{"id":198,"date":"2019-11-12T16:35:28","date_gmt":"2019-11-12T16:35:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/?page_id=198"},"modified":"2025-10-28T14:11:01","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T14:11:01","slug":"the-self-delusion","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/the-self-delusion\/","title":{"rendered":"The SELF DELUSION"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-198\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-198-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-198-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-198-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p><em><strong>'Fascinating\u2019\u00a0 \u00a0- DAILY MAIL\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u2018Thought-provoking\u2019\u00a0 - THE TIMES\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 'Intriguing' - NATURE;\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>'This book is absolutely fantastic'\u00a0 -\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0'Timely and challenging' - THE GUARDIAN<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Professor Tom Oliver has written a new book,\u00a0<em>The Self Delusion<\/em>, which explores how people, animals, plants and the planet we live on are all intimately connected \u2013 and why that matters.<\/p>\n<p>The critically acclaimed book has received widespread coverage in The Times, Guardian, Telegraph, Daily Mail, Business Post, <i>Nature <\/i>magazine, The Geographical, New Humanist, and The Tablet. See below for testimonials.<\/p>\n<p>Here Professor Tom Oliver introduces his new book:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Tom Oliver, The Self Delusion\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/54Fxv3X-_P4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Read on to find how connected you are...<\/strong><\/p>\n<h4><b>About the book:<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><b><\/b>We like to believe that we exist as independent selves at the centre of a subjective universe; that we are discrete individuals acting autonomously in the world with an unchanging inner self that persists throughout our lifetime.<\/p>\n<p>This is an illusion.<\/p>\n<p>On a physical, psychological and cultural level, we are all much more intertwined than we know: we cannot use our bodies to define our independent existence because most of our 37 trillion cells have such a short lifespan that we are essentially made anew every few weeks; the molecules that make up our bodies have already been component parts of countless other organisms, from ancient plants to dinosaurs; we are more than half non-human, in the form of bacteria, fungi and viruses, whose genes influence our moods and even manipulate our behaviour; and we cannot define ourselves by our minds, thoughts and actions, because these mainly originate from other people - the result of memes passing between us, existing before, after and beyond our own lifespans.<\/p>\n<p>Professor of Ecology <a href=\"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/tom-oliver\/\">Tom Oliver<\/a> makes the compelling argument that although this illusion of individualism has helped us to succeed as a species, tackling the big global challenges ahead now relies on our seeing beyond this mindset and understanding the complex connections between us. THE SELF DELUSION is an explosive, powerful and inspiring book that brings to life the overwhelming evidence contradicting the perception we have of ourselves as independent beings - and why understanding this may well be the key to a better future.<\/p>\n<p>Read a full book review in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/books\/2020\/jan\/18\/the-self-delusion-tom-oliver-review\">The Guardian<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Other media reviews<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>'Consciousness is one of the greatest of scientific mysteries<strong> . . . <\/strong>Fascinating' <strong>Mail on Sunday<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2018<\/strong>Moving through difficult science with valuable clarity...a timely, challenging book.\u2019 <strong>The Guardian<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u2018...several impor\u00adtant messages, many of which need to be\u00a0more widely understood; it is a thought\u00ad provoking and worthwhile read.\u2019 <strong>The Times<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cInterweaving the natural sciences with case studies from neuroscience and psychology, THE SELF DELUSION assembles a compelling thesis\u2026. It's easy to see why [Oliver] has won awards for communicating science to a general audience.