Who's in control of your thoughts?

Don't think of a pink elephant!

 

First response thoughts seem to be a matter of processing associations. When you're asked about a particular book, your mind quickly brings together many impressions/memories, thoughts, feelings associated with the book.

However, decided thoughts seem to take from between a split-second to weeks longer to form. In your example, I would qualify my initial answer as a representation of my impression of the book. But if I wanted to give a definite answer, I would read it, and do some background research on the history of the subject matter and the author - as well as pondering the probable intention of the book.

 

personally for me... in theory upon being asked said question:

1- it will take a few seconds for my brain to find the relevance of the question
2- i will begin to slowly tell my actual thoughts on the book
3- something kicks in as i realize no one understands the depth of what i'm saying
4- then i get frustrated and resort to simple words like yes, no, good, bad
5- then i distract the person that asked the question, and run away quickly

 

there's conscious mind, and there's unconscious mind.... I'll say all of them is me, yet operated separately.