Neil Van Leeuwen does theoretical work in philosophy of mind and action and collaborates with empirical researchers in anthropology, neuroscience, and psychology. His research touches on the nature of belief, imagination, and the cognitive structures that guide pretend play more generally—among other things. He is the author of Religion as Make-Believe: A Theory of Belief, Imagination, and Group Identity, published by Harvard University Press in 2023. His research has been featured in The New York Times, The Atlantic, and The New Yorker.