\u201c <strong>Sunday Business Post, Ireland<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\"A vision of a connected society \u2014 one that is conscious of its dependency on nature \u2014 is a glistening beacon in a gloomy ecological present. In an era that will be defined by its planetary action, Oliver\u2019s argument is timely and thorough.\" <strong>\u00a0 The Geographical<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cHeraclitus famously said that no man can step in the same river twice. Oliver has the science to back up the philosophy.\u201d <strong>The Tablet<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u2018a rigorous ode to interdependence rooted as firmly in science as in spirituality\u2019\u00a0 <strong>Resurgence<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Humans are less discrete entities than mash-ups of microbiota and shifting beliefs, declares ecologist Tom Oliver in this rich, intriguing book. We are, he shows, so interfused with the environment that all life might be seen as a web of genes, and all minds a web of memes. Oliver reframes the self as a fleeting union of molecules, a target for manipulation by parasites, a cooperative co-creator who is also destroying the biosphere. But by recognizing our connectedness, he argues, we enable needed societal and environmental change, <em><strong>NATURE<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>If there was ever a book that connected us to current world it\u2019s this one. From how our bodies are made, the life of bacteria and its transmission between us, to how we create identity and what that means, and our connection and relationship to the natural world. Tom Oliver takes us on a revealing and important journey. <b>Alan Moore, author \u201c<i>Do Design. Why beauty is key to everything\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p>The Self Delusion is a captivating and important book. Oliver presents an eye-opening scientific and philosophical discussion about the illusion of self and the tragic errors that stem from excessive self-centeredness.<strong> Bill Sullivan, author \"<i>Pleased To Meet Me: Genes, Germs<\/i><em> and<\/em> <i>The Curious Forces That Make Us Who We Are\"<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Professor Oliver\u2019s breadth of knowledge and creativity of thinking are impressive, and his book makes you want to continue the conversation with him and the world. We are all connected and it matters.<strong> Minna Hartikainen, Royal Society of Biology<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-565\" src=\"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/148\/2022\/04\/Infographic-212x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"192\" height=\"272\" srcset=\"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/148\/2022\/04\/Infographic-212x300.png 212w, https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/148\/2022\/04\/Infographic.png 602w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 192px) 100vw, 192px\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Infographic of ideas in the book. Click <a href=\"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/148\/2022\/04\/Infographic.png\">here<\/a> for high res version (feel free to share)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Advance reviews:<\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u2018<strong>THE SELF DELUSION<\/strong> is a book of wonders. It articulately explores the infinite web of connection that humans have with one another, as well as with those that lived before them and those yet to be born. But Oliver also takes us beyond the body to tease out our many connections with the world around us and far, far beyond it. How can we really be individuals when trillions of atoms from the farthest reaches of the galaxy can be found in our bodies? A timely, fascinating and quite brilliant book\u2019 <strong>Vybarr Cregan-Reid, author of <em>Primate Change<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u2018As a recovering individualist, I need to be reminded of the dangers of the self delusion and the benefits of dispelling it, and this book is a fascinating and compelling presentation of the scientific evidence\u2019 <strong>Michael Foley, author of <em>The Age of Absurdity<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u2018As Tom Oliver takes us through this enlightening tour of our interconnectedness, from microscopic interactions to our collective cultural mind, he mercilessly dissects the very notion that our cherished individuality exists at all. Entertaining and thought-provoking, this book offers an urgently needed revaluation of our place in the world and what the next steps in our evolution might be\u2019 <strong>Nathan H. Lents, author of <em>Human Errors<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u2018Until you've read Tom Oliver's delightful <strong>THE SELF