现代人注重科学、忘记了想象力的重要，于是作者在这本书中讨论了两者之间的平衡是有多重要。他认为想象力是我們跟这快速变动的现实世界密集结合的重要元素。
 
拥有想象力的能力是我們人类最核心的特征。透过想象力，我們能够更深地体验这个世界，也更能够了解自己的内心。想象力在创意以及创新上更扮演了最重要的角色。
 
直到十七世纪，想象力是被庆祝的。但是，在那之后科学开始成为世界观的主要视角，想象力被边缘化——它被当作是逃避现实，而不是更深厚地了解现实，的工具。想象力被人性贬低价值。但是，当我们正在前往二十一世纪的新边境，我們似乎需要找回这个失去的理解模式。这是一本富有洞察力以及启动人心的书，作者认为为了我們的未来，我們必须要找回想象力以及科学之间的平衡。
 
从古代的神秘主义者的教学到最新的神经系统科学研究，这本书让我們重新思考想象力的重要性，并提醒我們要释放自己，不要让科学以及数据完全霸占我們的大脑！


关于作者：
Gary Lachman 写过许多本书，包括：Rudolf Steiner: An Introduction to His Life and Work; Jung the Mystic: The Esoteric Dimensions of Carl Jung’s Life and Teachings; The Quest for Hermes Trismegistus, Carektakers of the Cosmos 以及 A Secret History of Consciousness。
 
好评：
'Very important' 
-- Philip Pullman 

'An excellent book -- scholarly but eminently readable by anyone seeking appreciation of the spiritual.' 
-- Howard Jones, Alister Hardy Society 

'One of the leading students of the western esoteric tradition, Lachman has published critical studies of Swedenborg, Madame Blavatsky, Aleister Crowley, Rudolf Steiner, P.D. Ouspensky and Jung -- and he has done so without being raptly worshipful or casually dismissive.' 
-- Michael Dirda Washington Post 

'Lachman...manages to make basic concepts in esoteric philosophy and history lively as well as readable.' 
-- Kirkus Review 

'Lachman creates a history of ideas that fascinates and excites' 
-- New York Journal of Books 

'The Lost Knowledge of the Imagination rejoins the parted Red Sea of modern intellect, demonstrating how rationalism and esotericism are not divided forces but necessary complements and parts of a whole in the human wish for understanding. Let's be done, once and for all, with the shallow and misdirected notion that reason and mysticism are at odds. Lachman demonstrates their harmony.' 
-- Mitch Horowitz, PEN Award-winning author of Occult America and One Simple Idea: How Positive Thinking Reshaped Modern Life 

'Gary Lachman has done an impressive amount of research. His thesis is very carefully laid out and his conclusions are sensible and attractive.' 
-- Magonia Review of Books