What constitutes the persistence of a person over time, and how does the narrative structure of a life define the self? Marya Schechtman, a prominent philosopher of mind, investigates the limitations of traditional psychological and biological accounts of identity. She argues that a person is defined by the narrative they construct about their own life, proposing a 'narrative self-constitution' view that bridges the gap between internal experience and external social recognition.

Philosophers and academics frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the narrative approach to personal identity. Readers often note the rigorous analytical density of the prose, which requires careful engagement with contemporary metaphysical debates.