200,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿 

Black Friday Sale on Now! Save up to 25% off Books, Toys, Board Games, & Puzzles! ✨

Philosophies of Illusion

An Anthology of Unreal Worlds
Series: Future's Theory
0.0 (0 reviews)
Brief Description
In an age of rising holograms, virtual realities, metaverses, and artificial intelligence, it has become increasingly essential to trace the long-winding, multi-dimensional histories of illusion that have emerged over time across the world. Illusion Chamber studies seventeen iterations of illusion: dream, nightmare, mirage, hallucination, fantasy, figment,... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$5000
Pre-order
Releases 21st January 2027 (Approx. Date) Pre-order  "Philosophies of Illusion" now to secure your copy from our first shipment

Found a better price? Request a price match

Tracing the long, winding and multi-dimensional histories of "illusion", this book is an essential companion in our age of rising holograms, virtual realities, metaverses and artificial intelligence.

Tracing the long, winding and multi-dimensional histories of "illusion", this book is an essential companion in our age of rising holograms, virtual realities, metaverses and artificial intelligence.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In an age of rising holograms, virtual realities, metaverses, and artificial intelligence, it has become increasingly essential to trace the long-winding, multi-dimensional histories of illusion that have emerged over time across the world.

Illusion Chamber studies seventeen iterations of illusion: dream, nightmare, mirage, hallucination, fantasy, figment, spell, simulation, story, vision, rumor, superstition, miracle, game, lie, conspiracy, and multiverse. In each chamber, over forty authors coalesce their insights into our experience of the unreal and the imaginary in far-ranging passages that cover subjects from the manuals of ancient alchemical circles to the prophetic episodes of medieval mystics, narcotized poets to horror filmmakers, and documented instances of mass hysteria to the folklore of shape-shifting.

The diverse thinkers who have contributed to this edited volume – collaborating from across Latin America, East Asia, South Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East – form the control room at the epicentre of a question: What is the future of the illusion, and do we need a new philosophy of the impossible? The examples and case studies used to solve this riddle are drawn from the outer boundaries of different eras, geocultural landscapes, genres, and mediums: mythology, literature, philosophy, psychoanalysis, anthropology, film, visual art, music, theatre, dance, architecture, design, technological devices, video games, underground movements, urban legends, strange objects, ecological phenomena, biogenetic innovations, and experiments with the nature of consciousness.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781350626300

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 24 December 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic

Illustration: 17 colour images

Contributors:

  • Edited by Assistant Professor Jason Bahbak Mohaghegh
  • Edited by Mx Ishita Jain

Audience: Tertiary education

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 156.0mm

Height: 232.0mm

Weight: 400g

Pages: 352

Collections

Coming Soon in Fiction Education & Reference General Fiction Non-Fiction Non-Fiction Pre-Orders Philosophy & Psychology Philosophy & Stoicism Pre-order Books Pre-orders Pre-orders by Release Date Religion & Spirituality Sci-Fi & Fantasy Science Fiction Series: Future's Theory

About the Author

Jason Bahbak Mohaghegh is a philosopher, literary theorist, and professor of comparative literature at Babson College, USA. His work tracks movements of radical thought across the so-called East and the West, with particular attention to concepts of chaos, violence, illusion, silence, extremism, mania, disappearance, night, evil, secrecy, and apocalyptic writing. He has published nine books to date, including two volumes titled Omnicide I and Omnicide II on madness, and two volumes on night titled Night: A Philosophy of the After-Dark and Night II: A Philosophy of the Last World. He is also the founding director of the Future Studies Program, Programmer of Transdisciplinary Studies for The New Centre for Research & Practice, USA.

Ishita Jain is a scholar, consulting architect, and artist based in India working across areas of theatrical-cinematic formalism, theory fiction and spatial writing, and futurist world-building. She is the Director of the Living Midnight Narrative Outfit, India, a Fellow at the Institute of Postnatural Studies, Spain, and a Researcher in Transdisciplinary Studies for the New Centre for Research & Practice, USA. She lives in the lower Himalayas of the Kangra Valley and creates situations, encounters, and narratives entangled with transmedial storytelling. Current projects include the forthcoming book The Land of Time: Theory-Fictioning the Himalayan Mythosphere and the art installation titled The Raft of Illusions for the Bosch Parade Exhibition.

