Neurosciences Books

I read it in 2 days and it's now in my top 3 most valued books EVER – STEVEN BARTLETT:DIARY OF A CEO HOST & Dragons Den "20+ years in professional football, you get to meet some incredible people!! I was lucky enough to spend time with Prof Peters with England. If you've not read 'A Path through the Jungle' I'd highly recommend it!" BEN FOSTER: EX ENGLAND GOALKEEPER Ever wanted to succeed but not sacrifice your health, relationships and values to get there? This is possibly the most important book you will ever read!!! Professor Michael Coleman, Professor of Neuroscience, University of Cambridge Professor Steve Peters is a Consultant Psychiatrist and author of the bestselling self-help book, The Chimp Paradox. He has years of experience as a clinician, an educator and has worked with some of the world’s most successful athletes. His new book 'Path through the Jungle' will help you to become robust and resilient. Professor Peters explains complex neuroscience in straightforward terms with his Chimp Management Mind Model. Robust: Becoming robust means having plans in place to manage your own mind and whatever situations you meet in life. Resilient: is being able to bounce back and manage the challenges of life. Resilience is a skill. A Path through the Jungle offers a structured programme with exercises and practical real-life examples. This book will help you to improve in areas such as: Managing stress and anxiety Improved relationships Emotional management Grief and loss Self-confidence Peace of mind Happiness Managing stress

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Book Synopsis''Her stories have the power to transform your life'' Lori Gottlieb, bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone ''Radically changes the way we think about mental illness, pleasure, pain, reward and stress'' Daniel Levitin, bestselling author of The Organized MindTHE NEW YORK TIMES AND SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER We are a wired generation. In these fast-paced times we are constantly bombarded by high-reward, high-dopamine stimuli. From texting to social media, food to drugs, gambling to shopping, we have become addicted to fleeting and distracting pleasures that are making us sick.In Dopamine Nation, psychiatrist and bestselling author Dr Anna Lembke reveals why our relentless pursuit of pleasure leads to pain and what we can do about it. Bringing together cutting-edge neuroscience with the gripping real life experiences from her clinical practice, Lembke explores how contentment and connTrade ReviewAnna Lembke's stories of guiding people to find a healthy balance between pleasure and pain have the power to transform your life -- Lori Gottlieb, bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to SomeoneBrilliant . . . No matter what you might find yourself over-indulging in-from the internet to food to work to sex-you'll find this book riveting, scary, cogent, and cleverly argued. Lembke weaves patient stories with research, in a voice that's as empathetic as it is clear-eyed -- Beth Macy, bestselling author of DopesickRadically changes the way we think about mental illness, pleasure, pain, reward, and stress. Turn toward it. You'll be happy you did -- Daniel Levitin, bestselling author of The Organized Mind and Successful Aging[An] eye-opening survey on pleasure-seeking and addiction . . . Readers looking for balance will return to Lembke's informative and fascinating guidance. * Publishers Weekly, starred review *fascinating case histories, and a sensible formula for treatment. * Kirkus Reviews *Dr Anna Lembke is a whiz on why we get hooked on things - and how we can enjoy pleasurable things in healthier doses * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"For those who want to understand what’s happening to them and why grief is so confounding, this is a fascinating and comforting read.” — Oprah Daily “[A]n insightful book…fascinating look at what goes on inside our minds when we lose someone special.” — Wake-Up Call, Katie Couric Media “This book has helped so many who are grasping to make sense of loss, and I recommend it now, hoping that it will offer insights, solace, or even answers.” — Amanda Stern, How to Live (blog) “The Grieving Brain is a probing exploration into the science of grief and grieving. We are given an opportunity to view loss in a new way. If you have felt the pain of a loss and wondered if it will ever get better, O'Connor shows how the brain can help heal.” — Sharon Salzberg, author of Real Change “A pioneer of the neuroscience of grief, O'Connor lays out in simple prose how we try to make sense of the impossible conundrum of loss. Anyone who's been through a loss or just wants to know how bereavement works, this is the book for you.” — George Bonanno, author of The End of Trauma "We will all be touched by loss. To understand grief is to understand a fundamental human experience. This book is a powerful and comprehensive exploration of grief, the best I have read.” — Roshi Joan Halifax, PhD, pioneer in the end-of-life care field and author of Standing at the Edge and Being with Dying “Absorbing and wise, The Grieving Brain offers insights and coping mechanisms for those of us who have peered up from the depths of grief and wondered, why does this hurt so much? How can I make a meaningful life for myself now?” — Maryanne O’Hara, author of Little Matches "The Grieving Brain answered fascinating questions that I would not have thought to ask. State-of-science studies, fun facts and fascinating insights kept me turning pages and losing track of time." — Ira Byock, MD, active emeritus professor, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, author of Dying Well and The Best Care Possible “[C]lear, confirming, compassionate, beautifully readable …” — Mad In America

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Book Synopsis'This is the story of how your life shapes your brain, and how your brain shapes your life.' Join renowned neuroscientist David Eagleman on a whistle-stop tour of the inner cosmos. It's a journey that will take you into the world of extreme sports, criminal justice, genocide, brain surgery, robotics and the search for immortality. On the way, amidst the infinitely dense tangle of brain cells and their trillions of connections, something emerges that you might not have expected to see: you.Trade ReviewEntertaining and profound: page-turning neuroscience from a bit of a genius * * GUARDIAN * *On every page of The Brain there is a revelation so fantastic as to make one gasp -- STEPHEN FRYClear, engaging and thought-provoking * * NATURE * *The posterboy of neuroscience with ideas that will stretch your mind * * OBSERVER * *Mind-blowing revelations abound * * FINANCIAL TIMES * *It's no wonder reading David Eagleman's new book, The Brain, made me a little bit giddy. Eagleman tosses about ideas that had my grey matter pushed and pummelled, stimulated and stretched * * SCOTSMAN * *The hottest thing in neuroscience * * THE TIMES * *The rock star of neuroscience * * TELEGRAPH * *Accessible and fascinating * * SUNDAY TIMES * *If neuroscience had a rock legend this would be him -- RUBY WAX

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Book SynopsisA ground-breaking synthesis of the entire science of human behaviour by 'one of the best scientist-writers of our time' (Oliver Sacks) -- 'It's no exaggeration to say that Behave is one of the best nonfiction books I've ever read' Wall Street Journal Why do we do what we do? Behave is at once a dazzling tour and a majestic synthesis of the whole science of human behaviour. Brought to life through simple language, engaging stories and irreverent wit, it offers the fullest picture yet of the origins of tribalism and xenophobia, hierarchy and competition, morality and free will, war and peace. Robert Sapolsky's ingenious method is to move backwards in time from the moment at which a behaviour occurs, layer by layer through the myriad influences that led to it: - We begin with the split-second reactions of the brain and nervous system... - Then we consider our response to sight, sound and smell in the minutes and seconds beforehand... - Next he explains the interactions of hormones, which Trade ReviewAwe-inspiring … This is the best scientific book written for non-specialists that I have ever read. You will learn more about human nature than in any other book I can think of, and you will be inspired -- Henry Marsh, author of Do No HarmIt’s no exaggeration to say that Behave is one of the best nonfiction books I’ve ever read * Wall Street Journal *Behave is the best detective story ever written, and the most important. If you've ever wondered why someone did something – good or bad, vicious or generous – you need to read this book. If you think you already know why people behave as they do, you need to read this book. In other words, everybody needs to read it. It should be available on prescription (side effects: chronic laughter; highly addictive). They should put Behave in hotel rooms instead of the Bible: the world would be a much better, wiser place -- Kate Fox, author of Watching the EnglishMagisterial … This extraordinary survey of the science of human behaviour takes the reader on an epic journey … Sapolsky makes the book consistently entertaining, with an infectious excitement at the puzzles he explains … a miraculous synthesis of scholarly domains -- Steven Poole * Guardian *Truly all-encompassing … detailed, accessible, fascinating * Telegraph *Rarely does an almost 800-page book keep my attention from start to finish, but Behave is exceptional in its scale, scope, detail and writing style ... Sapolsky places what makes us special in the wider context of humans as animals with brains that are fundamentally similar to those of other species. It is the first book that does so comprehensively enough to qualify as a guide to human behaviour -- Frans de Waal * Science *A miraculous book, by far the best treatment of violence, aggression, and competition ever. Its depth and breadth of scholarship are amazing, building on Sapolsky’s own research and his vast knowledge of the neurobiology, genetic, and behavioral literature. All this is done brilliantly with a light and funny touch that shows why Sapolsky is recognized as one of the greatest teachers in science today -- Paul Ehrlich, author of Human NaturesA great writer and a superb guide to human nature, Sapolsky shows you how all the perspectives and systems connect, and he makes you laugh and marvel along the way. A beautifully crafted work about the biology of morality -- Jonathan Haidt, author of The Righteous MindOne of the best scientist-writers of our time -- Oliver SacksBehave is like a great historical novel, with excellent prose and encylopedic detail. It traces the most important story that can ever be told -- E O WilsonAs wide as it is deep, this book is colorful, electrifying, and moving. Sapolsky leverages his deep expertise to ask the most fundamental questions about being human -- David Eagleman, author of IncognitoMarvellous. Behave gives us the knowledge of how to manifest more of our best selves and less of our worst, individually and as a society -- Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of HabitOne of the finest natural history writers around * The New York Times *Robert Sapolsky's students must love him ... witty, erudite and passionate about clear communication ... the implications of fascinating scientific findings are illuminated through topical stories ... then Sapolsky reaches for the big, synthetic pay-offs, examining how, together, these insights can enhance our understanding of the forces that lead to tribalism, violence, dehumanization and war - as well as tolerance, empathy and peace ... The analysis is arresting and the writing is often moving ... It is impossible not to deeply admire a project bold enough to ask an entire field to work to create a more just and peaceful world * Nature *Sapolsky’s book shows in exquisite detail how culture, context and learning shape everything our genes, brains, hormones and neurons do * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisAn ambitious book about modern diagnosis from the neurologist and prize-winning author of It's All In Your Head.

