the Limits of Science” by Brian J. McVeigh on the JJS Blog.

Watch “Julian Jaynes and Owen Barfield on the Origins, Nature & Trajectory of Consciousness” on the JJS YouTube channel.

June 2023

Watch “Stanford Anthropology Professor Discusses Julian Jaynes’ Theory” on the JJS YouTube channel.

May 2023

Read the Spring 2023 Newsletter.
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March 2023

Watch “The Gods of Mesopotamia and the Presentist Fallacy” on the JJS YouTube channel.

February 2023

Read “Consciousness Is More ‘Nurture’ than ‘Nature'” by Brian J. McVeigh on the JJS Blog.

Watch “The Why, What, and How of Human Consciousness” on the JJS YouTube channel.

Watch “How Languages Create Mind Space and the ‘Analog I’“ on the JJS YouTube channel.

Watch “The Emergence of Psychotherapies in Modern Japan: A Jaynesian Interpretation” on the JJS YouTube channel.

January 2023

Watch “A Bicameral Semiotic: The Linguistic Sign as Image-Word Dyad” on the JJS YouTube channel.

December 2022

Read the November/December Newsletter.
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Read “Falling between the Cracks” by Brian J. McVeigh on the JJS Blog.

Watch “Q&A Session on “Conversations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind” Part 1: Iliad/Odyssey/Sinuhe” on the JJS YouTube channel.

Watch “An Encounter of Julian Jaynes & Jacques Derrida: Consciousness, Divine Voice & Writing” on the JJS YouTube channel.

October 2022

RSVP for this upcoming event:
Q&A on Julian Jaynes’s Theory plus Conversations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind Book Discussion, November 5, 2022

Read our latest book, Conversations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind, on sale through the end of October.

Read “The Myth of “Pure Consciousness” by Brian J. McVeigh on the JJS Blog.

Read the September/October 2022 Newsletter.
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September 2022
Read “Animal Minds? Yes. Animal Consciousness? No.” by Brian J. McVeigh on the JJS Blog.

New articles, a new interview, and a new lecture by Gregory Conrow from the Julian Jaynes Society Conference on Consciousness and Bicameral Studies posted in the Member Area. Log in or Sign up.

August 2022
Our latest book, Conversations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind, was published on August 22! All pre-orders were shipped in early August and the book is now available for immediate shipping. It is also available on Amazon sites worldwide and via special order from most bookstores.

If you’ve already enjoyed the book, please take a moment to write a positive review on our website, Amazon, and Goodreads. We appreciate your support!

Watch “David Duchovny Explains Julian Jaynes’s Theory to Bill Maher” on the Related Interviews page.

Read the August 2022 Newsletter.
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July 2022
Test your knowledge of Julian Jaynes’s theory by taking our three new quizzes.

Read “Consciousness Is the Word Preventing People from Understanding Jaynesian Psychology” by Brian J. McVeigh on the JJS Blog.

Read the July 2022 Newsletter.
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A new documentary on preliterate societies, new Q&A, and a new lecture by Eric Alexander La Freniere from the Julian Jaynes Society Conference on Consciousness and Bicameral Studies posted in the Member Area. Log in or Sign up.

June 2022
The Julian Jaynes Society is honored to welcome Dr. Clive Svendsen to the Science Advisory Board.

Pre-order our latest book: Conversations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind

Read the May/June 2022 Newsletter.
Not on our mailing list? Sign up here: Join Our Mailing List.

Watch the latest interviews on Julian Jaynes’s theory:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeoNH7dTwZc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAE5WL5XvDQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvIPCV_hCAY

Read “Julian Jaynes Is Not for the Intellectually Fainthearted” by Brian J. McVeigh on the JJS Blog.

New articles, dissertations, and a new lecture by Terryl Atkins from the Julian Jaynes Society Conference on Consciousness and Bicameral Studies posted in the Member Area. Log in or Sign up.

April 2022
Pre-order our latest book: Conversations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind
Read the Spring 2022 Newsletter.
Not on our mailing list? Sign up here: Join Our Mailing List.
Read “The Need to Acknowledge Bicameral Vestiges” by Brian J. McVeigh on the JJS Blog.
New articles, dissertations, and a new lecture by Roy Baumeister from the Julian Jaynes Society Conference on Consciousness and Bicameral Studies posted in the Member Area. Log in or Sign up.

December 2021
Read the November/December 2021 Newsletter.
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A newly discovered interview with Julian Jaynes, new related articles, and a lecture from the Julian Jaynes Society Conference on Consciousness and Bicameral Studies posted in the Member Area. Log in or Sign up.

“They Were Noble Automatons Who Knew Not What They Did:” Volition in Jaynes’ The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind, by James W. Moore

October 2021
New articles, interviews, lectures, and new lectures from the Julian Jaynes Society Conference on Consciousness and Bicameral Studies posted in the Member Area. Log in or Sign up.

Read the September/October 2021 Newsletter.
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September 2021
A new lecture by Julian Jaynes, new articles, dissertations, and a new lecture from the Julian Jaynes Society Conference on Consciousness and Bicameral Studies posted in the Member Area. Log in or Sign up.

August 2021
New articles and a new lectures from the Julian Jaynes Society Conference on Consciousness and Bicameral Studies posted in the Member Area. Log in or Sign up.

Read the July/August 2021 Newsletter.
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July 2021
The Julian Jaynes Society is honored to welcome Professor Martin Seligman to the Science Advisory Board:
Professor Seligman is the Zellerbach Family Professor of Psychology and Director of the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania, where he focuses on positive psychology, learned helplessness, prospection, optimism and positive education. He is a best-selling author of several books, including Flourish. His most recent book is The Hope Circuit, his autobiography. 
Read more about Professor Seligman.

