Your Symphony of Selves

Discover and Understand More of Who We Are

By: James Fadiman Ph.D. Ph.D., Jordan Gruber

Narrated by: Andy Rick

Why you are a different you at different times and how that’s both normal and healthy

• Reveals that each of us is made up of multiple selves, any of which can come to the forefront in different situations

• Offers examples of healthy multiple selves from psychology, neuroscience, pop culture, literature, and ancient cultures and traditions

• Explores how to harmonize our selves and learn to access whichever one is best for a given situation

Offering groundbreaking insight into the dynamic nature of personality, James Fadiman and Jordan Gruber show that each of us is comprised of distinct, autonomous, and inherently valuable “selves.” They also show that honoring each of these selves is a key to improved ways of living, loving, and working.

Explaining that it is normal to have multiple selves, the authors offer insights into why we all are inconsistent at times, allowing us to become more accepting of the different parts of who we and other people are. They explore, through extensive reviews, how the concept of healthy multiple selves has been supported in science, popular culture, spirituality, philosophy, art, literature, and ancient traditions and cite well-known people, including David Bowie and Beyoncé, who describe accessing another self at a pivotal point in their lives to resolve a pressing challenge.

Instead of seeing the existence of many selves as a flaw or pathology, the authors reveal that the healthiest people, mentally and emotionally, are those that have naturally learned to appreciate and work in harmony with their own symphony of selves. They identify “the Single Self Assumption” as the prime reason why the benefits of having multiple selves has been ignored. This assumption holds that we each are or ought to be a single consistent self, yet we all recognize, in reality, that we are different in different situations.

Offering a pragmatic approach, the authors show how you can prepare for situations by shifting to the appropriate self, rather than being “switched” or “triggered” into a sub-optimal part of who you are. They also show how recognizing your selves provides increased access to skills, talent, and creativity; enhanced energy; and improved healing and pain management. Appreciating your diverse selves will give you more empathy toward yourself and others. By harmonizing your symphony of selves, you can learn to be “in the right mind at the right time” more often.

Critic reviews

“Kudos to the authors for their diligent research, original thinking, and courageous pioneering that changes the foundational assumptions of modern psychology to more closely resemble who we truly are.”

“Rigorous, engaging, and pleasurable to read. I’m ecstatic about their ennobling upgrade in the understanding of what it means to be human.”

“This wonderful book urges us to look at ourselves and our lives in an entirely new way. We are not a single self, the authors teach us, but rather we contain multiple selves, each valuable in its own way. This lovely book will help you understand and embrace who you are and who you could be.”

“This masterful, comprehensive exploration of the diversity within us is both fascinating and useful. With grace and erudition, the authors explore the nooks and crannies of our minds--and in the variety of ‘selves’ they find there is, paradoxically, a profound and healing sense of wholeness and freedom.”

“This book exquisitely explores the age-old and yet seemingly new theme that we are made up of different ‘moving parts.’ Talking to yourself is not just reserved for eccentric people on subways but an inner psychodrama that can lead us toward a more integrated, ‘together,’ symphonic self. Now I can, and will, tell clients: ‘Read this book, and then come back and talk to me!’”

“This insightful book creates a landscape of perspective with profound implications for understanding the psychology of human beings. A must-read for every person interested in self-discovery.”

“A profound, brilliant, and convincing account of the many entities that make up each of us. I hope it will have the success and influence it deserves.”

“Based on what I’ve read in this book, I now more clearly recognize some of my own selves: my scientist self, my personal growth self, my spiritual self, my ‘Am I kind of crazy sometimes?’ self . . .and all of them are getting valuable ideas and practices to become more harmonious. My thanks to Fadiman and Gruber for this remarkable book!”

“A tour de force on the multiple manifestations--scientifically, artistically, religiously, and culturally--of the multiple persons and personalities each one of us inhabits. No matter how skeptical your point of view before you read this book, it will make you think, and you will take it seriously.”

“Astoundingly, my various persona all seem to agree that Fadiman and Gruber have unpacked this complex topic in ways that are factual, insightful, and extremely useful--a must-read for most, if not all, of your selves.”

“From the microbiome in our gut to the voices in our heads, each of us is a community, as the authors explain in this fascinating, delightful book. The illusion of a single unitary self interferes with clear thinking about everything from immunology to psychiatry to the nature of community. We are each a symphony of selves, and my selves highly recommend this book to your selves.”

Changed my Life

I felt like there was something wrong with me because I was a chameleon and indecisive until I read this book. I used to have such a hard time making decisions and being content about my life choices, but now I see how there are so many selves at the decision making table. Now I always ask “who should be in charge here” and have been so much more empowered and confident moving through life while using all the parts of me at the right time. Brilliant.

Absolutely phenomenal

This book is a beautiful perception of consciousness and self. The authors take a deep dive into the human psyche and consciousness; and, the theories and information laid out in this work create an amazing perspective. I highly recommend checking this book out; it is a great read full of insightful and well thought out theories and information. A must read for anyone in the mental health field or doing healing yourself. - Dionysus

I wanted, I tried to love it.

The book started by persuading the listener to believe in the concept of healthy multiplicity. And with the insisitance that the word "self" is the right word for the various aspects or versions of your self.

This seemed to occupy well over 50 percent of the content of the book and was a continuous refrain. It felt somehow burdensome. I already believed in the basic idea after it being introduced, as he points out several times that most people do. I did NOT like the word "self" as it seemed unnecessarily confusing. I preferred the words I used in the above paragraph of "version" or "aspect".

Also off putting was that nearly all the substance from this book came in the form of quotes. Very well over 50 percent. Additionally, the authors overtly refused to put forth a coherent theory or to ascribe to a specific one from another,opting instead to offer a smorgasbord of related theories. As I read this paragraph it sounds better than it comes across.

Lastly the book is FAR too long for what you take away fr it. it could have been less than half the length and been just as valuable or perhaps moreso. For me at least, I feel less certain regarding the subject than before I started.

All of this said, the subject is important and neglected. I cannot recommend this as the entry point for the above reasons.

I don't like giving Faideman a bad-ish review. I LOVED his previous work on psychedelics.

Great book - terrible narrator

Barely got through the book . Ended up reading it as narrator was terrible. I hope that it will be re-recorded!

A self gathering sign post!

Once I finished this book I knew I would never be the same or that I would finally be myself. Extremely eye opening and I finally don’t feel crazy for talking to myself. Thank you so much James and Jordan. I don’t know how to return the gift you have given me. A must listen if you searching for a whole being.