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Book Synopsis''This is a book of miracles. Fascinating... An absorbing compendium of unlikely recoveries from physical and mental ailments offers evidence that the brain can heal... brings Oliver Sacks to mind'' Lisa Appignanesi, ObserverThe Brain''s Way of Healing explores the astonishing advances in the discovery of neuroplasticity, showing that the brain has its own unique way of healing, only recently uncovered. Norman Doidge discusses a series of remarkable recoveries: patients told they would never improve have years of chronic pain alleviated or damage from debilitating strokes undone, and symptoms of multiple sclerosis, Parkinson''s disease, brain injury, autism or learning disorders are reversed. He also shows how the risk of dementia can be lowered by 60%. Using stories to present cutting-edge science, Doidge illustrates principles that everyone can apply to improve their brain''s performance.Trade ReviewExhilarating science... In an era of ever-increasing medicalisation of the human mind, and the medication of it, the appeal of neuroplasticity outlined by Doidge is addictive. It is inspiring, page-turning stuff -- V.S. Ramachandran, neurologist and neuroscientist, author of 'The Tell-Tale Brain', Director of the Center for Brain and Cognition UCSD * Sunday Times *Brilliant and highly original. The book is a treasure-trove of the author's own deep insights and a clear bright light of optimism shines through every page -- V.S. Ramachandran, neurologist and neuroscientist, author of 'The Tell-Tale Brain', Director of the Center for Brain and Cognition UCSDBold, remarkable . . . paradigm challenging. The Brain's Way of Healing is brilliantly organized, scientifically documented, and a beautifully written narrative that captivates the reader, who is left with the profound message that the brain, similar to other organs, can heal -- Stephen W. Porges, author of 'The Polyvagal Theory'

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Book Synopsis**THE MILLION COPY BESTSELLER** 'Rattling. Heartbreaking. Beautiful.' Atul Gawande, bestselling author of Being Mortal What makes life worth living in the face of death? At the age of thirty-six, on the verge of completing a decade's training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. One day he was a doctor treating the dying, the next he was a patient struggling to live. When Breath Becomes Air chronicles Kalanithi's transformation from a medical student asking what makes a virtuous and meaningful life into a neurosurgeon working in the core of human identity - the brain - and finally into a patient and a new father. Paul Kalanithi died while working on this profoundly moving book, yet his words live on as a guide to us all. When Breath Becomes Air is a life-affirming reflection on facing our mortality and on the relationship between doctor and patient, from a gifted writer who became both. 'A vital book about dying. Awe-inspiring and exquisite. Obligatory reading for the living' Nigella LawsonTrade ReviewA vital book about dying. Awe-inspiring and exquisite. Obligatory reading for the living. -- Nigella LawsonRattling. Heartbreaking. Beautiful. -- Atul Gawande, author of BEING MORTALA great, indelible book ... as intimate and illuminating as Atul Gawande’s “Being Mortal,” to cite only one recent example of a doctor’s book that has had exceptionally wide appeal ... I guarantee that finishing this book and then forgetting about it is simply not an option ... gripping from the start ... None of it is maudlin. Nothing is exaggerated. As he wrote to a friend: “It’s just tragic enough and just imaginable enough.” And just important enough to be unmissable. * New York Times *Powerful and poignant. * The Sunday Times *Less a memoir than a reflection on life and purpose… A vital book. * The Economist *Powerful and poignant… Elegantly written posthumous memoir… Should be compulsory for anyone who intends to be a doctor… A profound reflection on the meaning of life. -- Daisy Goodwin * Sunday Times *A stark, fascinating, well-written and heroic memoir. -- Stefanie Marsh * The Times *The power of this book lies in its eloquent insistence that we are all confronting our mortality every day, whether we know it or not. The real question we face, Kalanithi writes, is not how long, but rather how, we will live – and the answer does not appear in any medical textbook. -- Alice Okeeffe * Guardian *Exceptional. -- Katie Law * Evening Standard *When I came to the end of the last flawless paragraph of When Breath Becomes Air, all I could do was turn to the first page and read the whole thing again. Searingly intelligent, beautifully written, and beyond brave, I haven't been so marked by a book in years. -- Gabriel Weston, author of DIRECT REDA remarkable book… Kalanithi writes very well, in a plain and matter-of-fact way, without a trace of self-pity, and you are immediately gripped and carried along… [He] was clearly a deeply thoughtful and compassionate man, and his death is a great loss to medicine, but at least he has left this remarkable book behind. -- Dr Henry Marsh * Observer *A meditation on what makes a life worth living. * Guardian *It turns out not really to be about dying at all but about life and how to live it — though the closeness of death gives it an urgency and economy… When Breath Becomes Air is a Renaissance book from a Renaissance man. It is a work of philosophy and morality, a reconciliation of science and religion. There is even plot and excitement… It was only with the restrained, elegant epilogue written by his wife Lucy Kalanithi that I found myself weeping helplessly… When Breath Becomes Air tells us what means to live a good life, by giving us a glimpse into an exceptional one. -- Lucy Kellaway * Financial Times *A powerful and compelling read. * The Economist, Book of the Year *An astonishingly affecting memoir and eloquent examination of what it is to be human and confront your own mortality… This is a remarkable book by a man who was driven by his passion for his life, his loves and his career. His death is undoubtedly a tragedy but in writing this memoir he has guaranteed that his voice and the important story it tells will resonate for years to come. -- Mernie Gilmore * Daily Express *As thought-provoking as it was moving. The sheer exuberance of Kalnithi’s intellectual curiosity shone through in his writing. -- Katie Law * Evening Standard, Book of the Year *To the venerable canon of doctors who could write (from Chekhov to Oliver Sacks and Atul Gawande), another name can be added: that of Paul Kalanithi… Brilliantly written. -- Louise Carpenter * Sunday Telegraph *Paul Kalanithi’s memoir, When Breath Becomes Air… split my head open with its beauty. Truly. Madly. Deeply. -- Cheryl Strayed, author of WILDThanks to When Breath Becomes Air, those of us who never met Paul Kalanithi will both mourn his death and benefit from his life. This one of a handful of books I consider to be a universal donor - I would recommend it to anyone, everyone. -- Ann Patchett, author of BEL CANTOA remarkable book about what it means to live…a tour de force…The book will be compared inevitably to Sacks’ work and also to the iconic book that Joan Didion wrote about grief, The Year of Magical Thinking. And like that book, it’s destined to become an elegiac classic on the subject of mortality. But it’s a different feeling from Didion’s gorgeous, melancholy fog of war. When Breath Becomes Air is electrically alive in its anticipation of death. -- Lisa Chase * Elle *

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Book SynopsisWant to read just one book about autism? Read this. Written by Temple Grandin, one of the world's most accomplished and well-known adults with autism, this thought-provoking, insightful and inspirational book - with illustrative diagrams and key points pulled out for emphasis - will assist not only fellow autistics and families with affected members, but also researchers and physicians seeking to better understand the condition.'An extraordinary source of inspiration for autistic children, their parents - and all people' -- Time'The Autistic Brain can both enlighten readers with little exposure to autism and offer hope and compassion to those who live with the condition' -- Scientific American'Grandin has helped us understand autism not just as a phenomenon, but as a different but coherent mode of existence that otherwise confounds us...' -- New York Times'Enjoyable, insightful read' -- ***** Reader review'This book is a delight from start to finish' -- ***** Reader review'Superb, readable book' -- ***** Reader review'Great book. Very insightful and easy to follow' -- ***** Reader review********************************************************************************************It's estimated that one in almost a hundred people are diagnosed as being on the autistic spectrum but there is far more hope for them today than ever before thanks to ground-breaking new research.In this fascinating and highly readable book, Temple Grandin offers her own experience as an autistic person alongside remarkable new discoveries about the autistic brain, as well as genetic research.She highlights long-ignored sensory problems as well as the need to treat autism symptom by symptom, rather than with an umbrella diagnosis. Most exciting of all, she argues that raising and educating children on the autistic spectrum needs to be less about focusing on their weaknesses, and more about fostering their unique contributions.Written in a clear, concise and accessible way, with illustrative diagrams and key points pulled out for emphasis, this is an all-encompassing guide that will change the perception of autism.Trade ReviewAn extraordinary source of inspiration for autistic children, their parents - and all people. * Time *The Autistic Brain can both enlighten readers with little exposure to autism and offer hope and compassion to those who live with the condition. * Scientific American *Grandin has reached a stunning level of sophistication about herself and the science of autism. Her observations will assist not only fellow autistics and families with affected members, but also researchers and physicians seeking to better understand the condition. -- Jerome Groopman * The New York Review of Books *Grandin has helped us understand autism not just as a phenomenon, but as a different but coherent mode of existence that otherwise confounds us…She excels at finding concrete examples that reveal the perceptual and social limitations of autistic and "neurotypical" people alike. * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisFrom the man dubbed the ‘Sleep Whisperer’ comes a brand-new approach to fixing your sleep, once and for all. Challenging the reader to take control and to stop hiding behind excuses for a bad night’s sleep, neurologist W. Chris Winter explains the basic, often-counterintuitive rules of sleep science. Dr Winter explores revolutionary findings, including surprising solutions for insomnia and other sleep disturbances, empowering readers to stop taking sleeping pills and enjoy the best sleep of their lives. Written in a clear and entertaining way, The Sleep Solution contains tips, tricks, exercises, and illustrations throughout. Dr Winter is an international expert on sleep and has helped thousands of patients — including professional athletes — rest better at night. Now, he's ready to help you.Trade Review‘I call Dr. Winter a sleep whisperer. Through his work with top athletes, he’s found an amazingly effective way to show that sleep can be the ultimate performance enhancer — in sports, at work, and in every aspect of our lives.’ -- Arianna Huffington‘[I]rreverent but still rooted in clinical science … [Winter’s] no-nonsense advice can be quickly summoned at 3.07am when the temptation to check Facebook or raid the biscuit tin can feel overwhelming.’ * Evening Standard *‘Until I met Chris Winter, I slept like a baby: I woke every two hours and cried. And then Dr. Winter … helped me. He was my sleep solution; this book will be yours.’ * Peter Moore, co-author The Eight-Hour Diet *‘[The Sleep Solution] is already being hailed as a ‘solution’ to insomnia. It's a no-nonsense, colloquial approach to sleep difficulties that aims to change the narrative around sleep in order to make it more manageable.’ -- Jess Commons * Refinery29 *‘Chris is world class in his field; he is incredibly pragmatic in his application of medicine to real world, high-performance settings.’ -- Mark Simpson, LA Clippers Director of Performance and former Head of Strength and Conditioning for the British Cycling Team‘Dr. Winter has spent his career bringing attention to the benefits of sleep and for the first time, this book brings it all together. He has written an important resource for athletic trainers and professional athletes alike. His professional experiences and research has assisted with bringing to light the impact sleep has on our athletes within their sport.’ -- Ben Potenziano, Assistant Athletic Trainer, Pittsburgh Pirates‘Dr. Winter's ‘personal touch’ [is] his … touch of humor and true caring about improving … lives through ‘healthy sleep.’’ -- Herm Schneider, Head Athletic Trainer Chicago White Sox‘Dr. Chris Winter’s new work, The Sleep Solution, is a jewel of a book for anyone who has struggled with sleep issues.’ -- Ron Adams, veteran coach of the Golden State Warriors‘Dr. Winter is our go-to sleep specialist. In The Sleep Solution, you will find much of what he has shared with our athletes as he has helped us navigate the rigorous NBA schedule.’ -- Donald S. Strack, DPT, ATC Director of Medical Services Oklahoma City Thunder‘In the baseball industry, the travel, change in time zones and just sleeping in a different bed is not easy. I have leaned on Dr. Winter many times. Thank you Chris.’ -- Ron Porterfield, Athletic Trainer Tampa Bay Rays