Browse lists from our team

The Latest at Book Hero

View all

More from Philosophy & Psychology

View all
  • On Sale
    22% off
    Atomic Habits
    Atomic Habits by James Clear is a transformative guide that demonstrates how tiny, incremental changes in behaviour can fundamentally reshape your life. Rather than urging sweeping transformations, Clear advocates for the compound effect of hundreds of small decisions. Whether it’s performing two push-ups a day, waking up five minutes earlier, or making a brief, focused phone call, these minuscule adjustments,...
    By James Clear
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Signed Copy
    New Release
    Your Time Is Now
    An inspiring guide to letting go of the past, turning inaction into action, and taking charge of your own destiny. Suzanne Paul is one of New Zealand's most cherished personalities, known for her unwavering positivity. Over the last twenty years in her work as a motivational speaker, she has taught people around the country how to overcome setbacks and take...
    By Suzanne Paul
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    23% off
    1984 Nineteen Eighty-Four
    In the drab and oppressive world of 1984 Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell introduces us to Winston Smith, a man haunted by the omnipresent surveillance and control exercised by the Party and its enigmatic leader, Big Brother. Winston works diligently at the Ministry of Truth, where his job is to alter historical records to fit the ever-changing narrative dictated by the...
    By George Orwell
    Paperback
    $1000
    Usually:
    $1299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • How Lucky Am I
    How Lucky Am I
    The first full book featuring social media sensation Mr. Skelly, with over 5 million global followers, a skeleton who teaches us that life is a gift to be treasured, reminding us how lucky we all are to live in this present moment. For readers of The Book of Gifts and The Little Frog’s Guide to Self Care. In this poignant,...
    By Christian Watson
    Hardback
    $4299
    Elsewhere:
    $5500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Daily Stoic
    The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman offers an enriching journey through the ancient philosophy of Stoicism, distilled into a format meant for modern readers' daily use. This compelling book is structured as a day-by-day guide, bringing wisdom, insight, and guidance from esteemed Stoic philosophers like Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius directly to your life. Each day unveils...
    By Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman
    Paperback
    $2700
    Elsewhere:
    $3299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    13% off
    The Happiness Trap
    Free yourself from depression, anxiety, and insecurity, and instead, build a rich and meaningful life with the world's best-selling guide to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Over 1 million copies sold! The Happiness Trap by Dr. Russ Harris is an illuminating and transformative guide designed to help readers navigate the challenging landscape of modern life. As an expert in ACT,...
    By Doctor Russ Harris
    Paperback
    $2800
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    16% off
    The DOSE Effect
    The DOSE Effect offers small habits to boost your brain chemistry. "This book will help you find more motivation, create deeper connections, energise your body, and destress your mind," says Jay Shetty, author of Think Like a Monk. Life can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Today’s fast-paced world leaves many of us struggling with extreme emotional highs...
    By TJ Power
    Paperback
    $2700
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Godel, Escher, Bach
    Godel, Escher, Bach, by Douglas R. Hofstadter, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece that delves into the complex interplay between the works and ideas of three brilliant minds: mathematician Kurt Gödel, artist M. C. Escher, and composer Johann Sebastian Bach. This interdisciplinary treatise embarks on a journey through a labyrinth of mathematical theorems, artful prints, and intricate compositions, weaving them together...
    By Douglas R. Hofstadter
    Paperback
    $4200
    Elsewhere:
    $4999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    12% off
    The Winner's Formula
    The Neuroscience of Peak Performance, Success, and Happiness Why do some people win all the time? Why do others languish? From Olympians to Formula 1 drivers, addicts to billionaires, cognitive neuroscientist Dr Kerry Spackman has spent decades working to help people understand how to succeed. In The Winner's Formula, Kerry explains what goes on in your brain when you are...
    By Kerry Spackman
    Paperback
    $2800
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    12% off
    The Courage to be Disliked
    The Courage to be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga presents an enlightening and thought-provoking dialogue between a philosopher and a young man disillusioned with life. In a series of conversations, the philosopher introduces the principles of Alfred Adler's psychology, advocating for personal empowerment and mental freedom. Through this engaging dialogue, the young man learns to confront the societal...
    By Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga
    Paperback
    $2200
    Elsewhere:
    $2999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    18% off
    Don't Believe Everything You Think (Expanded Edition)
    In this book, you'll discover the root cause of all psychological and emotional suffering and how to achieve freedom of mind to effortlessly create the life you've always wanted to live. Although pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. This book offers a completely new paradigm and understanding of where our human experience comes from, allowing us to end our own...
    By Joseph Nguyen
    Paperback
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Creative Act
    Many famed music producers are known for a particular sound that has its day and then ages out. Rick Rubin is known for something else: creating a space where artists of all different genres and traditions can home in on who they really are and what they really offer. He has made a practice of helping people transcend their self-imposed...
    By Rick Rubin
    Hardback
    $4400
    Elsewhere:
    $5500
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 200,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.