DELUSION<\/strong> you'll never have guessed that, from the ground up, you and your self-identity are constructions, built like an Arcimboldo painting, but of cells from many sources, neurons, ideas and finally connections to others. Read this book for a compelling way of thinking about how and why the 'you' that you see when you look inside yourself arises, and its place in the universe\u2019 <strong>Mark Pagel, author of <em>Wired For Culture<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u2018Tom Oliver tells a compelling story, firmly rooted in biological evidence, that will make you think differently about yourself and your relationship with the world around you\u2019 <strong>Sir Prof. Ian Boyd, Chief Scientific Advisor, UK Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (2012-2019)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Amazon reviews:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cA transformational book! This is one of the most profound and beautifully written books I've read\u201d <strong>Steven D'Souza, UK, Author of 'Not Being'<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne of my favourite reads of all time\u201d <strong>Kyle, Australia<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI plan to give copies to my children with the hope that it makes their lives better\u201d, <strong>Cheryl Lesar, USA<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Book launch video (c. 20 mins; Waterstones, Reading, 23rd Jan 2020):<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Tom Oliver book launch Talk v1\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/U0IIvK088YM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Interested to hear more? Here are some questions and answers following the talk:<\/p>\n<p>Q1. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=r4dUG82FJsg&amp;list=PLHOrIIAFd2EwnJ3R2wZv08dv7EH-Sge1D&amp;index=2&amp;t=0s\">Why is the illusion of our individuality so convincing?<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Q2. <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/hWNi8RtN12A\">How is the digital era affecting our self identity?<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Q3. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=CdU7nAvPpdw&amp;list=PLHOrIIAFd2EwnJ3R2wZv08dv7EH-Sge1D&amp;index=3\">Is the idea of connectedness like a new religion?<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Q4. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=BUxNMmDUGoo&amp;list=PLHOrIIAFd2EwnJ3R2wZv08dv7EH-Sge1D&amp;index=4\">How can we develop our sense of connectedness?<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Public lecture at the University of Reading (c. 1 hour)\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Self Delusion | University of Reading Public Lecture\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HrZsojejs9o?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Euronews interview relating ideas in the book to interlinked global crises (3mins)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Tom Oliver Euronews Tonight - interlinked global crises\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Q63d7e1cIso?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-198-0-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-198-0-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"1\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p><strong>Purchase the book at <a href=\"https:\/\/blackwells.co.uk\/bookshop\/product\/The-Self-Delusion-by-Tom-Oliver-author\/9781474611749\">Blackwells<\/a> , <a href=\"https:\/\/www.waterstones.com\/book\/the-self-delusion\/tom-oliver\/9781474611749\">Waterstones <\/a><\/strong><strong>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Self-Delusion-Surprising-Science-Connection\/dp\/1474611761\/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=1586807119&amp;sr=8-1\">Amazon, <\/a>from your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booksellers.org.uk\/bookshopsearch\">local bookstore <\/a>or get the audiobook <a href=\"https:\/\/www.audible.co.uk\/pd\/The-Self-Delusion-Audiobook\/1409188639\">here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Recent events\/news<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DPJ4Jr1DyuK\/\">Painting<\/a> inspired by the Self Delusion! - Sept 2025<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/148\/2025\/04\/Biodiversity-MAG-12-Tom-1.pdf\">Interview<\/a> for Biodiversity Mag - Dec 2024<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wienerzeitung.at\/a\/liegt-fremdenfeindlichkeit-in-unserer-dna\">Is xenophobia in our DNA?