New lectures from the Julian Jaynes Society Conference on Consciousness and Bicameral Studies posted in the Member Area. Log in or Sign up.

June 2021
The hardcover edition of Der Ursprung des Bewußtseins durch den Zusammenbruch der Bikameralen Psyche (the German edition of Julian Jaynes’s The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind) is now available in Germany (also serving many other EU countries), France, Italy, Spain & Portugal, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

New lectures from the Julian Jaynes Society Conference on Consciousness and Bicameral Studies and our May 2021 Q&A Session posted in the Member Area. Log in or Sign up.

May 2021
We are pleased to announce that the revised hardcover edition of The Julian Jaynes Collection has just been released in the United States, France, Germany (also serving many other EU countries),, Italy, Spain & Portugal, and United Kingdom. It will soon be available for order wherever books are sold. This beautifully produced book has the cover art printed right on the case, similar to a textbook, so no dust jacket to lose or get torn. Perfect for Jaynes enthusiasts, collectors, and libraries.

The Julian Jaynes Society is honored to welcome Professor Edoardo Casiglia and Professor Laurence Sugarman to the Science Advisory Board:
– Professor Casiglia, MD, is Professor of Internal Medicine at University of Padova, Italy. He is a specialist in cardiology, pharmacology, anesthesia and intensive care, a clinical hypertension specialist, and an anthropologist and forensic archeologist. 
– Professor Sugarma, MD, is Research Professor and Director of the Center for Applied Psychophysiology and Self-regulation in the College of Health Sciences and Technology at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT); a developmental and behavioral pediatrician at the Easter Seals Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Rochester, New York; and Clinical Professor in Pediatrics at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Read more about Professor Casiglia and Professor Sugarman.

The hardcover edition of La naissance de la conscience dans l’effondrement de l’esprit bicaméral (the French edition of Julian Jaynes’s The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind) is now available in France, Germany (also serving many other EU countries), Italy, Spain & Portugal, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Read the May 2021 Newsletter.
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April 2021
RSVP for this Upcoming Event:
Q&A on Julian Jaynes’s Theory with Marcel Kuijsten, Brian McVeigh, and Special Guests, May 1, 2021

Watch the interview with Boban Dedovic: “The Evolution of Mind Words in the Iliad and the Odyssey“ (Julian Jaynes Society Interview Series). Log in or Sign up.

We are pleased to announce that the hardcover edition of Gods, Voices, and the Bicameral Mind has just been released in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and United Kingdom. It will soon be available for order wherever books are sold. This beautifully produced book has the cover art printed right on the case, similar to a textbook, so no dust jacket to lose or get torn. Perfect for Jaynes enthusiasts, collectors, and libraries.

“The Voice In Your Head,” by Sophie McBain, with discussion of Julian Jaynes’s bicameral mind theory and Jaynes’s influence on the Hearing Voices Movement.

Read the April 2021 Newsletter.
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March 2021
RSVP for this Upcoming Event:
Boban Dedovic – The Evolution of Mind Words in the Iliad and the Odyssey, March 20, 2021

Read the March 2021 Newsletter.
Not on our mailing list? Sign up here: Join Our Mailing List.

February 2021
Watch the interview with Brian J. McVeigh: “Evidence for the Bicameral Mind in the Old Testament” (Julian Jaynes Society Interview Series). Log in or Sign up. Watch the preview on YouTube.

Did the Bicameral Mind Evolve to Create Modern Human Consciousness?

Read the February 2021 Newsletter.
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We’ve dramatically expanded our global distribution for all Julian Jaynes Society Publications. Julian Jaynes Society books can now be ordered in many bookstores worldwide through their normal distribution channels.

January 2021
We’ve released updated versions of all of our Kindle publications. To get the latest version, log in to your Amazon account, go to “Manage content and devices,” and look for the “Update available” link under the book title.
See JJS Publications here:
https://www.julianjaynes.org/product-category/publications/
https://www.julianjaynes.org/product-category/publications-foreign/

Watch a new Interview with Marcel Kuijsten and Brian J. McVeigh on Julian Jaynes’s theory.

Additional lectures from the Julian Jaynes Society Conference on Consciousness and Bicameral Studies posted in the Member Area. Log in or Sign up to view.

Read the January 2021 Newsletter.
Not on our mailing list? Sign up here: Join Our Mailing List.

The softcover edition of El origen de la conciencia en la ruptura de la mente bicameral (the Spanish edition of Julian Jaynes’s The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind) is now available in Spain and 8 other markets: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain & Portugal, United States, United Kingdom

December 2020
Watch The Voices in Your Head: How God Became ‘I’ – An interview with Brian J. McVeigh on his latest book and Julian Jaynes’s theory.

The softcover edition of Der Ursprung des Bewußtseins durch den Zusammenbruch der Bikameralen Psyche (the German edition of Julian Jaynes’s The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind) is now available in Germany and 8 other markets: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain & Portugal, United States, United Kingdom

November 2020
The softcover edition of La naissance de la conscience dans l’effondrement de l’esprit bicaméral (the French edition of Julian Jaynes’s The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind) is now available in France, Canada, and 7 other markets: Australia, Canada , France
Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain & Portugal, United States, United Kingdom

October 2020
A rare audio lecture by Julian Jaynes posted in the Member Area. Log in or Sign up to listen.

El origen de la conciencia en la ruptura de la mente bicameral (the Spanish edition of Julian Jaynes’s The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind) is now available for Kindle on all Amazon sites worldwide.

September 2020
Rare video of Julian Jaynes’s giving his lecture, “Consciousness and the Voices of the Mind,” posted in the Member Area, along with additional videos from the Julian Jaynes Society Conference on Consciousness and Bicameral Studies. Log in or Sign up to view.

