Using the insights of Owen Barfield (1898-1997) as his starting point, Linderman investigates the nature of consciousness, the Enlightenment, scientific thinking, belief, and the power of imagination. He argues that we must learn to understand the inner reality of objects -- their subjectivity, feelings and the meanings we ascribe to them -- as well as their physical appearance. This book is for anyone who wants to understand how knowledge works, and be inspired to a new way of seeing the world.