This book investigates the enduring relevance of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's theories of imagination by juxtaposing them with contemporary scientific research on the brain and consciousness. David A. Ward, drawing on Coleridge's seminal questions and thought experiments, explores how these historical ideas intersect with modern neuroscience. The work aims to provide novel perspectives on reading poetry, particularly Coleridge's major works, by examining the role of imagination in human consciousness and its connection to our engagement with the world.

The book is positioned as an interdisciplinary study, bridging literary criticism and cognitive science. Its approach suggests a scholarly work likely to appeal to academics and students of literature, philosophy, and psychology. The focus on connecting historical poetic theory with modern scientific findings indicates a potential for offering fresh insights into both Coleridge's work and the nature of human perception.