New book: The Psychology of the Bible: Explaining Divine Voices and Visions by Brian J. McVeigh.

August 2020
Lectures from the Julian Jaynes Society Conference on Consciousness and Bicameral Studies posted in the Member Area. Log in or Sign up to view.

June 2020
Neuroscience Confirms Julian Jaynes’s Neurological Model

February 2020
In celebration of Julian Jaynes’s 100th birthday, we officially launched the completely redesigned Julian Jaynes Society website and Member Area. The new site has greatly improved functionality, features, security, a better user experience, new content, and is optimized for both computers and mobile devices. Special thanks to JJS member Boban Dedovic for volunteering his time and expertise to this project. Thank you also to the Julian Jaynes Society members — your ongoing support helped make this project possible!

May 2019
Julian Jaynes’s The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind is now available in Korean.

Expanded to include a new, previously unpublished 30-page in-depth interview with Julian Jaynes, the softcover edition of The Julian Jaynes Collection is now available in the U.S. as well as 8 other markets: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain & Portugal, United Kingdom

The softcover edition of Gods, Voices, and the Bicameral Mind is now available for direct purchase in the U.S., Canada, and 7 new overseas markets:
Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain & Portugal, United States, United Kingdom

March 2019
The Julian Jaynes Collection Kindle Edition is now available on all Amazon sites worldwide.

February 2019
The Gods, Voices, and the Bicameral Mind Kindle Edition is now available on all Amazon sites worldwide.

January 2018
The 20th Anniversary of the Julian Jaynes Society

January 2018
New book: The ‘Other’ Psychology of Julian Jaynes: Ancient Languages, Sacred Visions, and Forgotten Mentalities by Brian J. McVeigh.

September 2017
La naissance de la conscience dans l’effondrement de l’esprit bicaméral (the French edition of Julian Jaynes’s The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind) is now available for Kindle on all Amazon sites worldwide.

May 2017
The Why Factor: Why Do We Talk to Ourselves?
Includes discussion of Julian Jaynes’s theory with Julian Jaynes Society Executive Director Marcel Kuijsten.

April 2017
Der Ursprung des Bewusstseins durch den Zusammenbruch der Bikameralen Psyche (the German edition of Julian Jaynes’s The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind) is now available for Kindle on all Amazon sites worldwide.

January 2017
Celebrating the 10 Year Anniversary of our first book, Reflections on the Dawn of Consciousness.

December 2016
The Trippy Theory of Consciousness at the Heart of Westworld

October 2016
The Bicameral Mind Explains What’s Next for “Westworld”
Interview with Executive Director Marcel Kuijsten on Julian Jaynes’s Theory and Westworld.

Julian Jaynes’s The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind May Provide the Key to HBO’s Westworld

Why The Bicameral Mind Theory Is Crucial To Unlocking “Westworld”

July 2015
The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind Audible version is now available.

May 2014
Now available: The 2013 Julian Jaynes Society Conference on Consciousness and Bicameral Studies Audio CD.

December 2013
The Reflections on the Dawn of Consciousness Kindle Edition is now available on all Amazon sites worldwide.

November 2012
The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind Kindle Edition is now available.

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View in Browser                HOME    |    ABOUT    |    BLOG    |    LOGIN    |    JOIN Spring 2024 Dear Members and Friends of the Julian Jaynes Society, We have a number of exciting new developments to share with you since our last update: We’ve published the revised second edition of Reflections on the Dawn of Consciousness; We’ve launched “Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind,” the new Julian Jaynes Society podcast; Read “Incipient, Precomplex, Complex, and Latent Bicameral Mentality,” the latest blog post by Brian J. McVeigh; See the latest upcoming Jaynes-related events; Watch a Q&A session with Brian McVeigh on The Psychology of Ancient Egypt. Just released! The revised second edition of Reflections on the Dawn of Consciousness Read the book that reignited interest in Julian Jaynes’s theory worldwide, from Julian Jaynes Society Executive Director Marcel Kuijsten, now in the revised second edition. Available wherever books are sold! Learn More/Order Your Copy New JJS Podcast Listen to Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind: The Julian Jaynes Society Podcast, where each week we explore Julian Jaynes’s theory of the origin of consciousness and the bicameral mind. Subscribe to the podcast on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Audible, Pocket Casts, Spotify, or YouTube Music so you never miss an episode. Please leave a positive review, which will help others to discover it. Learn More New from the JJS Blog Incipient, Precomplex, Complex, and Latent Bicameral Mentality: Discontinuities and Continuities in Human Mentality by Brian J. McVeigh “What was very early prebicameral and bicameral mentality like? With what we now know about the breakdown of bipartite mentality and the transition to consciousness three millennia ago we can expand on some key issues. Jaynes only devoted a very brief account of the precursor to full-blown bicameral mentality, but we can at least hypothesize about what it was like. …” Read more JJS Blog Upcoming Events For those attending the Science of Consciousness conference this April in Tucson, Arizona, be sure to watch Steven Wingate, Professor of English and Interdisciplinary Studies at South Dakota State University, present “Implications of Julian Jaynes’s Consciousness Theory for the Origins of Musical Expression” on Wednesday, April 24th, 2024. For those attending the conference, we also recommend the lecture by Tanya Luhrmann, Professor of Anthropology at Stanford University, during the plenary session, “Consciousness in Religion and Altered States.” This will also be held on Wednesday April 24, from 2pm to 4:10pm. Learn More New for JJS Supporters Watch the 75-minute Q&A session with Brian McVeigh on his latest book, The Psychology of Ancient Egypt: Also, read a 9-page interview with Marcel Kuijsten on Jaynes’s theory and watch Part 1 of the Jaynes Workshop presented at the Toward A Science of Consciousness Conference. If you haven’t logged in recently, be sure to check out the many new Julian Jaynes lectures and interviews we’ve added this year. Log in or sign up to check out the latest Member Area updates. Not a member or did your membership lapse? Stay up-to-date with the latest content on Julian Jaynes’s theory while helping to support our mission by joining the Julian Jaynes Society. All memberships are tax-deductible contributions. We appreciate your support! Log in or Join Coming soon: • Rare video of Julian Jaynes presenting his theory to a sold-out audience in the theater at Kalamazoo College in Michigan, and • “Consciousness, Neuroimaging, and the Bicameral Mind,” my wide-ranging interview on Jaynes’s theory with neuroscientist and JJS Board Member Dr. Clive Svendsen. Sincerely, Marcel Kuijsten, Executive Director To make sure that you receive our messages, please add [email protected] to your contacts or safe list. About the Julian Jaynes Society    |    Contact Us © 1997-2023 Julian Jaynes Society | PO Box 778153 | Henderson, NV 89077-8153