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Book SynopsisNeurological and psychiatric disorders have long been regarded as fundamentally different, depending on whether they appear to affect the brain or the mind. In reality, the brain and the mind are inseparable. Both types of disorder can affect every aspect of brain function: from perception, action, memory and emotion to empathy, social interaction, attention and consciousness. It is easy to view brain disorders as simply tragic or frightening. However, studying where these functions go wrong provides a window on the workings of the healthy brain, and makes it more likely that scientists and clinicians will be able to develop effective treatments or preventative strategies. As individuals, and as a society, we are also able to better empathise with people with disorders of the mind.Building on his pioneering research, Eric R. Kandel illustrates how breakthrough studies of brain disruptions can deepen our understanding of thought, feeling, behaviour, memory and creativTrade Review[Kandel's discoveries] have truly changed our understanding of brain function -- Citation for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine[Eric Kandel is] one of the preeminent neuroscientists in the world -- Sue Halpern, New York Review of BooksBold propositions such as Kandel's in The Disordered Mind blur the distinction between therapies involving medication or surgery and those that use behavioural and cognitive means. Still, one should appreciate Kandel's humanistic aims: knowing more about disorders makes us less likely to stigmatize those who think or act differently -- Douwe Draaisma * Nature *

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Book SynopsisWinner of the 2015 Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-FictionShortlisted for the Wellcome Book PrizeA Sunday Times and New York Times bestsellerForeword by Oliver SacksWhat is autism: a devastating developmental condition, a lifelong disability, or a naturally occurring form of cognitive difference akin to certain forms of genius? In truth, it is all of these things and more - and the future of our society depends on our understanding it. Following on from his groundbreaking article 'The Geek Syndrome', Wired reporter Steve Silberman unearths the secret history of autism, long suppressed by the same clinicians who became famous for discovering it, and finds surprising answers to the crucial question of why the number of diagnoses has soared in recent years.Going back to the earliest autism research and chronicling the brave and lonely journey of autistic people and their families through the decades, Silberman provides long-sought solutions to the autism puzzle while casting light on the growing movement of 'neurodiversity' and mapping out a path towards a more humane world for people with learning differences.Trade ReviewStunning... Highly original... Outstanding. * Spectator, Best Books of 2015 *A sprawling and fascinating dissection of the role autism has played in shaping human history. * Daily Telegraph, Best Books of 2015 *Whatever the future of autism...Mr Silberman has surely written the definitive book about its past. * The Economist, Best Books of 2015 *A rich amalgam of social history and contemporary reportage. * Financial Times, Best Books of 2015 *[An] epic history of autism. * Sunday Telegraph *Ambitious, meticulous and largehearted... Beautifully told, humanizing, important. * New York Times, Best Books of 2015 *Silberman's phenomenal book goes a long way to uncovering some of the myths about this particular "tribe" and is all for recognising their incredible talents and contributions to society. * The Sun *Brilliant and sparklingly humane. * Guardian, Best Books of 2015 *NeuroTribes is deeply felt. * The Times, Best Books of 2015 *Powerful, authoritative... This is a significant book. * The Sunday Times, Best Books of 2015 *It's not just a book about autism but a journey through the history of cognitive difference and our evolving attitudes towards it. * Metro, Best Books of 2015 *Silberman sheds a sage and humane light on a much-misrepresented aspect of human nature. * Independent, Best Books of the Year *Steve Silberman explores in fascinating, near-encyclopaedic depth how autism has evolved. It's a gripping narrative written with journalistic verve. * Observer *Silberman is a skilled storyteller... [He] researches with scientific rigour... A powerful voice: NeuroTribes offers keen insight. * New Statesman *Silberman's sweeping history is always sensitive and builds a persuasive argument that the ability to think differently is useful, necessary even, for the success of the modern world. * New Scientist *This excellent book is the result of fifteen years of work. As the late Oliver Sacks put it, "I know of no one else who has spent so much time simply listening, trying to understand what it is like to be autistic." -- William Leith * Evening Standard, Best Books of 2015 *A tome that beautifully, compassionately and brutally traces the history of autism from centuries past into the present and possible future... Everyone needs to read this book. Everyone. * Forbes *NeuroTribes is remarkable. Silberman has done something unique: he's taken the dense and detailed history of autism and turned the story into a genuine page-turner. The book is sure to stir considerable discussion. -- John Elder Robison, author of Look Me in the EyeA lively, readable book... To read NeuroTribes is to realize how much autistic people have enriched the scope of human knowledge and diversity, and how impoverished the world would be without them. * San Francisco Chronicle, Best Books of 2015 *A comprehensive history of the science and culture surrounding autism studies... An essential resource. * Nature magazine *Breathtaking... As emotionally resonant as any [book] this year. * The Boston Globe, Best Books of 2015 *It's a readable, engaging story. But it's also a serious political and sociological critique, couched in a 500-page-long piece of original historical scholarship. * Salon *Nothing short of a revelation... Sweeping and lovingly detailed. * Parent.co *The monks who inscribed beautiful manuscripts during the Middle Ages, Cavendish an 18th century scientist who explained electricity, and many of the geeks in Silicon Valley are all on the autism spectrum. Silberman reviews the history of autism treatments from horrible blaming of parents to the modern positive neurodiversity movement. Essential reading for anyone interested in psychology. -- Temple Grandin, author of Thinking in Pictures and The Autistic BrainIt is a beautifully written and thoughtfully crafted book, a historical tour of autism, richly populated with fascinating and engaging characters, and a rallying call to respect difference. * Science magazine *Epic and often shocking... Everyone with an interest in the history of science and medicine - how it has failed us, surprised us and benefited us - should read this book. * Chicago Tribune *The best book you can read to understand autism. * Gizmodo *This is perhaps the most significant history of the discovery, changing conception and public reaction to autism we will see in a generation. * TASH.org *A well-researched, readable report on the treatment of autism that explores its history and proposes significant changes for its future... In the foreword, Oliver Sacks writes that this "sweeping and penetrating history...is fascinating reading" that "will change how you think of autism." No argument with that assessment. * Kirkus Reviews *Stunning...a remarkable narrative...one of the most fascinating accounts of autism I have ever read. -- Simon Baron-Cohen * The Lancet *Essential reading if you have an autistic child; highly recommended for anyone with an interest in the workings of the mind. * The Tablet *The story of autism reads more like a novel, with a vivid cast of characters, power struggles, obsessions - and heroic efforts of insight. * The Psychologist *

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Book SynopsisWinner of the 2020 British Psychological Society Popular Science PrizeWinner of the 2018 Royal Society Science Book Prize.........................................................................................Up to the minute brain science from a world class scientist. Sarah-Jayne Blakemore explains how the adolescent brain transforms as it develops and shapes the adults we become. 'Beautifully written with clarity, expertise and honesty about the most important subject for all of us. I couldn't put it down.' - Professor Robert Winston Drawing upon her cutting-edge research Professor Blakemore explores:· What makes the adolescent brain different? · Why does an easy child become a challenging teenager? · What drives the excessive risk-taking and the need for intense friendships common to teenagers? · Why it is that many mental illnesses - depression, addiction, schizophrenia - begin during these formative years.And she shows that while adolescence is a period of vulnerability, it is also a time of enormous creativity and opportunity.Trade ReviewThe best science writing helps us to look at ourselves and our world in new ways, and does this by combining compelling storytelling with scientific depth and detail. This book not only has all of these qualities, but also has something to offer every reader - whether you are a teenager, parent of a teenager, or just interested in understanding your former teenage self. -- Professor Brian CoxCompletely captivating ... Blakemore explains the science behind teenage behaviour in a lucid and engaging way, deconstructs the myths that surround it, offers new insight into how we should treat teenagers, and reflects on how our new knowledge might usefully influence policy decisions. …This is truly a book that everyone should read. -- Professor Dame Frances Ashcroft, chair of Royal Society Prize judges and professor of physiology at OxfordAbsolutely fascinating -- Louise Minchin * BBC Breakfast *An engaging and interesting book, written comprehensibly for a non-specialist audience. You will understand your children and your former selves better for reading it and you will bust a few myths as you go. * The Times *There are few people more qualified to explain [adolescence] than the author of this compelling book. What I enjoyed most about this book was the readability and personal style of the narrative. Blakemore manages to present a highly accessible account of the science, without ever compromising on detail or depth…there is almost a sense that the reader is in the lab, listening in on the discussions and taking part in the decisions….This book has something to offer everyone … Blakemore provides a unique and very up-to-date insight into the changes that occur during this intriguing period. -- Dr Catherine Loveday * The Psychologist *Refreshingly and reassuringly light and lucid in both tone and approach ...an enjoyable, accessible, and insightful book by an author at the top of her field. * The Lancet *A very readable book bringing together the up-to-date research about how the adolescent brain develops. This matters to both adolescents and parents but also should be read by everyone who looks after adolescents, be they teachers, doctors or psychologists. -- Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer, Department of HealthInventing Ourselves is a gripping celebration of the teenage brain. Essential reading for parents, teachers and teens.Sane, wise, myth busting, this book is a triumph and should be read by every parent and teacher but they should be warned. They’ll have to fight their teenagers to get this gripping book out of their hands. -- Dr Vivienne Parry OBEThe teenage brain is different, but in what way? This beautifully written book tells just how it influences and is influenced by the new challenging demands of a transformational phase of life. There is no sensationalism here. Sarah-Jayne Blakemore is a pioneer in the field and provides a meticulous account of what we know. -- Professors Uta & Chris FrithInventing Ourselves is an accessible introduction bothto neuroscience and experimental psychology, coveringbasic research techniques while providing an overview ofrecent studies of adolescence that will be of interest evento someone familiar with these fields. This balance is inlarge part due to the author’s ability to explain nuancedexperiments with an infectious enthusiasm that engagesthe reader’s curiosity. Blakemore approaches the topic witha sympathy and respect for the adolescents she works withthat is genuinely admirable. For anyone looking back ontheir teenage years, trying to raise a teenager, or workingwith adolescents, this book can help foster understandingabout why adolescents act the way they do and how webecome our adult selves. -- Robert Stirrups * Lancet Neurology *

