Book Recommendation:
“Loss of Reality – How AI and Virtual Worlds Take Hold of Us and Threaten Our Humanity”
By Manuela Fuchs
Joachim Bauer, Heyne Publishing, 2023, 240 pages
A wake-up call—and a call to consciously shape our digital future
In his new book Loss of Reality, Prof. Dr. Joachim Bauer—renowned neuroscientist, physician, and psychotherapist—warns of a gradual development that affects all of us, not just younger generations: the erosion of our physical, emotional, and social connectedness in an increasingly digital world.
Bauer draws a striking parallel between medieval mysticism, where the Church held interpretive authority over reality, and what he calls today’s “digital mysticism.”
Where religious institutions once served as the central media infrastructure, Bauer argues that large tech companies now fill that role. He cautions that people are increasingly turning into digital versions of themselves, shifting their identity into social media spaces. In his view, more and more individuals are retreating from what feels like an increasingly “burdensome” reality into virtual substitute environments—such as the Metaverse.
Bauer calls this phenomenon escapism—a form of retreat from reality that can lead to alienation, loneliness, and emotional exhaustion. What once began as “connecting technology,” he warns, is at risk of becoming a form of hypnosis. A process that tempts people to stop thinking and feeling for themselves.
Human beings as resonance-driven creatures
As a neuroscientist, Bauer explains vividly that our brain and body are fundamentally designed for resonance—with our environment and with the people around us. The human “self” is created and strengthened through relationship and resonance, which require physical presence and real interaction. Without genuine interpersonal contact, our abilities for empathy, perception, and self-awareness begin to deteriorate. Digital systems, he argues, can simulate resonance—but never replace it.
Children, Bauer stresses, are particularly affected. They need physical experience, analog interaction, and emotional mirroring to develop a stable sense of self. AI, tablets, and social media cannot replace these processes; in fact, they can actively interfere with them.
Humans need other humans to stay healthy—biologically, psychologically, and socially.
Transhumanism – the new belief system
In one chapter, Bauer describes transhumanism as a modern “techno-religion.” He views it as an ideology that treats humans as flawed biological machines in need of improvement—or even replacement—through technology.
The tech industry’s promise of a kind of “eternal digital life,” Bauer argues, mirrors the salvation promises of the medieval Church. And that alone should give us pause. Blind trust in an intangible world, he insists, requires great mindfulness.
The digital narcissism trap
Bauer also analyzes the psychological impact of social media. The constant search for attention, validation, and resonance creates what he calls a digital form of narcissism. He emphasizes that the human need for attention is natural—but the way it is sought and satisfied makes all the difference.
For some, shifting identity into online spaces becomes understandable when real-life experiences lack recognition. Self-presentation begins to outweigh real encounters and lived emotions. This creates a paradox: the more time people spend online in search of connection, the more disconnected they often feel.
Bauer’s conclusion: We need a “return to reality”—to resonance, empathy, physical presence, and genuine human interaction. Only then can humanity be preserved in the digital age.
A question of attitude, not technology
Loss of Reality reminds us that technological development is always accompanied by questions of mindset. Bauer’s critique is meant to alert us—not paralyze us. The true danger does not lie in AI itself but in unconscious, unreflective use.
For anyone interested in this topic, the book offers a powerful and thought-provoking perspective on our “new” digital world. Bauer urges us to remember that we always have a choice—and that we ultimately shape the direction in which both our world and our humanity evolve.
AI as a tool for conscious reflection
At Coverdale, we also see the risks of unreflected digitalization. But we firmly believe that technology can help leaders act with more awareness and humanity—when used appropriately. With our AI Coach, we have developed a tool that does not replace people but empowers them. It creates space for reflection, structure, and clarity in leadership practice.
While Bauer warns of alienation through AI, we intentionally focus on its supportive—not substitutive—power.
Our AI Coach, developed by experienced trainers and coaches, inquires, mirrors, and prompts deeper thinking. It does not provide quick fixes—it stimulates better questions and thoughtful reflection. This ensures that people remain at the center and that AI becomes a sparring partner rather than a decision-maker.
For us, digital tools are not alternative realities but bridges—bridges that connect knowledge with action and open doors where time, distance, or complexity would otherwise become barriers.
Digital humanity is possible
At Coverdale, our goal is clear: to integrate humanity and technology while remaining aware that our attitude determines whether AI serves us or steers us.
In this sense, we offer a constructive response to Bauer’s concerns:
Yes, we need vigilance and ethical boundaries.
But we also need the courage to harness the opportunities of AI in a way that strengthens—and not replaces—our humanity.
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