Read the revised second edition of the book that reignited interest in Julian Jaynes’s theory worldwide, from Julian Jaynes Society Executive Director Marcel Kuijsten.

How old is consciousness? What is the relationship of consciousness and language? What is the origin of god beliefs and religion? Why do people hear voices that command their behavior? These are just a few of the fascinating questions posed by Princeton University psychologist Julian Jaynes’s influential and controversial theory and discussed in this book. A treasure trove of provocative ideas, Conversations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind explains, extends, clarifies, and presents the latest evidence for Jaynes’s theory in a series of highly engaging interviews with both voice-hearers and leading thinkers on the theory.

Praise for Reflections on the Dawn of Consciousness

“In this book Marcel Kuijsten and his colleagues have integrated a quintessential collection of original thoughts concerning Jaynes’s concepts as well as some of Jaynes’s original essays. I have rarely read a manuscript that so eloquently and elegantly examines a complex and pervasive phenomenon. The contributors of this volume have integrated the concepts of psychology, anthropology, archaeology, theology, philosophy, the history of science, and modern neuroscience with such clarity it should be considered an essential text for any student of human experience.” — From the Foreword by Dr. Michael A. Persinger, Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience, Biomolecular Sciences Program, Laurentian University

“Reflections on the Dawn of Consciousness is … an accessible re-introduction to Julian Jaynes, whose wondrous and wonderful The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind first brought to public awareness the ‘invisible mansion of all moods, musings, and mysteries … the introcosm’ that is consciousness.” — Richard M. Restak, Clinical Professor of Neurology George Washington Hospital University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, author of The Naked Brain and Mozart’s Brain and the Fighter Pilot

“Blending biography with analytical and critical discussions and evaluations, this volume presents a rounded picture of Jaynes as an individual and scholar, while not shrinking from controversial and difficult issues.” — Klaus J. Hansen, Professor Emeritus Dept. of History, Queen’s University, Ontario, author of Mormonism and the American Experience

“Reflections on the Dawn of Consciousness explains, extends, and expands many of Julian Jaynes’s most provocative ideas. For readers who finished The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind and wondered ‘What comes next?’, this collection provides answers. Gathering together both additional writings by Jaynes himself, along with thoughtful essays by scholars from a wide range of disciplines, the book both explores ways in which Jaynes’s thought can be applied in specific fields of study and serves as a testimony to the centrality of the issue of consciousness to all fields of intellectual endeavor. This worthy sequel to Jaynes’s original book has been a long time coming, but the wait has been worth it.” — Ted Remington, Assistant Professor, Department of English & Foreign Languages, The University of Saint Francis

“An indispensable resource for ideas on consciousness, religion, and theory of ancient civilizations. Includes various authors including some important but lesser known articles by Julian Jaynes himself. Interdisciplinary, insightful, provocative, in the original spirit of Jaynes’ seminal work, The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind, but goes well beyond mere support and evidence of that work. Contains profuse notes and bibliographies for each article.” — John Hainly, Dept. of Philosophy, Southern University

“… Offers insights into otherwise inexplicable aspects concerning the pharaoh Tutankhamun and dragon-motifs in Shang China … Jaynes’ theory merits in my view the reassessment by the scientific community urged in this volume.” — Ilkka Kallio, Statistics Finland, Helsinki, in the Journal of Consciousness Studies

“A book which … after 30 years and in light of new research and ideas, introduces again Jaynes’s theory to a scientific world that, now, may be ready to accept it.” — Roberto Bottini, Dept. of Human Sciences, University of Bergamo, Italy

“…Over the past three decades, a dozen or so scholars have gambled their reputations on the possibility that Jaynes may be right. Gathered in this volume, their research provides hard data in support of Jaynes’s claims. Like radio signals beamed back to Earth thousands of years in the future, such information holds the power to restore mystery and wonder to the world we thought we knew.” — Julie Kane, Associate Professor, Dept. of Language & Communication, Northwestern State University

“Anyone who has read Jaynes’s book should read Reflections on the Dawn of Consciousness for a greater appreciation of the work. Whether one agrees in whole or part, it is a testament to Jaynes’s research and work that this collection … either agrees with him in total or does not find a great deal to dispute concerning his theories. In the thirty years since Origin was released a great deal of research has in the main proven the man to be remarkably prescient.” — John Holt, in California Literary Review

“This is a beautifully arranged tribute to Jaynes with a broad mix of contributions about aspects of his theory. In new and convincing linguistic evidence, Chinese characters evolve in form and meaning as the ritual for accessing ancestral voices devolves from ‘serene’ personators to ‘frenzied’ shamans to ‘drunken revelry.’” —Carole Brooks Platt, Ph.D., author of In Their Right Minds: The Lives and Shared Practices of Poetic Geniuses