<\/a>- Weiner Zeitung (German) 17th Sept 24<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/septembersong.info\/re-connection\/\">SeptemberSong Festival<\/a> Oxfordshire, UK- 14th Sept, 2023<\/p>\n<p>Euromarine Foresight Webinar (Ocean sciences, arts and philosophy), video <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCwvhj_aTy2-GE_Nlbx1Vscw\">here<\/a>, 18th Sept, 2023<\/p>\n<p>Cafe Scientifique, Wallingford, UK - 5th Sept 2023<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-624\" src=\"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/148\/2023\/03\/Your-Energy-Low-Res-COVER-1-2048x2048-1-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"155\" height=\"155\" srcset=\"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/148\/2023\/03\/Your-Energy-Low-Res-COVER-1-2048x2048-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/148\/2023\/03\/Your-Energy-Low-Res-COVER-1-2048x2048-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/148\/2023\/03\/Your-Energy-Low-Res-COVER-1-2048x2048-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/148\/2023\/03\/Your-Energy-Low-Res-COVER-1-2048x2048-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/148\/2023\/03\/Your-Energy-Low-Res-COVER-1-2048x2048-1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/148\/2023\/03\/Your-Energy-Low-Res-COVER-1-2048x2048-1.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 155px) 100vw, 155px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>New song<\/strong> inspired by the Self Delusion! Listen to Sally Seltmann's <em>Your Energy<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/sallyseltmann.com\/your-energy-new-song-out-today\/\">here<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Finding Genius US podcast- available <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3u0XfU5\">here<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Article in The Idler magazine - available <a href=\"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/148\/2022\/05\/Idler-article-and-cover.pdf\">here<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Linnean Society - Linnean Futures podcast <a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/user-679811756\/climate-community-how-we-are-all-connected\">here <\/a>April, 2022<\/p>\n<p>Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) Review article, special issue on '<em>Re-thinking Nature<\/em>' available <a href=\"https:\/\/www.acu.ac.uk\/the-acu-review\/nature-inside-and-out\/\">here<\/a> Mar 2022<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-567\" src=\"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/148\/2022\/04\/ACU-review-low-res-1-204x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"204\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/148\/2022\/04\/ACU-review-low-res-1-204x300.jpg 204w, https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/148\/2022\/04\/ACU-review-low-res-1-698x1024.jpg 698w, https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/148\/2022\/04\/ACU-review-low-res-1-768x1127.jpg 768w, https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/148\/2022\/04\/ACU-review-low-res-1-1046x1536.jpg 1046w, https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/148\/2022\/04\/ACU-review-low-res-1-1395x2048.jpg 1395w, https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/148\/2022\/04\/ACU-review-low-res-1.jpg 1410w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 204px) 100vw, 204px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Leadership coach and author Steven D'Souza reads a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mbs.works\/podcast\/how-to-be-not-be-yourself-steven-dsouza-author-of-not-being-reads-the-self-delusion\/\">two page synopsis from The Self Delusion on MBS Works podcast<\/a>, Feb 2022<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/d_uoscya-Lg\">Brains and Banter<\/a>, US podcast, Jan 2022<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.somethingyoushouldknow.net\/635-why-its-so-hard-to-eat-healthy-the-amazing-ways-all-humans-are-connected\/\">Something you should know Podcast<\/a> (Mike Carruthers, USA) Aug 21 (25m30s in)<\/p>\n<p>US Podcast 'Dunc tank' - available <a href=\"https:\/\/dunctank.podbean.com\/e\/tom-oliver-the-self-delusion\/\">here <\/a>Oct 2021<\/p>\n<p>UNFIX art festival - talk and panel discussion,\u00a0 June 2021<\/p>\n<p>The Weekend University -Science and Spirituality event 25th April 2021. Two hour seminar now openly available <a href=\"https:\/\/theweekenduniversity.com\/talks\/the-new-science-of-interconnectedness-professor-tom-oliver\/\">here<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Cambridge University BioSoc seminar Feb 2021. Infographic <a href=\"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/148\/2021\/02\/B26858-Human-Body-Illustration-FR-v3-HIGH-RES.pdf\">here<\/a>\u00a0and talk <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lRfQPYyncKY\">here<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Extended<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/wLvqruBOb7Y\"> interview<\/a> with US Posthoc Salon and Templeton World Charity foundation, where we covered the ethics of climate change, how Covid-19 reveals human connectedness, programming Self Delusion into AI, and even a question about aliens coming to earth!