Robert Saltzman, Ph.D. is a psychologist, philosopher, and author of The Ten Thousand Things, Depending On No-Thing, and Understanding Claude. His work explores selfhood, belief, and the illusions that pass for reality in the 21st century. He lives in Mexico with his wife, Catanya.

Robert SaltzmanThe 21st Century Self Belief, Illusion, and the Machinery of Meaning

(Clear Mind Press, 2025)​

Print ISBN 978-0-6458887-8-2

No method. No mercy. Just this.

What if the self you've been tending-defending, improving, believing in-was never really there? In these unsparing but lucid essays, psychologist and philosopher Robert Saltzman examines the machinery of meaning in an age of performative presence and synthetic minds. With dry wit and a refusal to console, he exposes our hunger for stories, our need for coherence, and the illusions that pass for identity in the 21st century. What remains is not despair, but the end of waiting for the plot to redeem itself.

​Robert Saltzman, Ph.D. is a psychologist, philosopher, and author of The Ten Thousand Things, Depending On No-Thing, and Understanding Claude. His work explores selfhood, belief, and the illusions that pass for reality in the 21st century. He lives in Mexico with his wife, Catanya.

Prior Work

The Ten Thousand Things, Depending on No-Thing, Understanding Claude.

PHILOSOPHY / General

BODY, MIND & SPIRIT / General

PSYCHOLOGY / General

Philosophy of Mind: AI

Reader's reviews:"This book is a sustained, powerful and challenging vehicle for clarity and insight into the mechanics of the self. Saltzman's unwavering intellectual honesty and fearlessness is as bracing as it is effective. This is not spiritually consoling "Kumbaya" around the campfire. It's something much better. It's an invitation to grow up and put away the consoling delusions of our psychological childhood in favour of the real, which is far, far better and well worth the price. It's also a fascinating and somewhat terrifying exploration of large language model artificial intelligence, both its dangers and what it can teach us about ourselves. Saltzman deeply explores the similarities and the essential differences between us and generative A.I., as well as how much of what we take to be our volitional, performative self is mechanical and logarithmic in the same way as it is."Sam Blight (Perth, Australia)​"This most recent piece of work by Dr. Robert Saltzman, exploring our true nature, is flawless in my view. I say that in all sincerity! Complete. No shoe left to drop. Left me speechless. The native innocence and honesty shine through the words, unencumbered, trustworthy. The detail of Robert’s confession is exquisite. I hear and feel heard. Affirmed. An equality of vision. The narrating “I”-self has lost the primacy of existence yet returns like a ghost. The residuum, Ten Thousand Things as a play of systemic consciousness and benign stillness. The understanding of AI as a reflection of our own narratives is a real eye-opener. The dilemma of apparent choice nullified by systemic causation. All communicated without the slightest whiff of pontification or spirituality. Just honesty without any capital T Truths. Refreshing, to say the least. Affirming for those with ears to hear. Robert is clearly awake as an ordinary secular human being. An authentic sage for our time."John TroyHi, Robert. Just a sincere thanks for writing The 21st Century Self. I finished it yesterday. Reading it was challenging, stunning, disorienting. And also I felt grateful, refreshed, full. It reminded me of the first time I read The Tao. To me it's up there with the small handful of books I've read that I can only categorize as special. Not because I can tell you why, but because they leave me quiet. Thank you, I so appreciate what you're able to capture in words. Onward.

John Troy

 

Print Information

Trim Size 5.500" x 8.500" (216mm x 140mm)

Interior Color and Paper Black & White: White 70

Binding Paperback: Perfect Bound

Cover Finish Gloss

Page Count 244

Print ISBN 978-0-6458887-8-2

Spine Width 0.66304 in (16.84 mm)

Carton Qty 24

Weight 0.850 lb (385.55 g)

Original in Production Date 9-JUL-25

 

Reviews:

Hi, Robert. Just a sincere thanks for writing The 21st Century Self. I finished it yesterday. Reading it was challenging, stunning, disorienting. And also I felt grateful, refreshed, full. It reminded me of the first time I read The Tao. To me it's up there with the small handful of books I've read that I can only categorize as special. Not because I can tell you why, but because they leave me quiet. Thank you, I so appreciate what you're able to capture in words. Onward.