“Long awaited and worth the wait. … For three decades I have been enthralled by the ideas put forth in Julian Jaynes’s The Origin of Consciousness In the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind and have been waiting in vain (until now) for a follow-up volume. Reflections On the Dawn of Consciousness is a collection of incisive essays by Julian Jaynes himself and by others, commenting on and extending his previously published work.” — Bruce Trinque, Amston, CT

“A commendable follow-up to The Origin of Consciousness … Anyone fascinated and moved by Origin will find much of interest in this collection…” — Scott Driver, Tucson, AZ

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View in Browser                HOME    |    ABOUT    |    BLOG    |    LOGIN    |    JOIN Fall 2023 Dear Members and Friends of the Julian Jaynes Society, Please join us for our upcoming online event this Thursday, November 16th, and check out other recent Jaynes-related news: RSVP for our online event: “The Psychology of Ancient Egypt” – Interview and Discussion with Brian J. McVeigh “The Importance of Nailing Down the Basics” by Brian J. McVeigh Fact-checking Scott Alexanders’s “Slate Star Codex” review of Jaynes’s Origin A new, rare video of Julian Jaynes presenting his ideas to young students Online Event: The Psychology of Ancient Egypt Thursday, November 16th, 2023 4pm Pacific/7pm Eastern Join us for a 90-minute interview and Q&A session with Brian J. McVeigh on his latest book, The Psychology of Ancient Egypt: Reconstructing A Lost Mentality. We will be delving into many aspects of ancient Egypt that are relevant to Julian Jaynes’s theory. This online event will be held on Thursday, November 16th, 2023 at 4pm Pacific/7pm Eastern. The hour-long interview will be followed by a 30 minute question and answer session with the event participants. Free and open to the public (RSVP required). More Info/RSVP New from the JJS Blog The Importance of Nailing Down the Basics: Commentary on the Jaynes Theory Quizzes by Brian J. McVeigh “A word of thanks to all those who tested their knowledge of Julian Jaynes’s theory by taking the JJS Quizzes on Jaynes’s Theory. In an earlier blog, I made the point that a major deterrent to understanding Jaynes is the …” Read more JJS Blog JJS Fact Checks Fact Checking Scott Alexander’s Discussion of Julian Jaynes’s Theory on “Slate Star Codex” – Part 1 by Brian J. McVeigh “Scott Alexander begins his review of Jaynes’s The Origin of Consciousness with an odd opening. He describes it as “brilliant” and writes that it only has “two minor flaws”: It purports to explain the origin of consciousness and it “posits a breakdown of the bicameral mind.” …” Read more Fact Checking Scott Alexander’s Discussion of Julian Jaynes’s Theory on “Slate Star Codex” – Part 2 by Marcel Kuijsten “In June 2020, the psychiatrist and blogger Scott Alexander wrote a review of Julian Jaynes’s The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind for his popular “Slate Star Codex” blog. His discussion of Jaynes’s theory contains a number of misconceptions and errors, and I will attempt to clear those up here. …” Read more JJS Fact Checks New for JJS Supporters A rare video of Julian Jaynes presenting his ideas to a group of gifted students at the Talcott Mountain Science Center & Academy: If you haven’t logged in recently, be sure to check out the many new Julian Jaynes lectures and interviews we’ve added this year. Log in or sign up to check out the latest Member Area updates. Not a member or did your membership lapse? Stay up-to-date with the latest content on Julian Jaynes’s theory while helping to support our mission by joining the Julian Jaynes Society. All memberships are tax-deductible contributions. We appreciate your support! Log in or Join Coming soon: “Consciousness, Neuroimaging, and the Bicameral Mind,” my wide-ranging interview with neuroscientist and JJS Board Member Dr. Clive Svendsen. Stay tuned! Sincerely, Marcel Kuijsten, Executive Director To make sure that you receive our messages, please add [email protected] to your contacts or safe list. About the Julian Jaynes Society    |    Contact Us © 1997-2023 Julian Jaynes Society | PO Box 778153 | Henderson, NV 89077-8153

Join us for a 90-minute interview and Q&A session with Brian J. McVeigh on his latest book, The Psychology of Ancient Egypt: Reconstructing A Lost Mentality.

We will be delving into many aspects of ancient Egypt that are relevant to Julian Jaynes’s theory.

This online event will be held on Thursday, November 16th, 2023 at 4pm Pacific/7pm Eastern.

The hour-long interview will be followed by a 30 minute question and answer session with the event participants.

Free and open to the public (RSVP required).

More info and RSVP here: https://www.julianjaynes.org/event/the-psychology-of-ancient-egypt/

A Google Meet invitation with a link to join the event will be sent to all RSVPs.

Read The Psychology of Ancient Egypt: Reconstructing A Lost Mentality – on sale now.

To receive our monthly newsletter, please join our mailing list.

