Early chapters of the book give simple explanations and provide a foundation for further concepts and ideas.[2] In "Chapter One: The Flowering of Human Consciousness", Tolle discusses the "inherent dysfunction in humanity" and proposes ways that readers may rise above it.[2] He then develops these concepts in chapters two, three and four by offering his descriptions of the ego and its "vices."[2] In the book, Tolle defines the term ego as an "illusory sense of self"[5] based on one's memories and thoughts.[6] In chapters five and six Tolle uses the phrase pain body to describe the human tendency to carry "an accumulation of old emotional pain".[7] In chapters seven, eight and nine: "Inner Space, Inner Purpose and Who You Truly Are", Tolle makes many distinctions: between "knowing yourself and knowing about yourself"; between the "Dreamer" and the "dream"; between the objects of consciousness and the space of consciousness; between outer space and inner space; and between outer purpose and inner purpose. In chapter ten, "A New Earth", Tolle gives his readers suggestions for implementation of his ideas in their personal life but cautions them by saying: "You are still an ordinary human. What is extraordinary is what comes through you into this world
