"Conversations on Consciousness" offers an easily understandable overview of the entire spectrum of contemporary consciousness research, supplemented by a glossary of terms that highlights all its fascinating and controversial theoretical details. David Chalmers explains why consciousness is such a difficult problem, while Susan Greenfield discusses what we can learn about free will from Sophocles and Euripides. Francisco Varela talks about zombies, Roger Penrose about John Searle, and Searle about Immanuel Kant. We learn from Vilayanur Ramachandran why he does not meditate, and from Thomas Metzinger how the conscious self is an illusion. The book also provides a very personal insight into the passionate thinking of the leading researchers in this field.