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View in Browser                HOME    |    ABOUT    |    BLOG    |    LOGIN    |    JOIN Summer 2023 Dear Members and Friends of the Julian Jaynes Society, We hope that you’re all enjoying a wonderful summer! We have a number of new items to share with you since our last update, including: “End of Summer” Reading Sale: Enjoy 10% off Conversations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind (ends August 31st) Stanford Anthropology Professor Tanya Luhrmann discusses Julian Jaynes’s theory “Consciousness as ‘Super-perception’” by Brian J. McVeigh Fact-checking Erik Hoel’s The World Behind the World Behind the scenes photos from the Jaynes documentary filming New, rare Julian Jaynes lectures and interviews “End of Summer” Reading Sale! Now through Thursday, August 31st, enjoy 10% off our latest book, Conversations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind on Amazon or the JJS website: Including in-depth interviews with Stanford anthropology professor Tanya Luhrmann, UC Berkeley psychology professor emeritus John Kihlstrom, and many others, this book answers the most common questions people have about Jaynes’s theory and extends the theory into many new areas. (If you live outside of the U.S., your best option is to purchase the book through your country’s Amazon website or via special order from your favorite bookstore.) If you’re already enjoyed the book, please help others discover it by writing a positive review on Amazon, Goodreads, or the Julian Jaynes Society website. Order Your Copy New JJS YouTube Videos Professor Tanya Luhrmann Hearing Voices, Sensed Presences, and Imagined “Others” Read the full interview in Conversations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind Plus Professor John Schedel, “Julian Jaynes and Owen Barfield on the Origins, Nature, and Trajectory of Consciousness,” and more! Watch on YouTube New from the JJS Blog Consciousness as “Super-perception”: Like Technological Innovations and Linguistic Coinages, Consciousness Greatly Extends Our Senses, Increasing Adaptability by Brian J. McVeigh “People commonly confuse and conflate sensory perception with Jaynesian consciousness. Indeed, this is why in much of my writing I have stressed their distinction. However, here I argue that despite their important differences, they are nevertheless intimately related. …” Read more JJS Blog JJS Fact Check Fact Checking Erik Hoel’s The World behind the World: Consciousness, Free Will, and the Limits of Science by Brian J. McVeigh “In the second chapter of The World behind the World: Consciousness, Free Will, and the Limits of Science, Erik Hoel briefly treats the historical development of what he calls the “intrinsic perspective” (mental experiences). In doing so he brings up the contributions of Julian Jaynes but dismisses his theories. Whatever value the arguments of Hoel’s book might have, he greatly distorts and misrepresents the Jaynesian perspective. …” Read more JJS Blog Jaynes Documentary Production: Behind-the-Scenes Photos The Julian Jaynes Society’s Marcel Kuijsten and filmmaker Brendan Leahy filming an interview with Dr. Clive Svendsen for a potential Julian Jaynes documentary at the Regenerative Medicine Institute at Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles. Stay tuned for additional updates and behind-the-scenes footage! New for JJS Supporters A rare Julian Jaynes video lecture and a radio interview with Julian Jaynes: Plus Paul Evans, “Julian Jaynes, the Noosphere, Altered States and Consciousness Evolution,” and more! Log in or sign up to check out the latest Member Area updates. Not a member or did your membership lapse? Stay up-to-date with the latest content on Julian Jaynes’s theory while helping to support our mission by joining the Julian Jaynes Society. All memberships are tax-deductible contributions. We appreciate your support! Log in or Join Coming later this year: More new audio and video of Julian Jaynes, new interviews on Julian Jaynes’s theory, video from 4-hour 2008 Tuscon Consciousness conference workshop on Jaynes’s theory, and much more. Stay tuned! Sincerely, Marcel Kuijsten, Executive Director To make sure that you receive our messages, please add [email protected] to your contacts or safe list. About the Julian Jaynes Society    |    Contact Us © 1997-2023 Julian Jaynes Society | PO Box 778153 | Henderson, NV 89077-8153

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View in Browser                HOME    |    ABOUT    |    BLOG    |    LOGIN    |    JOIN Spring 2023 Dear Members and Friends of the Julian Jaynes Society, We have a number of new items to share with you since our last update, including: Memorial Day Sale: Enjoy 20% off Conversations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind now through Monday! A new blog post by Brian McVeigh New YouTube preview videos from the Julian Jaynes Society conference A new, rare Julian Jaynes video lecture on hearing voices A new radio interview with Julian Jaynes Memorial Day Sale! Now through Monday, May 29th, enjoy 20% off our latest book, Conversations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind when you order from the JJS website: Including in-depth interviews with Stanford anthropology professor Tanya Luhrmann, UC Berkeley psychology professor emeritus John Kihlstrom, and many others, this book answers the most common questions people have about Jaynes’s theory and extends the theory into many new areas. (If you live outside of the U.S., your best option is still to purchase the book through your country’s Amazon website or via special order from your favorite bookstore.) If you’re already enjoyed the book, please help others discover it by writing a positive review on Amazon, Goodreads, or the Julian Jaynes Society website. Order Your Copy New from the JJS Blog Consciousness Is More “Nurture” than “Nature”: But Like a Massive Planet, the Gravitational Pull of the Word “Consciousness” Drags our Thinking in the Wrong Direction, Warping Scientific Analysis by Brian J. McVeigh “The nature-versus-nurture debate has framed discussions about the origins of mind for centuries: Is it innate or acquired? Has it biologically evolved or is it better understood as the product of historical development? To what degree is it learned? To be more specific, what about consciousness, understood here as one aspect of mind? …” Read more JJS Blog New JJS YouTube Videos Professor Roy Baumeister The Why, What, and How of Human Consciousness Marcel Kuijsten The Gods of Mesopotamia and the Presentist Fallacy Plus Eric Alexander La Freniere, Malcolm David Lowe, and more! Watch on YouTube New for JJS Members A new, rare Julian Jaynes video lecture and a Julian Jaynes radio interview: Log in or sign up to check out the latest Member Area updates. Not a member or did your membership lapse? Gain access to original content on Julian Jaynes’s theory while helping to support our mission by joining the Julian Jaynes Society. All memberships are tax-deductible contributions. We appreciate your support! Log in or Join Coming later this year: More new audio and video of Julian Jaynes, an interview with voice-hearer Carla Woody, video from 4-hour 2008 Tuscon Consciousness conference workshop on Jaynes’s theory, online events, and more. Stay tuned! Sincerely, Marcel Kuijsten, Executive Director To make sure that you receive our messages, please add [email protected] to your contacts or safe list. About the Julian Jaynes Society    |    Contact Us © 1997-2023 Julian Jaynes Society | PO Box 778153 | Henderson, NV 89077-8153

Two years in the making, Conversations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind: Interviews with Leading Thinkers on Julian Jaynes’s Theory is now available!