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Book SynopsisOVER ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD ''A remarkable and hopeful portrait of the endless adaptability of the human brain'' Oliver Sacks''Utterly wonderful . . . without question one of the most important books about the brain you will ever read; yet it is beautifully written, immensely approachable, and full of humanity'' Iain McGilchrist MA, author of The Master and His EmissaryMeet the ninety-year-old doctor who is still practicing medicine, the stroke victim who learned to move and talk again and the woman with half a brain that rewired itself to work as a whole. All these people had their lives transformed by the remarkable discovery that our brains can repair themselves through the power of positive thinking. Here bestselling author, psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Norman Doidge reveals the secrets of the cutting-edge science of ''neuroplasticity''. He introduces incredible case histories - blind people helped to see, IQs raised and memories sharpened - and tells the stories of the maverick scientists who are overturning centuries of assumptions about the brain. This inspiring book will leave you with a sense of wonder at the capabilities of the mind, and the self-healing power that lies within all of us.Trade ReviewAn utterly wonderful book - without question one of the most important books about the brain you will ever read; yet it is beautifully written, immensely approachable, and full of humanity. Its message is one of hope: it is not just our brains that shape our thinking, but our thinking that, very definitely, shapes our brains.Doidge has identified a tidal shift in basic science and a potential one in medicine. The implications are monumental -- Penny Wark * The Times *A remarkable and hopeful portrait of the endless adaptability of the human brain -- Oliver Sacks * author of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat *A wonderful and engaging way of re-imagining what kind of creatures we are -- Jeanette Winterson * The Guardian *The power of positive thinking finally gains scientific credibility. Miracle-making stuff -- Abigail Zuger * The New York Times *

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Book SynopsisExamines whether there exists a unified conceptual framework for the field that is firmly based on scientific understanding regarding human development and functioning, that applies across all the clinical populations and practice areas within the field, and that would also help integrate professional psychology more fully into health care.Trade Review"Melchert's book is a valuable resource for graduate students and their faculty to understand how professional psychology is transforming into a health profession, while maintaining its unique psychological identity. I highly recommend it." --Dr. James Bray, Past President American Psychological Association, Editor, Primary Care Psychology and Handbook of Family PsychologyTable of Contents1. The Need for a Unified Conceptual Framework in Professional Psychology2. Professional Psychology as a Health Care Profession3. The Public We Serve: Their Mental Health Needs and Sociocultural and Medical Circumstances4. Resolving Conceptual and Theoretical Confusion in Professional Psychology5. The Biopsychosocial Approach: General Systems, Nonlinear Dynamical Systems, and Complexity Theory6. Ethical Foundations of Professional Practice7. A Unified Theoretical Framework8. Assessment9. Treatment Planning10. Treatment11. Outcomes Assessment12. Prevention and Public Health Perspective on Mental Health13. Implications for Professional Psychology Education and Practice

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Book SynopsisConnectome, by Sebastian Seung is ''One of the most eagerly awaited scientific books of the year ... intellectually exhilarating, beautifully written, exquisitely precise yet still managing to be inspirational'' Irish Times What really makes us who we are? In this groundbreaking book, pioneering neuroscientist Sebastian Seung shows that our identity does not lie in our genes, but in the connections between our brain cells - our own particular wiring, or ''connectomes''.Everything about us - emotions, thoughts, memories - is encoded in these tangled patterns of neural connections, and now Seung and a dedicated team are mapping them in order to uncover the basis of personality, explain disorders such as autism and depression, and even enable us to ''upload'' our brains. This book reveals the secrets of the brain, showing how our connectome makes each of us uniquely ourselves. ''With the first-person flavour of James Watson''s Double Helix, ConnecTrade ReviewWith the first-person flavour of James Watson's Double Helix, Connectome gives a sense of the excitement on the cutting edge of neuroscience * New Scientist *Witty and exceptionally clear ... beautifully explained ... the best lay book on brain science I've ever read * Wall Street Journal *Seung is about to revolutionise brain science * The Times *

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Book Synopsis'Compelling and wise and rational.' - Jon RonsonMotion sickness.Nightmares.Forgetting people's names.Why did I walk into this room??For something supposedly so brilliant and evolutionarily advanced, the human brain is pretty messy, fallible and disorganised. In The Idiot Brain neuroscientist Dean Burnett celebrates the imperfections of the human brain in all their glory, and the impact of these quirks on our daily lives. Expertly researched and entertainingly written, this book is for anyone who has wondered why their brain seems to be sabotaging their life, and what on earth it is really up to.

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Book SynopsisAs plants see it, humans are not the masters of the Earth but only one of its most unpleasant and irksome residents. They have been on the planet for only about 300,000 years ago (nothing compared to the three billon years of plant evolution), yet have changed the conditions of the planet so drastically as to make it a dangerous place for their own survival. It's time for the plants to offer advice. In this playful, philosophical manifesto, Stefano Mancuso, expert on plant intelligence, presents a new constitution on which to build our future as beings respectful of the Earth and its inhabitants. These eight articles - the fundamental pillars on which plant life is based - must henceforth regulate all living beings.Trade ReviewPraise for The Nation of Plants: This artfully crafted exposition delightfully delves into the lives of plants by presenting the eight pillars on which those lives are built. * Newsweek *Mancuso writes playfully; as manifestos go, he knows, his is deeply weird...But this is peculiarity with a purpose. The conceit, an impassioned argument from collectivized flora that cites both atmospheric emissions and anthropocenic despair, forces readers to ask elemental questions. Who-and what-deserves moral consideration when the fate of one species is so often the fate of another? Mancuso's plants, in the end, make some very good points -- Megan Garber * The Atlantic *A renowned scientist delivers a simple yet urgent call to action on behalf of Earth's multitude of plants...[a] powerful book...Mancuso concludes his elegant and cogent argument with straightforward advice accessible to anyone...Insightful and arresting, this book offers an achievable road map to a more radiant future * Kirkus Reviews *A marvellously inventive spur to imagination. Plants have many lessons to offer us about thriving and resilience, and these are wonderfully elucidated in this deep green journey -- David George Haskell, author of the Pulitzer Prize finalist The Forest Unseen and John Burroughs Medal recipient for The Songs of TreesStefano Mancuso's The Nation of Plants is brilliant and delightful. A perfect little gem of a book -- Sonia Shah, author of The Next Great Migration: The Beauty and Terror of Life on the MoveA fantastic and necessary read for any plant enthusiast or environmental activist, The Nation of Plants is not merely a missive on the perils of climate change. Rather, the book begins from the whimsical perspective of plants, then weaves scientific fact with historical examples in a moving and inspiring call to action. Apart from the initial address, Mancuso's concrete approach is far from fantastical. The Nation of Plants is moving and informative, balancing a love for all things botanical with a passion for listening to and considering the needs of our plant brethren. -- Jessica Roux, author of Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of FlowersIn his new book, The Nation of Plants, Stefano Mancuso expresses his awe for plants by asking a unique question: What if our Constitution were rewritten by plants? What would be the fundamental laws if the Earth were governed by plants rather than people? Mancuso answers this question by masterfully and thoughtfully linking the stories of people, plants, and plant science. A must-read for anyone who is interested in the historical interactions between people and plants -- Valerie Trouet, author of Tree Story: The History of the World Written in RingsIn this insightful and pithy tract, Stefano Mancuso convincingly argues that the route to fighting climate change and mass extinction, and to living sustainably on this Earth, begins with a floral point of view. This is the constitution we need -- Zach St. George, author of The Journeys of Trees: A Story about Forests, People, and the FutureThe Nation of Plants unveils the long-term relationship between plants and people and explores the rights of all living things. It is a call for cooperation in a world facing persistent environmental degradation. It is a call for our mutual survival -- Lauren E. Oakes, author of In Search of the Canary TreeIn this brief book, Stefano Mancuso offers what may be the most original solution to the troubling age of humans. What if it were plants, rather than humans, who wrote a constitution for Earthly survival? Mancuso's innovative manifesto is a set of principles for living according to the botanical world. He imagines a new political order based not on the survival of the fittest, but rather on life in community, mutual aid, freedom from borders, and sovereignty for all living beings. In this engaging read, the plant philosopher pushes readers to see how much our survival depends on the well-being of the Nation of Plants-and gives us a radical guide to living according to the rules of life's unsung heroes -- Elizabeth Hennessy, author of On the Backs of Tortoises: Darwin, the Galapagos, and the Fate of an Evolutionary EdenMancuso [is] a gifted writer, with an engaging story-telling approach ... [The Nation of Plants has] many important ideas and food for thought * For Better Science *

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Book SynopsisAre some criminals born, not made? What causes violence and how can we treat it? An Anatomy of Violence introduces readers to new ways of looking at these age-old questions. Drawing on the latest scientific research, Adrian Raine explains what it reveals about the brains of murderers, psychopaths and serial killers. Anti-social behaviour is complex, he argues, and based on the interaction between genetics and the biological and social environment in which a person is raised. But the latest statistical evidence between certain types of biological and early behavioural warning signs is also very strong. These are among the thorny issues we can no longer ignore and this book is an important milestone in our growing understanding of criminal behaviour.Trade ReviewFascinating ... Has profound implications ... It is remarkable that most of the work Raine outlines remains largely unknown to the wider public ... It is high time this defect was remedied -- David Rose * Mail on Sunday *This remarkable book offers startling evidence of the links between our biology and criminality ... powerful and well-written ... I commend his intelllectual courage -- Jenni Russell * Sunday Times *Raine's book is a masterpiece. He has the research at his fingertips - not surprising, since he carried out much of it - and makes a compelling case that society needs to grapple with the biological underpinnings of violent crime -- Bob Holmes * New Scientist *Adrian Raine has devoted his career to uncovering the causes of human violence ... This important book is a most valuable contribution -- Daniel Dennett * Prospect *

