What is consciousness? How do physical processes in the brain give rise to the self-aware mind and to feelings as profoundly varied as love or hate, aesthetic pleasure or spiritual yearning? These questions today are some of the most hotly debated issues among scientists and philosophers. Now, in his book “The Conscious Mind”, philosopher David Chalmers offers an analysis of this heated debate as he unveils a major new theory of consciousness, one that rejects the prevailing reductionist trend of science, while offering provocative insights into the relationship between mind and brain. Taking us on a tour through the philosophical ramifications of consciousness, Chalmers reveals how contemporary cognitive science and neurobiology have failed to explain how and why mental events emerge from physiological occurrences in the brain. He proposes instead that conscious experience must be understood in an entirely new light--as an irreducible entity that exists at a fundamental level and cannot be understood as the sum of its parts. And after suggesting some intriguing possibilities about the structure and laws of conscious experience, he details how his unique reinterpretation of the mind could be the focus of a new science. Originally published in April of 2019. Visit http://g.co/TalksAtGoogle/Consciousness to watch the video.

Dr. Pooja Lakshmin visits Google to discuss her book “Real Self-Care: A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness”. The book provides a step-by-step guide towards real, sustainable change, using case studies from Dr. Pooja’s practice and clinical research. You may have noticed that it’s nearly impossible to avoid the term “self-care”. That phrase encompasses any number of lifestyle choices and products—from juice cleanses to yoga workshops to luxury bamboo sheets—self-care has exploded in our collective consciousness as a panacea for practically all of women’s problems. Psychiatrist Dr. Pooja Lakshmin finds this cultural embrace of self-care incomplete at best and manipulative at worst. Fixing your troubles isn't as simple as buying a new day planner or signing up for a meditation class. These false self-care practices keep us looking outward, leading us to compare ourselves with others or striving for a certain type of perfection. Even worse, they exonerate an oppressive social system that has betrayed women and minorities. Real self-care, in contrast, is an internal, self-reflective process that involves making difficult decisions in line with our values - and when we practice it, we shift our relationships, our workplaces, and even our broken systems. In “Real Self-Care”, Lakshmin helps readers understand what a real practice of caring for yourself could—and does—look like. Packed with actionable strategies to deal with common problems, “Real Self-Care” is a complete roadmap for women to set boundaries and move past guilt, treat themselves with compassion, get closer to themselves, and assert their power. The result—having ownership over one’s own life— is nothing less than a personal and social revolution. Visit http://g.co/TalksAtGoogle/RealSelfCare to watch the video.

Guitarist Nita Strauss visits Google to discuss her life on the road as a touring musician. Los Angeles-born guitarist Nita Strauss has become a force to be reckoned with in the music world, dazzling audiences across the US, UK, Europe, South America, Asia, Australia and Africa, and sharing the stage with a diverse range of artists including legendary R&B star Jermaine Jackson, early MTV darlings Femme Fatale, shock rock pioneer Alice Cooper, and popular tribute band The Iron Maidens. Her skill, exuberant stage presence, and love for all things about her instrument have earned her a stellar reputation and endorsements from many top companies. When she isn’t touring, Nita has been featured in many worldwide print ads and on dozens of albums, trailers, and soundtracks. Originally published in March of 2017. Visit http://g.co/TalksAtGoogle/OnTheRoad to watch the video.

Claire Hughes Johnson, former COO and current corporate officer and adviser at Stripe, visits Google to discuss her new book, “Scaling People: Tactics for Management and Company Building.” A leader at both Google and Stripe from their early days, Claire Hughes Johnson has worked with founders and company builders to try to replicate their success. The most common questions she's asked are not about business strategy--they're about how to scale the operating structures and people systems of a rapidly growing startup. Scaling People is a practical and empathetic guide to being an effective leader and manager in a high-growth environment. The tactical information it puts forward--including guidance on crafting foundational documents, strategic and financial planning, hiring and team development, and feedback and performance mechanisms--can be applied to companies of any size, in any industry. Scaling People includes dozens of pages of worksheets, templates, exercises, and example documents to help founders, leaders, and company builders create scalable operating systems and lightweight processes that really work. Implementing effective leadership and management practices takes effort and discipline, but the reward is a sustainable, scalable company that's set up for long-term success. Scaling People is a detailed roadmap for company builders to put the right operating systems and structures in place to scale the most important resource a company has: its people. Visit http://g.co/TalksAtGoogle/ScalingPeople to watch the video.

Robert Reich visits Google to discuss the impact of automation & artificial intelligence on our economy. He also provides a recommendation on how we can ensure future technologies benefit the entire economy, not just those at the top. Robert Reich is the Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley and Senior Fellow at the Blum Center for Developing Economies. He served as Secretary of Labor in the Clinton administration, for which Time Magazine named him one of the ten most effective cabinet secretaries of the twentieth century. He is also a founding editor of the American Prospect magazine, chairman of Common Cause, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, co-founder of the nonprofit Inequality Media, and co-creator of the award-winning documentary, Inequality for All. Originally published in February of 2017. Visit http://g.co/TalksAtGoogle/AIEconomy to watch the video.