How To Know Your Self: The Art & Science of Discovering Who You Really Are

by J. Eric Oliver

What if everything you thought you knew about yourself was an illusion? And what if that was the key to a freer, more meaningful life?


For over twenty years, J. Eric Oliver’s popular course at the University of Chicago, The Intelligible Self, has transformed the way thousands of students understand themselves. Now, in How to Know Your Self, Oliver brings this life–changing course to readers everywhere, taking us on an illuminating tour of the most relevant ideas in physics, biology, neuroscience, linguistics, and psychology, as well as the time–tested wisdom of ancient and modern philosophical traditions, to show why everything we assume about ourselves—the nature of our identity, the source of our thoughts, even the very idea of a “self”—is an illusion.


But How to Know Your Self isn’t just about breaking down illusions. At the heart of the book is a powerful the ability to see through the illusions of selfhood gives us the opportunity to work with rather than to be controlled by them. By the end of the book, readers will have not only a deeper understanding of themselves, but also a set of practical tools—including meditation, breathwork, and cognitive techniques—to help them navigate their lives with more clarity, balance, and fulfillment. Smart, thought–provoking, and ultimately practical, How to Know Your Self is self–help for skeptics—a book for anyone who has ever wondered, Who am I, really?

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

Published January 6, 2026

About the author

Eric Oliver is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago, and studies American politics, public opinion, political psychology, local politics, racial attitudes, and the politics of science.

His current research examines why people believe in conspiracy theories, why liberals and conservatives name their children differently, why 2016 was a populist election, and what is changing in America's democracy.

His latest book, Enchanted America: The Struggle between Reason and Intuition in US Politics (publication in September 2018), argues that the major political divisions in America right now are not between liberals and conservatives, but between "intuitionists" and "rationalists."

Reviews

[Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome book! Oliver manages to be both instructive and vulnerable, expansive yet rigorous. This is a self-help book for people suspicious of easy answers and dogmatic absolutism. I learned so much about so much through this tour of Oliver's worldview. The range of topics Oliver covers to interrogate the self is genuinely impressive. There's some Buddhism, cognitive psychology, evolutionary biology, Nietzschean critique of morals, commentary on romance and intimacy, Freud, Jung, and so much more. The amazing thing is that How to Know Yourself synthesizes this into a coherent set of tips and suggestions for how to really optimize your life. I think it will help most anyone who reads it.

[Ania V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent! Thank you so much.

[Sarah Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I listened to the book which was read by the author. Some parts were a little factual and dry but overall there was a lot of humor mixed in and some great ideas and advice. I found that this really was a collection of things that I have learned in all different parts of my life and I found it interesting how it all comes together. I would rate it just four stars but the last 40 minutes really made me want to score it higher.

[Thecritic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! That was not what I was expecting from this book, I was looking for a one two three book about self awareness and explanation of values, passion, aspirations, fit, patterns, reaction and impact.

Though it was somehow included, it is a journey through science of self and consciousness and how to live better.

It starts with definition and creation of self, biology, history, philosophy, science, psychology and esoteric of self.

It reminded me of every-time I find the meaning of life they change it.

It concludes with mindfulness and yoga and letting go.

I enjoyed reading it and highly recommend reading it. It tries to be funny, though it is not, but it makes the tone casual.

[Hannah AdvicefromaPsychologyStudent · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 Stars

This book was very emotionally and scholarly engaging. I study people's behavior and have always been interested in the usual self-help books. Most of them touch on the basics or offer little information and prompts that try to "fix you." I appreciated how the writing in this novel is sharp and purposeful, with a thematic progression that develops rather than relying on the everyday pseudo-therapeutic style some authors use. The discussion of memory and belief is both accessible and intentional. The book surprised me with how emotionally grounded it is, and its pacing and structure are excellent.

How To Know Your Self: The Art & Science of Discovering Who You Really Are was a fantastic read. I recommend it to anyone interested in healthy, science-based self-reflection free of pseudoscience or overwhelming advice. I found myself pausing to reflect, which was a welcome change from novels that rush readers. I'll be sure to look out for more works by this well-informed writer!

Thank you so much to Liveright Publishing Corporation for the ARC.

[Jared · Rating 2 out of 5]

My aunt loved this. Unfortunately, I did not, though I really wish I did. Instead, I found it shallow with an over reliance on personal anecdotes which, despite the author's stated intent, made it feel like yet another self-help book. For example, the author discusses his journey with meditation which is challenging but by sticking with it, one can (as the author has glimpsed through his own practice) realize transcendent understanding of themself and self-empowerment.

How to Know Your Self just didn't do anything new or interesting enough for me to love it or even get much from it that I couldn't find in less pop psychology books.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read a pre print in the class “The Self” by Professor Eric Oliver a while back at uchicago. I’m still grateful for the newfound clarity he brought, describing what I had observed about my own life experience and piecing together those scattered and seemingly disjoint intuitions and ideas of the self into a coherent whole. I thought he gracefully interweaved history, psychology, biology, religion, spirituality, all into one theory of self. It’s also written for a general audience so everybody can have something to take away from this.

[Gina T]

Thanks to Liveright Publishing for providing this book through a Goodreads giveaway.

I entered the giveaway because the description intrigued me. This didn't seem to be the typical self help book since it was looking at physics, biology, neuroscience, linguistics, and psychology.

My assumption was validated starting with the opening pages and the man in Galveston, Texas who ran the honeypot service. The author describes the five different types of self. I'll need more time to mull over this information and will update the review with my conclusions and rating.