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Book SynopsisBridging the gap between research, science and the therapy room.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis'Nobody bewitched by these mysteries can afford to ignore the solution proposed by Mark Solms' - Oliver Burkeman, Guardian 'A remarkable book. It changes everything' - Brian Eno How does the mind connect to the body? Why does it feel like something to be us? For one of the boldest thinkers in neuroscience, solving this puzzle has been a lifetime's quest. Now at last, the man who discovered the brain mechanism for dreaming appears to have made a breakthrough. The very idea that a solution is at hand may seem outrageous. Isn't consciousness intangible, beyond the reach of science? Yet Mark Solms shows how misguided fears and suppositions have concealed its true nature. Stick to the medical facts, pay close attention to the eerie testimony of hundreds of neurosurgery patients, and a way past our obstacles reveals itself. Join Solms on a voyage into the extraordinary realms beyond. More than just a philosophical argument, The Hidden Spring will forever alter how you understand your own experience. There is a secret buried in the brain's ancient foundations: bring it into the light and we fathom all the depths of our being.Trade ReviewNobody bewitched by these mysteries can afford to ignore the solution proposed by Mark Solms in The Hidden Spring ... fascinating, wide-ranging and heartfelt -- Oliver Burkeman * Guardian *Rather extraordinary ... The thing about these rebel types is that, so much of the time, they're the ones most capable of making the wildest leaps. Not the patient, incremental advances of everyday science, but the world-historical, paradigm-shifting transformations in global consciousness. Or, in Solms' case, a new theory of consciousness itself ... One of the worthiest efforts to come out of neuroscience in recent memory -- Jason Kehe * Wired *Truly pioneering. This unification is clearly the direction for the future -- Eric Kandel, Nobel laureate and author * The Disordered Mind *A remarkable book. It changes everything -- Brian EnoTo say this work is encyclopaedic is to diminish its poetic, psychological and theoretical achievement. This is required reading -- Susie Orbach, author * In Therapy *Convincing ... As with all returns of the repressed, Solms's exhumation of psychoanalysis is sure to be unnerving, especially for those who want to deny Freud's lessons about the workings of desire -- Jess Keiser * Washington Post *If The Hidden Spring did all that it claims then it would be the greatest book on psychology of the past 100 years ... Readers who find hubris off-putting should nonetheless recognize that there are ideas here deserving of serious consideration ... Persuasive and important -- Christopher Mole * TLS *Readers who stick with it will be rewarded with interesting ideas about what it means to feel, think and be -- Tali Sharot * New York Times *Important -- Carlos Montemayor * Psychology Today *Intriguing ... If he is correct, the implications are substantial -- Anil Seth * Times Higher Education *Fascinating and deeply affecting ... Solms argues that feelings, not cognition or perception, are the defining feature of consciousness * New Statesman *An extraordinarily ambitious undertaking ... Solms is successful, to my mind -- Joan Harvey * 3 Quarks Daily *It has come closer than anything else I have ever read to shining a light on a central facet of our humanity -- Terence Jagger * Shiny New Books *Mark Solms is a serious player in neuropsychology and has contributed serious insights into the mechanisms behind dreaming - returning, interestingly, a degree of lost credibility to Freud ... He posits that consciousness is a measure of our distance at any given point from homeostasis, and an index of the degree to which reality is failing at that instant to match our predictions. You are never more conscious, essentially, than when surveying the reality of life's hotel, with the brochure in one hand and a suitcase in the other -- Simon Evans * Spectator *Outstanding ... Solms has provided a valuable service with this bold, thorough, occasionally infuriating and always wildly ambitious book -- Charles Fernyhough * Literary Review *This treatment of consciousness and artificial sentience should be taken very seriously -- Karl Friston, scientific director, Wellcome Trust Centre for NeuroimagingTakes aim at the biggest question there is. Solms will challenge your most basic beliefs -- Matthew Cobb, author * The Idea of the Brain *Solms' vital work has never ignored the lived, felt experience of human beings. His ideas look a lot like the future to me -- Siri Hustvedt, author * The Blazing World *At last the emperor has found some clothes! For decades, consciousness has been perceived as little more than an illusion. Solms takes a thrilling new approach, grounded in modern neurobiology but finding meaning in a fascinating reconception of the self -- Nick Lane, author * Life Ascending *Solms and his colleagues are making a brilliant, determined, scrupulous, and (one wants to say) tactful endeavour to approach, in a new way, the oldest question of them all - the mysterious relation of body and mind -- Oliver SacksA scientific blockbuster -- Pat Kane * National *

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Book SynopsisThe gold standard of neuroscience textsâupdated with hundreds of brand-new images and fully revised content in every chapterA Doody's Core Titles for 2024 & 2023! For more than 40 years, Principles of Neural Science has helped readers understand the link between the human brain and behavior. As the renowned text has shown, all behavior is an expression of neural activity and the future of both clinical neurology and psychiatry is dependent on the progress of neural science. Fully updated, this sixth edition of the landmark reference reflects the latest research, clinical perspectives, and advances in the field. It offers an unparalleled perspective on the the current state and future of neural science. This new edition features: Unmatched coverage of how the nerves, brain, and mind function NEW chapters on: - The Computational Bases of Neural Circuits that Mediate BehTable of ContentsPart I: Overall PerspectiveChapter 1: The Brain and BehaviorChapter 2: Genes and BehaviorChapter 3: Nerve Cells, Neural Circuitry, and BehaviorChapter 4: The Neuroanatomical Bases by Which Neural Circuits Mediate BehaviorChapter 5: The Computational Bases of Neural Circuits That Mediate BehaviorChapter 6: Imaging and BehaviorPart II: Cell and Molecular Biology of Cells of the Nervous SystemChapter 7: The Cells of the Nervous SystemChapter 8: Ion ChannelsChapter 9: Membrane Potential and the Passive Electrical Properties of the NeuronChapter 10: Propagated Signaling: The Action PotentialPart III: Synaptic TransmissionChapter 11: Overview of Synaptic TransmissionChapter 12: Directly Gated Transmission: The Nerve-Muscle SynapseChapter 13: Synaptic Integration in the Central Nervous SystemChapter 14: Modulation of Synaptic Transmission and Neuronal Excitability: Second MessengersChapter 15: Transmitter ReleaseChapter 16: NeurotransmittersPart IV: PerceptionChapter 17: Sensory CodingChapter 18: Receptors of the Somatosensory SystemChapter 19: TouchChapter 20: PainChapter 21: The Constructive Nature of Visual ProcessingChapter 22: Low-Level Visual Processing: The RetinaChapter 23: Intermediate-Level Visual Processing and Visual PrimitivesChapter 24: High-Level Visual Processing: From Vision to CognitionChapter 25: Visual Processing for Attention and ActionChapter 26: Auditory Processing by the CochleaChapter 27: The Vestibular SystemChapter 28: Auditory Processing by the Central Nervous SystemChapter 29: Smell and Taste: The Chemical SensesPart V: MovementChapter 30: Principles of Sensorimotor ControlChapter 31: The Motor Unit and Muscle ActionChapter 32: Sensory-Motor Integration in the Spinal CordChapter 33: LocomotionChapter 34: Voluntary Movement: Motor CorticesChapter 35: The Control of GazeChapter 36: PostureChapter 37: The CerebellumChapter 38: The Basal GangliaChapter 39: Brain–Machine InterfacesPart VI: The Biology of Emotion, Motivation, and HomeostasisChapter 40: The Brain StemChapter 41: The Hypothalamus: Autonomic, Hormonal, and Behavioral Control of SurvivalChapter 42: EmotionChapter 43: Motivation, Reward, and Addictive StatesChapter 44: Sleep and WakefulnessPart VII: Development and the Emergence of BehaviorChapter 45: Patterning the Nervous SystemChapter 46: Differentiation and Survival of Nerve CellsChapter 47: The Growth and Guidance of AxonsChapter 48: Formation and Elimination of SynapsesChapter 49: Experience and the Refinement of Synaptic ConnectionsChapter 50: Repairing the Damaged BrainChapter 51: Sexual Differentiation of the Nervous SystemPart VIII: Learning, Memory, Language and CognitionChapter 52: Learning and MemoryChapter 53: Cellular Mechanisms of Implicit Memory Storage and the Biological Basis of IndividualityChapter 54: The Hippocampus and the Neural Basis of Explicit Memory StorageChapter 55: LanguageChapter 56: Decision-Making and ConsciousnessPart IX: Diseases of the Nervous SystemChapter 57: Diseases of the Peripheral Nerve and Motor UnitChapter 58: Seizures and EpilepsyChapter 59: Disorders of Conscious and Unconscious Mental ProcessesChapter 60: Disorders of Thought and Volition in SchizophreniaChapter 61: Disorders of Mood and AnxietyChapter 62: Disorders Affecting Social Cognition: Autism Spectrum DisorderChapter 63: Genetic Mechanisms in Neurodegenerative Diseases of the Nervous SystemChapter 64: The Aging Brain

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Book Synopsis'Highly accessible, content-rich and eminently readable . . . Fascinating and informative . . . popular science at its best.' - The Observer'Subtly radical . . . It presents a revelatory model of consciousness that will be completely new to most readers' - The Guardian 'Best Reads For Summer'Have you ever wondered why you have a brain? Let renowned neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett, bestselling author of How Emotions Are Made, demystify that big grey blob between your ears . . .In seven short chapters (plus a brief history of how brains evolved), this slim, entertaining, and accessible book reveals mind-expanding lessons from the front lines of neuroscience research. You’ll learn where brains came from, how they’re structured (and why it matters), and how yours works in tandem with other brains to create everything you experience. Along the way, you’ll also learn to dismiss popular myths such as the idea of a 'lizard brain' and the alleged battle between thoughts and emotions, or even between nature and nurture, to determine your behaviour.Sure to intrigue casual readers and scientific veterans alike, Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain is full of surprises, humour, and important implications for human nature - a gift of a book about our most complex and crucial organ.Trade ReviewBeautiful writing and sublime insights that will blow your mind like a string of firecrackers. If you want a rundown of the brain and its magic, start here. -- David Eagleman, New York Times bestselling author of IncognitoSeven and a Half Lessons About the Brain reads like a novel – and its main character is all of us. In fresh and lively prose, Barrett provides deep insight into what brains are for, how they operate and are programmed, how they create the 'reality' we experience, and how they ultimately produce our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Read this book! It will make you smarter about yourself, and your species. -- Leonard Mlodinow, New York Times bestselling author of The Drunkard's WalkA smart and delightfully breezy look at the things most of us think we know about the brain, but don't. -- Daniel Gilbert, New York Times bestselling author of Stumbling on Happiness

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewDexter Dias is on the side of the angels, who turn out to be us, the people. He writes like an angel too. Uplifting and indispensable. -- Howard Cunnell, author of Fathers and SonsIn defining and describing his human types, he draws on lab experiments, the animal kingdom, and all the literature you might expect from a modern behaviourist. Yet the main body of the book, the bits that transfixed and stayed with me, stopped me sleeping but got me up in the morning, were the human stories that Dias has travelled the world to find. His interviewees are always people, the most vivid flesh and blood, never case studies. And yet that’s not what’s so extraordinary about it: storytellers are rare, but not vanishingly so... Dias’s work as a human rights lawyer gives him this instinctive, urgent belief that all injustices, all catastrophes, exploitations, acts of violence, all human misery can be taken on and overcome, somehow, if the right people try and there are enough of them. His combination of rigour, idealism and pragmatism makes fertile terrain out of the most appalling battlefields... I emerged from this book feeling better about almost everything. The ideas in The Ten Types of Human are a layperson’s opening into a fascinating academic field: but more than that, a mosaic of faces building into this extraordinary portrait of our species. -- Zoe Williams * Guardian *The Ten Types of Human is a fantastic piece of non-fiction, mixing astonishing real-life cases with the latest scientific research to provide a guide to who we really are. It’s inspiring and essential. -- Charles DuhiggThis book is the one. Dexter Dias has written a game changer. Think Sapiens and triple it. -- Julia Hobsbawm, author of Fully Connected

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Book Synopsis'Funny, wise and absolutely fascinating.' Adam Kay, author of This Is Going to HurtDo you want to be happy? If so - read on. This book has all the answers*In The Happy Brain, neuroscientist Dean Burnett delves deep into the inner workings of our minds to explore some fundamental questions about happiness. What does it actually mean to be happy? Where does it come from? And what, really, is the point of it? Forget searching for the secret of happiness through lifestyle fads or cod philosophy - Burnett reveals the often surprising truth behind what make us tick. From whether happiness really begins at home (spoiler alert: yes - sort of) to what love, sex, friendship, wealth, laughter and success actually do to our brains, this book offers a uniquely entertaining insight into what it means to be human.*Not really. Sorry. But it does have some very interesting questions, and at least the occasional answer.