\u00a0 Jan, 2021<\/p>\n<p>Russell Brand Podcast- Oct 2020, short video excerpt <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=P3P0TMhUECY\">here<\/a> and a longer one <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=pdgzOOyCTXE\">here<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Geographical's 'Pick of the Books' May 2020 review <a href=\"http:\/\/geographical.co.uk\/reviews\/books\/item\/3708-the-self-delusion-the-surprising-science-of-how-we-are-connected-and-why-that-matters-by-tom-oliver-book-review\">here<\/a><\/p>\n<p>New Humanist magazine interview <a href=\"https:\/\/newhumanist.org.uk\/articles\/5655\/qa-tom-oliver\">transcript here<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-409 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/148\/Unorganized\/IMG_20200522_132445348-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/148\/Unorganized\/IMG_20200522_132445348-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/148\/Unorganized\/IMG_20200522_132445348-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/148\/Unorganized\/IMG_20200522_132445348-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/148\/Unorganized\/IMG_20200522_132445348-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/social-and-applied-ecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/148\/Unorganized\/IMG_20200522_132445348-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Previous presentations\/dialogues<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>21st Nov Eden Project Festival of Discovery<\/p>\n<p>Oct- Cafe Culture North East (date TBC)<\/p>\n<p>24th Aug - Edinburgh Literary Festival MOVED ONLINE<\/p>\n<p>16th April Blackwell's virtual book festival. Twitter thread <a href=\"https:\/\/threader.app\/conversation\/1250846425619013637\/CrfEHTpEa2\">HERE<\/a><\/p>\n<p>28th March- Oxford Literary festival CANCELLED<\/p>\n<p>24th March- <a href=\"https:\/\/cphdox.dk\/\">CPH:DOX Documentary festival<\/a>, Copenhagen [changed to Online conference]<\/p>\n<p>18th March - Interview with Environment Journal (Pippa Neil) read <a href=\"https:\/\/environmentjournal.online\/articles\/interview-author-tom-oliver-on-individualism-and-climate-change\/\">here<\/a><\/p>\n<p>12th Mar- Public lecture at <em>Environmental Crisis, Science and Art<\/em> exhibition, Eltham College, London<\/p>\n<p>2nd March- Interview on Talk Radio Europe. Listen <a href=\"https:\/\/www.talkradioeurope.com\/tom-oliver-the-self-delusion-the-surprising-science-of-how-we-are-connected-and-why-that-matters-with-tres-dave-hodgson\/\">here<\/a><\/p>\n<p>9th March - Book talk at All Saints Church, Wokingham<\/p>\n<p>26th Feb- <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/HrZsojejs9o\">Public lecture University of Reading<\/a><\/p>\n<p>26th Jan- Book Launch<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/U0IIvK088YM\"> Waterstones, Reading<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Follow Tom Oliver on <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Tom_H_Oliver\">Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8216;Fascinating\u2019\u00a0 \u00a0&#8211; DAILY MAIL\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u2018Thought-provoking\u2019\u00a0 &#8211; THE TIMES\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 &#8216;Intriguing&#8217; &#8211; NATURE;\u00a0 \u00a0 &#8216;This book is absolutely fantastic&#8217;\u00a0 &#8211;\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0&#8216;Timely and&#8230;<a class=\"read-more\" href=\"&#104;&#116;&#116;&#112;&#115;&#58;&#47;&#47;&#114;&#101;&#115;&#101;&#97;&#114;&#99;&#104;&#46;&#114;&#101;&#97;&#100;&#105;&#110;&#103;&#46;&#97;&#99;&#46;&#117;&#107;&#47;&#115;&#111;&#99;&#105;&#97;&#108;&#45;&#97;&#110;&#100;&#45;&#97;&#112;&#112;&#108;&#105;&#101;&#100;&#45;&#101;&#99;&#111;&#108;&#111;&#103;&#121;&#47;&#116;&#104;&#101;&#45;&#115;&#101;&#108;&#102;&#45;&#100;&#101;&#108;&#117;&#115;&#105;&#111;&#110;&#47;\">Read More ><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":219,"featured_media":210,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"__cvm_playback_settings":[],"__cvm_video_id":"","footnotes":""},"coauthors":[7],"class_list":["post-198","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.8.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The SELF DELUSION book<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"&#039;Fascinating\u2019 - DAILY MAIL \u2018Thought-provoking\u2019 - THE TIMES &#039;Intriguing&#039; 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