Dan Brown: "We Are at a Threshold Moment Towards a New Model of Human Consciousness"

Author Dan Brown, famous for The Da Vinci Code, believes society is at a "threshold moment" heading toward a new model of understanding human consciousness, which he predicts will arrive in 10 or 20 years, "maybe even sooner," similar to the shift during the time of Copernicus.

"There was a time when we believed the Earth was the center of the solar system, but Copernicus showed that our model was wrong and we needed a new one. I believe, like many scientists, that we are in an identical historical moment," said Brown, who this Tuesday presented his latest novel, 'The Last Secret,' to Spanish-speaking readers.

With this new volume in his secrets series, the American author ventures to depict a near future where the model of human consciousness completely changes. The thriller once again stars Robert Langdon, is set in Prague, and combines conspiracies, neuroscience, and a romantic subplot.

Since its global release on September 18, 150,000 copies of the novel have already been sold in Spanish. The plot centrally revolves around the noetic theories for the study of human consciousness. In 'The Last Secret,' these studies are personified by Katherine Solomon, a brilliant scientist and old acquaintance with whom Langdon shares a platonic relationship.

When she prepares to publish a manuscript that promises to challenge centuries of certainties about consciousness and life after death, several murders unleash chaos and Katherine disappears without a trace, forcing the professor to decipher codes and cryptic messages to find her.

"Part of the purpose of this book is to shed light on the fact that science and religion are beginning to point to the same place, something I find absolutely fascinating, because I believe they are two different languages trying to tell the same story," Brown stated.

The writer confessed he would not be surprised if, as has happened with some of his books before, certain institutions criticize the theories presented in its pages. However, he assured that criticism does not bother him "as long as there is constructive dialogue."

In this sense, Brown affirmed that the message he hopes to send with his new novel is "the importance of dialogue, of talking with others and listening," as he believes that "in the current world, everyone is talking, but no one is listening."

The author highlighted that his protagonist's journey is built on dialogue and curiosity about the unknown: "He goes from not believing in noetic science at all, to believing in its postulates, understanding it, and accepting it."

Creative Processes as "Eminently" Human Activities

Brown also commented on the current historical moment, which he defined as "strange," though he cautioned that "it is nothing new."

"We have faced difficulties like these before. History is full of difficult moments, but humanity learns to overcome them. Humanity will overcome this strange moment," he affirmed.

The writer also commented on the rise of artificial intelligence, calling for it to be used "in a constructive, responsible, and honest manner." However, he ruled out using it for now in creative processes, which he considers "eminently human activities."

"We have an evolutionary tendency to focus on the negative aspects of what surrounds us. We cannot lose sight of the fact that the same technology we use as a weapon can, in most cases, be used for good," Brown asserted, adding that "in this world, there is more love than hate, and more creative power than destructive power."