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Book Synopsis'A must-read for anyone moved by the power of song' - Lesley Garrett, CBESinging has always been there for us, at the root of what it is to be a human being. Through personal anecdote and scientific fact-finding, this book celebrates the way song inspires and heals us, from the cradle to the grave, and in the process does for singing what The Well-Gardened Mind did for nature, and what Why We Eat did for our diets.As a singing therapist, teacher and performer, Julia Hollander is in a unique position to consider singing's importance to our wellbeing, charting its extraordinary influence on all aspects of our spiritual, emotional and physical lives. Why do parents feel compelled to sing to their newborns, and how does it help their development? What is it about song that brings communities together in harmony but also in protest? How come an activity that helps to embed languages and maths formulae can also be used to rehabilitate Long Covid sufferers? And what magic is at work when people who have lost the power to speak are still able to sing? By delving into her own life experiences, and calling on those of her fellow singers, the author seeks to answer these questions, underpinning her findings with the latest scientific research.In so many walks of life, people of all ages and backgrounds are waking up to the joys of singing, its power to give hope and connection in a fragmented world. Song-making is available in an increasingly broad range of social and therapeutic contexts, prescribed by doctors and community services. This book offers explanations for why this should be, and inspiration to anyone who loves to sing.Trade ReviewI've always felt that breath turning into song is like water turning into wine. In this fascinating book, Julia Hollander explains why. [...] A must-read for anyone moved by the power of song. -- Lesley Garrett, CBE * Lesley Garrett, CBE *Hollander has gathered a wealth of scientific research and aligned it with her own personal experience to produce a truly illuminating, joyful and resonant book about why we sing. -- Dame Sarah Connolly, CBE * Dame Sarah Connolly, CBE *This book is a must for people who sing and for people who don't but should ... Hollander brings us memories, life's events, political dedication and the deep desire to communicate, as well as giving us the history, the physiology and the social value of singing. -- Peggy Seeger * Peggy Seeger *Julia's comprehensive, scientific approach to the question of why we sing is laid out gently, generously and genially ... It is fascinating to find a book so packed full of actual answers. -- Roderick Williams, OBE * Roderick Williams, OBE *A refreshing read that I recommend to all who are interested in our voice and how we use it. -- Brett Weymark, OAM, Artistic & Music Director, Sydney Philharmonia ChoirsWhy We Sing is fascinating, surprising, illuminating, heartwarming and absolutely unputdownable. [...] Why We Sing is not only an important book - full of revelations and encouragement to the vocally challenged, or out of practice - it is also a captivating book to read. Full of story, thoughts, ideas, surprises and delicious writing, much like an old-fashioned rich fruit cake: to be gobbled up or slowly savoured by turn. -- Diana Simmonds * Limelight Magazine *This enlightening exploration of the power of singing is written from the heart... Why We Sing captures her wisdom and experience not only as a researcher and practitioner but also as a mother... This is a moving and insightful celebration. * BBC Music Magazine *Table of Contentsi: Introduction 1: Birth 2: Baby Love 3: Childhood 4: Teens 5: Community 6: Healing 7: Home 8: Work 9: Heaven 10: Protest 11: Ageing 12: Health 13: Death 14: Postlude ii: Further Reading iii: Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisEverything we think, do and refrain from doing is determined by our brain. From religion to sexuality, it shapes our potential, our desires and our characters. Taking us through every stage in our lives, from the womb to falling in love to old age, Dick Swaab shows that we don''t just have brains: we are our brains. ''A blockbuster about the brain ... provocative, fascinating, remarkable'' Clive Cookson, Financial Times ''A giant in the field'' Zoe Williams, Guardian ''Engrossing, intriguing and enlightening'' Robin Ince ''Enchantingly written'' The Times Higher Education ''Wide-ranging, fun and informative ... as an ice-breaker at parties, it is unmatched'' Bryan Appleyard, Sunday Times

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewWe can't emphasise how much of a valuable resource this is. * How it Works *

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Book Synopsis''Damasio undertakes nothing less than a reconstruction of the natural history of the universe ... [A] brave and honest book'' The New York Times Book ReviewThe Strange Order of Things is a pathbreaking investigation into homeostasis, the condition of that regulates human physiology within the range that makes possible not only survival but also the flourishing of life. Antonio Damasio makes clear that we descend biologically, psychologically and even socially from a long lineage that begins with single living cells; that our minds and cultures are linked by an invisible thread to the ways and means of ancient unicellular existence and other primitive life-forms; and that inherent in our very chemistry is a powerful force, a striving toward life maintenance that governs life in all its guises, including the development of genes that help regulate and transmit life.The Strange Order of Things is a landmark reflection that spans the Trade Review'Damasio undertakes nothing less than a reconstruction of the natural history of the universe. ... [A] brave and honest book' The New York Times Book Review'Bold and important ... Damasio, by unseating the mind from its elevated throne within the brain, delivers an onslaught on one of the core dogmas of conventional neuroscience ... Compelling and refreshingly original' Nature'In The Strange Order of Things, Antonio Damasio presents a new vision of what it means to be human. For too long we have thought of ourselves as rational minds inhabiting insentient mechanical bodies. Breaking with this philosophy, Damasio shows how our minds are rooted in feeling, a creation of our nervous system with an evolutionary history going back to ancient unicellular life that enables us to shape distinctively human cultures. Working out what this implies for the arts, the sciences and the human future, Damasio has given us that rarest of things, a book that can transform how we think--and feel--about ourselves' John Gray, Literary Review'These pages make enthralling reading ... It is indispensable for any psychoanalyst--and not only for psychoanalysts, of course. Damasio is the closest thing we have in the post-truth era to a great public intellectual' Mark Solms, Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association'Nietzsche would have given four cheers for this intricately argued book, which is at once scientifically rigorous and humanely accommodating, and, so far as this reviewer can judge, revolutionary ... The Strange Order of Things is a fresh and daring effort to identify the true spring and source of human being - of the being, in fact, of all living things - namely feeling' John Banville, The Guardian'A radical revision of how we understand mind, feeling, consciousness, and the construction of cultures ... Damasio draws a visionary link between biology and social science in a fascinating investigation of homeostasis--the delicate balance that underpins our physical existence, ensures our survival, and defines our flourishing' Maria Popova, Brain Pickings'Almost a quarter century after Descartes' Error, Antonio Damasio has done it again--created a grand exploration of the inextricable relationship between mind, body and the source of human feelings. Along the way, Damasio takes the reader on an adventure that starts with the single-celled organisms that existed billions of years ago, proceeds through the development of nervous systems and brains, and culminates with the origin of consciousness and human cultures. Thought-provoking and highly original, this book can change the way you look at yourself, and your species' Leonard Mlodinow, author of Subliminal'The Strange Order of Things is a foundational book. It provides the concepts, the language, and the knowledge to explain in an integrated framework the interplay between Nature and Culture at the heart of the human condition. Damasio unveils the codes and protocols that make humans human ... This is the beginning of a new scientific revolution' Manuel Castells, author of Networks of Outrage and Hope'Following Oliver Sacks, Antonio Damasio may be the neuroscientist whose popular books have done the most to inform readers about the biological machinery in our heads, how it generates thoughts and emotions, creates a self to cling to, and a sense of transcendence to escape by...[the book] mounts his boldest argument yet for the egalitarian role of the brain' Kevin Berger, Nautilus'Damasio takes his reader on an intellectual journey he has made himself, one of discovery, surprise, and insight. He explains his points thoroughly but does not simplify what is complicated. He is handy with a metaphor and avoids unnecessary jargon. In a world in which specialisation has become so refined that the discourse of a given discipline often becomes wholly unintelligible to those outside it, Antonio Damasio conveys his thoughts with clarity and grace and summons the works of composers and writers and philosophers' Siri Hustvedt, Los Angeles Review of Books'Damasio's books are marvels of scientific effervescence, of conceptual invention, and, in the end, of modesty, of that sense of the limits of knowledge that only knowledge is capable of imposing' Le Monde'Here is a new, strange and unassailable definition of life' Slate 'Ever since his first book, Damasio has not wavered in his efforts to rehabilitate emotions and feelings within cognitive processes. In The Strange Order of Things he nails down the effort and goes well beyond' Les Echos '[Damasio] exerts a considerable influence on the fashioning of contemporary thought and on all debates concerning neurology. Damasio is one of the great thinkers of our time. A pioneer in his field' L'Express'[Damasio] has introduced something baroque in a science that has been centered in one single organ, the brain. The Strange Order of Things vibrates with a baroque sensibility' Le Figaro'This disturbing book shakes our conceptions of the mechanisms behind life, mind and culture. The author brings them together in a single perspective centered on homeostasis ... It is incredibly, formidably, refreshing ... A strange and ambitious book, which draws on multiple disciplines and moves across time and space to give us, very simply, a new definition of life' Revue Medicale Suisse