How old is consciousness? What is the relationship of consciousness and language? What is the origin of god beliefs and religion? Why do people hear voices that command their behavior? These are just a few of the fascinating questions posed by Princeton University psychologist Julian Jaynes’s influential and controversial theory and discussed in this book. A treasure trove of provocative ideas, Conversations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind explains, extends, clarifies, and presents the latest evidence for Jaynes’s theory in a series of highly engaging interviews with both voice-hearers and leading thinkers on the theory.

Advanced Praise for Conversations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind

“Julian Jaynes was my teacher in the early 1960s. … Much psychological science since then points to the possibility that he was right. Right about consciousness, right about ancient history, right about evolution, right about language, even right about Homer. This volume begins to close the gap, bringing Jaynes’s brilliance to the attention and appreciation of the contemporary public.”
— Martin Seligman, Professor of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, and author of The Hope Circuit and Learned Optimism

“… A marvel of collective scholarship across multiple disciplines. … In this book, you will hear the voices of the most open-minded scholars of our generation.”
— William R. Woodward, Professor of Psychology, The University of New Hampshire, and author of Hermann Lotze: An Intellectual Biography

“Rich with ideas and fertile speculations, this outstanding collection of expert interviews advances the revolutionary work of the psychologist Julian Jaynes.”
— Richard Rhodes, Historian and Pulitzer Prize Laureate for The Making of the Atomic Bomb

“… It is time for a new generation of … deep thinkers at the heart of every discipline to rediscover Julian Jaynes’s tantalizing hypotheses concerning the origin and nature of human consciousness. This collection of interviews … will enable contemporary readers to understand why Jaynes’s style of inquiry remains as captivating and compelling as ever — and as provocative and controversial. Reader: take the plunge, and join the conversation!”
— Christian Y. Dupont, Ph.D., Associate University Librarian for Collections and Burns Librarian, Boston College, and author of Phenomenology in French Philosophy: Early Encounters

“… Conversations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind helps us understand humanity’s development of consciousness over millennia, as well as how we learn it in our first years of life.”
— Loretta Graziano Breuning, Ph.D., author of Habits of a Happy Brain, The Science of Positivity, and Status Games

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View in Browser                HOME    |    ABOUT    |    BLOG    |    LOGIN    |    JOIN November/December 2022 Dear Members and Friends of the Julian Jaynes Society, We hope that you all had an enjoyable holiday! We’ve been keeping busy since the release of our latest book last August and we have a number of new items to share with you: New Book Reviews A big thank you to Dr. Louis Arnoux and Michael R. Jacobs for their recent reviews of Conversations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind: I read Conversations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind … with great delight. “… The material in Conversations is rich in detail and a great way to assist people to understand better each of [Jaynes’] core elements of theorising. The interviewers show great patience and a depth of understanding of the issues in play, and the interviewees demonstrate the abundance of research that has taken place over the last four decades that corroborate and refine Jaynes’ early insights. … We are greatly indebted to Julian Jaynes’ insights … and to Marcel Kuijsten for these interviews that demonstrate so well how alive, rich and extensive is the field opened up by Jaynes.” — Dr. Louis Arnoux, Managing Director, Fourth Transition Ltd. Endlessly fascinating, scintillating with insight and intelligence. “This book has been endlessly fascinating, scintillating with insight and intelligence. As someone who has been ruminating on Jaynes for the past two decades it was surprisingly refreshing to find a collection of not essays, but a more easily digestible format — conversations — that clarify and expand upon this complex and often misunderstood/dismissed theory. Like a kaleidoscope, each chapter looks at the matters at hand through a different lens, with experts in different fields. For example, from a rhetorician’s perspective the creative potential of metaphor is highlighted, along with definitive insights about hallucination and ideology. Other outstanding chapters examine the vestiges of the bicameral mind through firsthand accounts of voice-hearers and TLE visionaries, all of them notably articulate. There are in-depth spelunks into the territories of child-development, imaginary friends, hypnosis, theory of mind, linguistics, psychology, history, Tibetan studies, religion, and philosophy. Kuijsten is a careful, diplomatic communicator who remains respectful and Socratic in debate, negotiating and adjusting perspectives wherever there are divergences in research or outlook. It is clear the intention here is an honest inquiry to further understanding, rather than a rigid imposition of ideas.” — Michael R. Jacobs, “Self-Portraits As Other People” podcast Whether you are new to Jaynes’s ideas or have been learning about them for many years, Conversations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind has something for everyone. It is now available from the Julian Jaynes Society, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and via special order from most bookstores. If you’re already enjoyed the book, please help others discover it by writing a positive review on Amazon, Goodreads, or the Julian Jaynes Society website. Order Your Copy New from the Julian Jaynes Society blog, read the latest post from Brian J. McVeigh: Falling between the Cracks: Jaynes’s Defiance of Scholarly Conventions Challenged Cherished Methodological Assumptions — This Is What Makes Him Hard to Appreciate “Academics make progress when they are inspired by the cross-pollination of ideas, and most researchers, arguably, utilize a multi-disciplinary approach to some degree, i.e., no piece of research fits perfectly into one scholarly field …” Read more JJS Blog New from the Julian Jaynes Society YouTube channel: Q&A Session on “Conversations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind” Part 1 Gregory Conrow: An Encounter of Julian Jaynes and Jacques Derrida: Consciousness, Divine Voice and Writing Watch on YouTube The Julian Jaynes Society welcomes Professor Ulrich Schädler to the Science Advisory Board: Ulrich Schädler, Ph.D. Professor, Dept. of Art History and Archaeology, University of Fribourg, Switzerland, and Director of the Swiss Museum of Games, La Tour-de-Peilz Ulrich Schädler teaches Greek and Roman Archaeology. He published mainly about Greek architecture and Graeco-Roman sculpture. For more than thirty years his research interests and publications have concentrated on the history of games, including ancient Greek and Roman games, Chess, Backgammon, and the culture of play and games in the Middle Ages and 18th and 19th centuries. He is co-founder of the International Society for Board Game Studies (see the Board Game Studies Journal and the annual BGS colloquium), co-editor of the publication series “Ludographie” (with Rainer Buland), co-editor (with Véronique Dasen) of the newly founded series “Locus Ludi,” and member of the scientific council of “Game in Lab” (Paris). From 2017 to 2022, he collaborated as senior researcher with Véronique Dasen in the research project “Locus Ludi: The Cultural Fabric of Play and Games in Classical Antiquity,” financed by a grant from the European Research Council. His interest in Julian Jaynes was stimulated by Jaynes’s investigations into the behavior of the Homeric heroes. He is currently working on a study of the relationship of early board games to Jaynes’s theory. About the Society New for members, Parts 1-6 of our recent Q&A session! Log in or sign up to check out the latest Member Area updates: Coming soon: Parts 7 & 8 Not a member or did your membership lapse? Gain access to original content on Julian Jaynes’s theory while helping to support our mission by joining the Julian Jaynes Society. All memberships are tax-deductible contributions. We appreciate your support! Log in or Join Have a wonderful New Year and please stay tuned for our next online event in Spring 2023! Sincerely, Marcel Kuijsten, Executive Director To make sure that you receive our messages, please add [email protected] to your contacts or safe list. About the Julian Jaynes Society    |    Contact Us © 1997-2022 Julian Jaynes Society | PO Box 778153 | Henderson, NV 89077-8153

