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In Search of Now

The Science and Mystery of the Present Moment

Jo Marchant

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$36.99

Paperback

Forthcoming
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English
Canongate
26 May 2026
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'A superb, illuminating book that will change the way you think about the present moment' - CLAUDIA HAMMOND

We all feel we live in the present moment, but what does 'now' really mean?

According to Einstein's theory of relativity there is no meaningful difference between past and future; no moment of happening out in the universe. But then what becomes of free will? Is choice an illusion? Or has physics left something essential out of the equation?

Combining the latest research from neuroscience, psychology and physics, In Search of Now bridges mind and matter to rescue 'now' as the fundamental ingredient of existence, revealing how, moment by moment, we each carve out our lived experience - sensations and emotions, actions and decisions - through our interactions with the world.

Join Jo Marchant as she tackles questions of time, self, consciousness and reality - exploring the secrets of how our lives really unfold.

'Original, gripping and perspective-smashing. Jo Marchant is up there with our greatest science writers' - WILL STORR
By:  
Imprint:   Canongate
Country of Publication:   United Kingdom
Edition:   Export/Airside - Export/Airside/Ireland
Dimensions:   Height: 234mm,  Width: 153mm,  Spine: 25mm
Weight:   426g
ISBN:   9781838858742
ISBN 10:   1838858741
Pages:   336
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  ELT Advanced ,  Primary
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming

Dr Jo Marchant is an award-winning science journalist whose writing explores our place in the universe, from the mind-body connection to the inspirational power of the night sky. Her other books include Decoding the Heavens, The Human Cosmos, and the New York Times bestseller Cure: A journey into the science of mind over body, which was shortlisted for the Royal Society Prize for Science Books and longlisted for the Wellcome Book Prize. She presented the acclaimed BBC Radio 4 series More Wow, investigating the life-changing emotion of awe. She has worked as a senior editor at New Scientist and Nature, and her articles have appeared in publications including Smithsonian, the Guardian, Economist and New York Times. She has a PhD in genetics. @JoMarchant | jomarchant.com

Reviews for In Search of Now: The Science and Mystery of the Present Moment

Praise for Jo Marchant: '[Marchant] has chosen very moving characters to show us the importance of the research . . . and she has an equal flair for finding inspirational figures . . . the studies are irresistible * * New York Times * * This is popular science writing at its very best -- HENRY MARSH Marchant's vast and fascinating story packs in plenty of human detail . . . inspiring and persuasive * * Guardian * * Jo Marchant makes her case so cogently that it is hard to disagree [with her] . . . The author has a gift for writing that is both clear and vivid, and communicates complex ideas in a way that is comprehensible and uncondescending * * Independent * * Vast in scope and meticulously researched, this brilliant book [ . . . ] will make you question your reality. It left me starstruck -- GAIA VINCE A thought-provoking look at how fascination with the heavens has shaped human culture, and still does * * Economist * * A well-researched page-turner . . . may very well lead to widespread changes -- SUSANNAH CAHALAN [Marchant] surveys with grace what we think we know and what we would like to know * * Guardian * * [A] thought-provoking book . . . some remarkable findings, which Marchant analyses with elegance and lucidity . . .turns the mind-body debate on its head * * Times Literary Supplement * *


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