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Book SynopsisANTONIO DAMASIO is a University Professor, David Dornsife Professor of Neuroscience, Psychology, and Neurology, and director of the Brain and Creativity Institute at the University of Southern California. Damasio's other books include Descartes' Error; Self Comes to Mind; and Looking for Spinoza. He has received the Honda Prize, the Prince of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research, and, shared with his wife Hanna, the Pessoa, Signoret, and Cozzarelli prizes. Damasio is a fellow of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Bavarian Academy of Sciences, and the European Academy of Sciences and Arts. He lives in Los Angeles.Trade ReviewThe life-changing read of the year... The book is crammed with tiny gems of information with which to reassess how you look at the world and think about yourself -- Katie Mitchell * Guardian *A tour de force...a monumental book...a gem of a work -- Anthony Clare * Sunday Times *Compelling...a story told with clarity and pace, unencumbered by unnecessary technical jargon and illustrated with insightful clinical anecdotes * The Times *A fascinating and suggestive book * Literary Review *Both Descartes' Error and The Feeling of What Happens are essential reading. They are groundbreaking classics of psychology and neuroscience. These are the books to buy, keep and ponder upon. Do so, and you will be ahead of the ruck by at least a decade * Journal Of The Royal Society of Medicine *

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Book SynopsisMelanie Klein was born in Vienna in 1882. At about fourteen she decided to study medicine. With her brother's help she learned enough Greek and Latin to pass into the Gymnasium. But her early engagement and subsequent marriage in 1903 brought a halt to her plans. Years later, discovering a booklet on dreams by Freud, she turned her attention to psychoanalysis. At this time she was living in Budapest and began her own analysis with Ferenczi, who encouraged her interest in the analysis of children. In 1921 she moved to Berlin to continue her work with children, supported by Dr Karl Abraham. In 1926 she moved to London where she worked and lived until her death in 1960.Trade ReviewKlein's ideas about children, along with her many innovations in adult therapy, placed her in the top ranks of a group of 20th-century psychoanalysts who pioneered the study of early childhood psychology * Boston Globe *[A] seminal psychoanalytic thinker * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisFrom internationally renowned expert in resuscitation and near-death experience Sam Parnia, MD, PhD, comes a groundbreaking look at what happens to us when we die, based on the largest-ever research study run on near-death experiencesWhat happens to us when we die?For millennia, we''ve sought the answers, and we''ve hoped to find them in near-death experiences. But while those answers have come haphazardly and can''t be trusted, groundbreaking research is now formalizing our understanding of death in new and thrilling ways. At the frontlines of that research is Dr. Sam Parnia.Lucid Dying is the first book to formally explore what happens to the human mind and consciousness not only in the period leading up to death, but also during and after death. Using data derived from multiple scientific studies, Dr. Parnia shows that the entity we refer to as consciousness-our Self-does not seem to become annihilated at the moment of death. In fact, during death, our consciousness follows a very specific narrative arc, in which we relive our lives not only from our own experiences, but from the perspective of everyone we''ve interacted with. What follows is a purposeful review of our own actions, thoughts, and intentions towards others.These studies also show that there is a universal experience of death that is meaningful, transcendent, positive, and transformative-not hallucinatory, delusional, or illusory as previously imagined. With empirical research and gripping anecdotes that explore the notion of a collective unconsciousness. Dr. Parnia shows how we can access this deeper wisdom to lead more intentional lives.

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Book SynopsisA timely and important perspective on how people frame decisions and how relying on sacred values unwittingly leads to social polarization.When you are faced with a decision, do you consider the best outcome, or do you consider your deepest values about which actions are appropriate? The Cost of Conviction contrasts these two primary strategies for making decisions: consequentialism, the former, or prioritizing one?s sacred values, the latter. Steven Sloman argues that, while both modes of decision making are necessary tools for a good decision maker, people err by deploying sacred values more often than they should, especially when it comes to sociopolitical issues. As a result, we oversimplify, grow disgusted and angry, and act in ways that contribute to social polarization. In this book, Sloman provides a new understanding of today?s societal ills and grounds that understanding in science.The book begins by covering the philosophical and conceptual background of the two decision-making strategies, then takes a deep dive into the psychology of decision making. Drawing on historical and current examples of the use of the two strategies, the author provides a thorough overview of the psychology of decision making, including work on judgment, conscious and unconscious decision-making processes, the roles of emotion, and even an analysis of habit and addiction.With its unique emphasis on sacred values, The Cost of Conviction is an eye-opening must-read for all decision makers, especially those who wish to understand judgment, social decision making, and leadership.

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Book SynopsisIt’s never been this urgent to build employee relationships that spark higher brain thinking and the skills to connect with people to encourage their highest performance. In other words, it’s vital to engage team members’ upper brains, which control critical reasoning, judgment, and creativity. When that positive connection is lacking, leaders risk provoking team members’ lower brains—which govern fear and survival behaviors—and creating a toxic workplace. Research shows that a leader’s behavior is the most important predictor of a team’s success. Leading with Your Upper Brain helps you understand why. It provides an innovative framework to shift your behavior in ways that help employees tap into their upper-brain resources that drive higher levels of performance. The authors use cutting-edge neuroscience research to illustrate how a positive connection with their leader builds trust and affects team members’ brain function that leads to overall team success. They share a modern, science-based approach to performance management and leadership development that fits any organization. Each chapter offers key takeaways, tips, and questions to help you put the principles into practice.

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Book SynopsisEverything we come to know and experience of the world depends on the way we attend to it. For reasons of survival, our brains have evolved to pay two kinds of attention to the world at the same time, though for the same reasons we cannot normally become aware of this neurological fact. This delivers two versions of the world with distinct qualities. In the one, associated with the right hemisphere of the brain, we experience the world as live, complex, embodied, implicit, full of individual, unique wholes which are nonetheless inseparably connected, as are we with it as a whole. In the other, associated with the left, we encounter the world as a representation, full of static, explicit, separable, bounded, but essentially fragmented entities, grouped into classes - but mechanistic and lifeless. As their civilisations declined, the world picture of first the Greeks and then the Romans moved from a fruitful balance of these to the triumph of the left hemisphere's view. We are busily repeating the pattern, perhaps for the last time.Table of ContentsIntroduction; Chapters; Conclusion

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE 2017 ROYAL SOCIETY INSIGHT INVESTMENT SCIENCE BOOK PRIZEWhat the judges said: 'Every man and woman should read this book on gender bias ... an important, yet wickedly witty, book.' 'Fine's entertaining and thoughtful book is a valuable addition to the discussion about gender.' Ian Critchley, Sunday Times 'In addition to being hopeful, Fine is also angry. We should all be angry. Testosterone Rex is a debunking rumble that ought to inspire a roar.' Guardian'A densely packed, spirited book, with an unusual combination of academic rigour and readability ... The expression "essential reading for everyone" is usually untrue as well as a cliché, but if there were a book deserving of that description this might just be it.' Antonia Macaro, Financial TimesTestosterone Rex is the powerful myth that squashes hopes of sex equality by telling us that men and women have evolved different natures. Fixed in an ancestral past that rewarded competitive men and caring women, these differences are supposedly re-created in each generation by sex hormones and male and female brains.Testosterone, so we're told, is the very essence of masculinity, and biological sex is a fundamental force in our development. Not so, says psychologist Cordelia Fine, who shows, with wit and panache, that sex doesn't create male and female natures. Instead, sex, hormones, culture and evolution work together in ways that make past and present gender dynamics only a serving suggestion for the future - not a recipe.Testosterone Rex brings together evolutionary science, psychology, neuroscience and social history to move beyond old 'nature versus nurture' debates, and to explain why it's time to unmake the tyrannical myth of Testosterone Rex.For fans of Fine - whose Delusions of Gender 'could have far-reaching consequences as significant as The Female Eunuch' (Viv Groskop, Guardian) - and thousands of new readers, this is an upbeat, timely and important contribution to the debate about gender in society.Trade ReviewEvery man and woman should read this book on gender bias. Testosterone Rex is an important, yet wickedly witty, book about the 21st century which touches on the current debates around identity and turns everything on its head. Pressingly contemporary, it's the ideal companion read to sit alongside The Handmaid's Tale and The Power. -- Judges, 2017 Royal Society Insight Investment Science Book PrizeFine's gift for rendering complex neurological concepts comprehensible is one of the many reasons why her book is so brilliant. She writes like a dream, not just by the lifelessly humble standards of most scientific prose, but by any literary measure, and her book sparkles with pithy wit. -- Decca Aitkenhead, GuardianIf you've ever thought that men are from Mars and women arefrom Venus, or that men don't listen and women can't read maps, this book isfor you. The expression "essential reading for everyone" is usually untrue aswell as a cliché, but if there were a book deserving of that description thismight just be it. -- Antonia Macaro, Financial TimesA cracking critique of the "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" hypothesis, Cordelia Fine takes to pieces much of the science on which "fundamental" gender differences are predicated. Graced with precisely focused humour, the author makes a good case that men and women are far more alike than many would claim. Feminist? Possibly. Humanist? Certainly. A compellingly good read. -- Professor Richard ForteyFine leavens the hard science with personal anecdote, and her entertaining and thoughtful book is a valuable addition to the discussion about gender. -- Ian Critchley, The Sunday TimesTestosterone Rex is packed with convincing evidence and astonishing facts, all of which seem so important that everybody should be made to read all of it immediately, or at least before typing another word on Twitter about political correctness gone mad. -- Katy Guest, The PoolFine dissects as she goes, bringing a probing intelligence not only to what we believe about gender, and why it's often wrong, but also to the history of how we came to think it was so ... Beliefs about men and women are as old as humanity itself, but Fine's funny, spiky book gives reason to hope that we've heard Testosterone Rex's last roar. -- Annie Murphy Paul, New York Times Book ReviewTestosterone Rex is one of those rare books that manages to effortlessly mix science, social commentary and a call to arms. It is witty, robust and angry but provides a new take - and new evidence - that helps us answer the age old question of where women stand in the world. -- Kit de WaalTestosterone Rex is a debunking rumble that ought to inspire a roar. -- Sarah Ditum * The Guardian *Fine does it again. The mistress of "I think you'll find it's more complicated than that" delivers a brilliant and witty riposte to the "boys will be boys" bores. Fascinating. -- Caroline Criado-PerezA fascinating, greatly contemplative discussion of sex and gender and the embedded societal expectations of both. -- Kirkus ReviewsIt is extraordinary how so much is attributed to such a minute quantity of hormone. Cordelia Fine combines formidable intellect, forensic analysis and devastating wit to expose those myths of sex, gender and human behaviour that might just reflect testosterone-fuelled, wishful thinking. This engaging, accessible and hopefully influential book doesn't disappoint, and makes crucial reading for those with an interest, from any perspective, in human behaviour. -- Professor Mark Elgar * School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne *The delusion that there are distinct and unique male and female natures, put in place by an unholy alliance of genes, hormones and neurones, remains alive and well. Cordelia Fine dismantles this myth with style, wit and scientific precision. This combination of scientific responsibility and general accessibility is desperately needed if we are to escape the serious social damage caused by such widely disseminated pseudoscience. -- Professor John Dupré * Director, Egenis, Centre for the Study of Life Sciences, University of Exeter *Goodbye beliefs in sex differences disguised as evolutionary facts. Welcome the dragon slayer: Cordelia Fine wittily but meticulously lays bare the irrational arguments that we use to justify gender politics. -- Professor Uta Frith * Emeritus Professor of Cognitive Development, University College, London *This is an important, well researched book that presents biological, psychological and social science research to explain why men and women are far less different than many would have you believe. If that sounds dry, it ain't. Fine lives up to her name - she is an extremely talented writer. -- Professor Michael Jennions * Evolutionary Ecology, Australian National University *Cordelia Fine has done it again: she debunked the idea of a female brain in Delusions of Gender and has now slain Testosterone Rex. This is obligatory reading for anyone interested in gender equality at work or home - your views on sex differences will never be the same. -- Catherine Fox * journalist and author of Seven Myths About Women at Work *This book is brilliant * New Scientist *Ms Fine's is a provocative and often fascinating book. * The Economist *Fine knocks it out of the park with her smart and eye-opening Testosterone Rex ... After reading it, my new resolution is to never say "Boys will be boys" again. Because while boys are, of course, boys, we owe it to them-and to girls-to understand that they are not defined by this single hormone. -- Adrian Laing, The Amazon Book Review EditorFilled with interesting facts, studies and arguments, it's an impressive work, sure to be useful when faced with gender essentialists who argue that asking for progressive change such as fair representation, or less sexist adverts, is a futile fight against nature. -- Let Toys Be ToysTestosterone Rex is an important book. It helps us think about the kind of society we expect to see or hope to build. It questions whether we have to accept existing gendered norms about male and female behaviour. -- Sian Norris, Open DemocracyWatching Fine take these gendered claims painstakingly, methodically, devastatingly to pieces should rank among the great works of art that humanity has ever produced. Buy a box set of this and Delusions of Gender. Buy twelve. Distribute them to your loved ones. Absolutely everyone in the world should read it. You'll thank me later. -- Reading the EndEndless books claim that the brains of men and women are wired differently. They set out to convince us that women are somehow biologically suited to getting the creases out of clothes while men peruse maps. This brilliant book proves our attitudes to men and women are cultural, not natural. Fine makes the neuroscience clear and provides a wealth of ammunition to debunk the myth that sex inequality is just something we're born with. * The Observer *