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View in Browser                HOME    |    ABOUT    |    BLOG    |    LOGIN    |    JOIN September/October 2022 Dear Members and Friends of the Julian Jaynes Society, We have a number of new items to tell you about: We will be hosting a free, online 90-minute Q&A on Julian Jaynes’s theory plus Conversations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind book discussion on Saturday, November 5th at 1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern. Boban Dedovic, Marcel Kuijsten, Brian McVeigh, Ted Remington, Bill Rowe, Jan Sleutels, and Laurence Sugarman will do their best to answer all of your questions about Jaynes’s theory or the new book. The event is free and open to everyone, but an RSVP is required. If you don’t have a webcam or microphone, you can type your questions in the chat. Learn more/RSVP: Q&A on Julian Jaynes’s Theory plus Conversations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind Book Discussion After reading Jaynes’s book people often have many questions, for instance: – How does Jaynes’s theory apply to child development? – Do recent studies in neuroscience support Jaynes’s neurological model? – What are some the critiques of the theory and how have they been countered? – Do studies of modern voice hearers support Jaynes’s theory? – Has evidence for bicameral mentality been discovered in other cultures? – How did bicameral people construct the pyramids and other ancient structures? In our latest book, Conversations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind: Interviews with Leading Thinkers on Julian Jaynes’s Theory, we attempt to answer these any many other questions about Jaynes’s theory, present the latest evidence, and extend the theory into new areas. Whether you are new to Jaynes’s ideas or have been learning about them for many years, Conversations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind has something for everyone. It is now available from the Julian Jaynes Society, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and via special order from most bookstores. A big thank you to everyone that has already ordered the book, as well as to Dr. Phillip Kent, Patrick Garner, Patricia P., Philip Ardery, Gian Anello, and Julie D. for being among the first to post 5-star reviews. If you’re already enjoyed the book, please help others discover it by writing a positive review on Amazon, Goodreads, or the Julian Jaynes Society website. Order Your Copy New from the Julian Jaynes Society YouTube channel: Julian Jaynes Interviewed on Hearing Voices WHDH Boston Radio, Boston, MA May 14, 1989 Listen on YouTube Listen to the latest interview on Julian Jaynes’s theory, from the “Self Portraits As Other People” podcast: Julian Jaynes and the Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind (EP 25) New from the Julian Jaynes Society blog, read the latest post from Brian J. McVeigh: The Myth of “Pure Consciousness”: The Belief in a Fundamental Psychic Process Hinders Progress in Psychology “I have often wondered why so many well-credentialed researchers continue to bark up the wrong tree in their quest to understand consciousness. Many reasons could be offered, but in a recent discussion …” Read more JJS Blog New for members! Log in or sign up to check out the latest Member Area updates: Julian Jaynes – A Service in Celebration of His Life First Unitarian Society, West Newton, MA May 2, 1998 Includes commentary by Prof. Marcia Johnson, Prof. Don B. Rubin, Prof. William R. Woodward, Prof. Sam Glucksberg, Jim Beardsley, Walter Tower, and other friends of Julian Jaynes. Not a member or did your membership lapse? Gain access to original content on Julian Jaynes’s theory while helping to support our mission by joining the Julian Jaynes Society. All memberships are tax-deductible contributions. We appreciate your support! Log in or Join We hope to see you at our online event November 5th! Sign-up now as space is limited. Sincerely, Marcel Kuijsten, Executive Director To make sure that you receive our messages, please add [email protected] to your contacts or safe list. About the Julian Jaynes Society    |    Contact Us © 1997-2022 Julian Jaynes Society | PO Box 778153 | Henderson, NV 89077-8153