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Book SynopsisA Sunday Times Book of the YearA New Scientist Gift Pick"Bright, nerdy and funny! Of course I loved it." Dara Ó BriainCan we resurrect dinosaurs? Is a Martian holiday good for your health? Can we build a time machine? (And more importantly, can it look like the DeLorean?)Answering these questions and more, Rick Edwards and Dr Michael Brooks delve into the real science behind the greatest sci-fi movies ever made. From Planet of the Apes to Interstellar, each chapter probes a different classic, blasting apart tricky topics like astrophysics, neuroscience, psychology, botany, artificial intelligence, evolution, and plenty more. Packed with illustrations, bizarre facts and indispensable movie trivia, Science(ish) is the perfect read for curious minds.Trade ReviewBright, nerdy and funny! Of course I loved it. * Dara Ó Briain *Fun, scary answers to the "sci" in sci-fi movies. * The New Scientist *Fascinating and hilarious. * Richard Osman, co-host of Pointless *If you are a geek, a film buff, curious or simply want to know whether you still get BO in space, this is the book you have got to have. * Kate Humble *It's the kind of book I love. -- Joel Dommett * Shortlist *Explores everything from the ins and outs of black holes (Interstellar) to artificial intelligence (Ex Machina)... Edwards and Brooks don't take themselves too seriously and their cartoon heads pop up throughout deconstructing the films wittily while explaining the underlying science simply. * Sunday Times *Deeply funny, academically accomplished, and unfalteringly engaging. Entertaining as it may be, it's difficult to escape the fact that Edwards and Brooks have just made the world of popular science much harder work for the rest of us. * Ben Miller - comedian and author of It’s Not Rocket Science *Table of Contents0: Introduction 1: The Martian 2: Jurassic Park 3: Interstellar 4: Planet of the Apes 5: Back to the Future 6: 28 Days Later 7: The Matrix 8: Gattaca 9: Ex Machina 10: Alien 11: Acknowledgements 12: Index

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times top ten bestseller - neuroscientist Hannah Critchlow shows how our future is already largely hardwired into our brains. Like Sapiens and Thinking Fast and Slow, The Science of Fate revolutionises the way we understand our species and ourselves.

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Book SynopsisSusannah Cahalan is a reporter on the New York Post, and the recipient of the 2010 Silurian Award of Excellence in Journalism for Feature Writing. Her writing has also appeared in the New York Times, and is frequently picked up by the Daily Mail, Gawker, Gothamist, AOL and Yahoo among other news aggregrator sites.Trade ReviewWith eagle-eye precision and brutal honesty, Susannah Cahalan turns her journalistic gaze on herself as she bravely looks back on one of the most harrowing and unimaginable experiences one could ever face: the loss of mind, body and self ... a mesmerizing story -- Mira Bartók, New York Times bestselling author of 'The Memory Palace'Captivating ... Cahalan's prose carries a sharp, unsparing punch -- Michael Greenberg * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisTheoretical neuroscience provides a quantitative basis for describing what nervous systems do, determining how they function, and uncovering the general principles by which they operate. This text introduces the basic mathematical and computational methods of theoretical neuroscience and presents applications in a variety of areas including vision, sensory-motor integration, development, learning, and memory. The book is divided into three parts. Part I discusses the relationship between sensory stimuli and neural responses, focusing on the representation of information by the spiking activity of neurons. Part II discusses the modeling of neurons and neural circuits on the basis of cellular and synaptic biophysics. Part III analyzes the role of plasticity in development and learning. An appendix covers the mathematical methods used, and exercises are available on the book's Web site.

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Book Synopsis'Informative and persuasive enough to rouse the most ardent couch pototo' New Scientist Walking upright on two feet is a uniquely human skill. It defines us as a species. It enabled us to walk out of Africa and to spread as far as Alaska and Australia. It freed our hands and freed our minds. We put one foot in front of the other without thinking - yet how many of us know how we do that, or appreciate the advantages it gives us? In this hymn to walking, neuroscientist Shane O'Mara invites us to marvel at the benefits it confers on our bodies and minds, and urges us to appreciate - and exercise - our miraculous ability. 'Will leave you itching to go out for a good old-fashioned stroll' Mail on Sunday *A Sunday Independent Book of the Week*Trade ReviewFascinating ... O’Mara argues [walking] is intimately connected to our bodies, our brains, and ultimately how we exist as a species * The Times *In Praise of Walking is both informative and persuasive enough to rouse the most ardent couch potato – perhaps saving humanity before our lifestyle consumes our brains completely -- Jonathon Keats * New Scientist *Convincing and compelling ... In Praise of Walking is peppered with insights about everything from 19th-century poets and flâneurs to modern-day experiments with subjects playing video games in fMRI scanners * Sunday Times *Walking makes us healthier, happier and brainier ... [O'Mara] knows this not only through personal experience, but from cold, hard data * Observer *Full of insights… an accessible and thought-provoking discussion of walking as a key to human success -- Gina Rippon, author of The Gendered Brain * Gina Rippon, author of The Gendered Brain *A book that will leave you itching to go out for a good old-fashioned stroll * Mail on Sunday *A fascinating new book that examines the multitudinous benefits of this form of locomotion * Harper's Bazaar *Like a poem to walking… [and] the science that might help convince planners to prioritise walking as a means of getting around -- Lucy Whetman * UK Press Syndication *Forget apples. A walk a day really will keep the doctor away * Evening Standard *[In Praise of Walking] it provides an antidote to the many miseries that can accumulate because of our modern, sedentary lifestyle * Simple Things *Whether you’re an avid hiker or simply like to get out and do the school run on foot, this book will make you appreciate the physical, mental and societal benefits of getting outdoors on two feet. -- Liz Connor * UK Press Syndication *An informative yet witty book on the importance of walking for our health and wellbeing, and for societies in general -- Liz Nice * Eastern Daily Press *Compelling… A new angle on our favourite pastime * Walk Magazine *A fascinating read… This informative book…will rouse you from the sofa and make you want to get moving * Eastern Daily Press, *Book of the Week* *

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Book SynopsisANTONIO DAMASIO is University Professor, David Dornsife Professor of Neuroscience, Psychology, and Neurology, and director of the Brain and Creativity Institute at the University of Southern California. Damasio's other books include Descartes' Error; The Feeling of What Happens; and Looking for Spinoza. He has received the Honda Prize, the Prince of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research, and, shared with his wife Hanna, the Pessoa, Signoret, and Cozzarelli prizes. Damasio is a fellow of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Bavarian Academy of Sciences, and the European Academy of Sciences and Arts. He lives in Los Angeles.Trade ReviewBreathtakingly original * Financial Times *Awareness may be mostly mystery, but Damasio shapes its hints and glimmerings into an imaginative, informed narrative * Kirkus *The marvel of reading Damasio's book is to be convinced one can follow the brain at work as it makes the private reality that is the deepest self * V. S. Naipaul *Damasio's most ambitious work yet. It is a lucid and important work * Word *The epicenter of Self Comes to Mind concerns the neurological basis for cognition and the issue of the superposition of a "self' onto the construct which we address as reality. Damasio is both eloquent and scholarly. His command of the themes he approaches is impressive, as is the vigor with which he tackles such recondite issues as the elusive "self," inside the head. A wonderful read, and a recommended one! -- Rodolfo R. Llinás, New York University

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Book SynopsisFalling in love is one of the strangest things we can do - and one of the things that makes us uniquely human. But what happens to our brains when our eyes meet across a crowded room? Why do we kiss each other, forget our friends, seek a ''good sense of humour'' in Lonely Hearts adverts and try (and fail) to be monogamous? How are our romantic relationships different from our relationships with friends, family or even God? Can science help us, or are we better off turning back to the poets?Basing his arguments on new and experimental scientific research, Robin Dunbar explores the psychology and ethology of romantic love and how our evolutionary programming still affects our behaviour. Fascinating and illuminating, witty and accessible, The Science of Love and Betrayal is essential reading for anyone who''s ever wondered why we fall in love and what on earth is going on when we do.

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