Interview with James Brennan, author of Trains of Thought - A Natural History of the Mind
James Brennan, author of Trains of Thought - A Natural History of the Mind recommends a brilliant group of books! Before jumping into the interview, please check out James's book:
Description from Blackwells: (All links earn commission from purchases. Prices accurate at time of writing)
Trains of Thought - A Natural History of the Mind
An accessible must-read for anyone intrigued by the mysteries of the mind and how each of us constructs reality... or for anyone looking for a rational understanding of how people think.
The human mind is unique within Nature. It emerges from the brain but is far more than the sum of its parts. Our mind gives rise to our entire experience of life, but what is it, how does it work, and where do minds sit within Nature as a whole? Trains of Thought distils and clarifies our most essential quality as human beings, the ability to think and feel.
Taking a natural history approach, clinical psychologist James Brennan guides us through different realms of psychology - memory, emotion, drives, consciousness, childhood, relationships, therapy, and above all how we think and how we adjust to change - all brought to life through case vignettes drawn from his work as a therapist.
More than just another book on neuroscience or consciousness, Trains of Thought is a deeper story about the human mind, and how we come to think, feel, and live our lives.
Buy On:
Bookshop.org US $35.33
Blackwells £14.99
Waterstones £16.00
Q. Do you have a favourite smart thinking book (and why that book)?
Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge by Edward O. Wilson. Description from Bookshop.org: (All links earn commission from purchases. Prices accurate at time of writing)
Wilson was one of the most influential and thought-provoking scientists of the 20th Century and his radical ideas live on. I read this book many years ago, but it deeply influenced how I thought about nature, the nature of humanity, and the place of humans within nature as a whole. In particular, he emphasized how intellectual progress needs both specialization and generalization: we need people who know a lot about a small area of knowledge, and people who know enough about a wide breadth of knowledge. Wilson reminds us that deep knowledge comes from understanding something within its broader context.
Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge
The Chimp Paradox is an incredibly powerful mind management model that can help you become a happy, confident, healthier and more successful person. Prof Steve Peters explains the struggle that takes place within your mind and then shows how to apply this understanding to every area of your life so you can:
- Recognise how your mind is working
- Understand and manage your emotions and thoughts
- Manage yourself and become the person you would like to be
The Chimp Mind Management Model is based on scientific facts and principles, which have been simplified into a workable model for easy use. It will help you to develop yourself and give you the skills, for example, to remove anxiety, have confidence and choose your emotions. The book will do this by giving you an understanding of the way in which your mind works and how you can manage it. It will also help you to identify what is holding you back or preventing you from having a happier and more successful life.
Each chapter explains different aspects of how you function and highlights key facts for you to understand. There are also exercises for you to work with. By undertaking these exercises you will see immediate improvements in your daily living and, over time, you will develop emotional skills and practical habits that will help you to become the person that you want to be, and live the life that you want to live.
Buy On:
Bookshop.org UK £12.34
Bookshop.org US $18.60
Blackwells £12.99
Waterstones £12.99
Q. What's the most recent smart thinking book you've read (and how would you rate it)?
Politics On the Edge: A Memoir From Within by Rory Stewart. Description from Bookshop.org: (All links earn commission from purchases. Prices accurate at time of writing)
It has become fashionable and all too easy to be contemptuous of politicians, but this book reminds us that many politicians are sincere, well-meaning and principled and deserve more respect than they receive. Stewart writes honestly and engagingly about the hopelessness of the UK system of government, and the dangers of populism, but does so with humanity, humility, and humour. It is an extraordinary insight into the impotence and frustrations of a politician at the heart of government.
Politics On the Edge: A Memoir From Within
Stories brought us together.
Books spread our ideas – and our mythologies.
The internet promised infinite knowledge.
The algorithm learned our secrets – and then turned us against each other.
What will AI do?
NEXUS is the thrilling account of how we arrived at this moment, and the urgent choices we must now make to survive – and to thrive.
Buy On:
Bookshop.org UK £10.44
Bookshop.org US $18.60
Blackwells £10.99
Waterstones £8.99
Q. Do you have a favourite childhood book?
When We Were Very Young by A.A. Milne. Description from Bookshop.org: (All links earn commission from purchases. Prices accurate at time of writing)
I still have two copies of this charming book of poems and regularly give copies to friends with young children. The poems depict an innocent world long-gone but still manage to conjure up sweet images which delight children of all ages. 'They’re changing guard at Buckingham Palace', 'James James Morrison Morrison…', 'The king ask the queen and the queen asked the dairymaid…'' are some of my favourites. The delightful illustrations by E.H. Shepard are worth the cost of the book alone.
When We Were Very Young
Gorgeous gold-foiled hardback facsimile edition of When We Were Very Young presented in a gold-foiled slipcase
Curl up with this special facsimile edition of A.A.Milne’s classic book of poetry for children, When We Were Very Young. This gold-foiled hardback edition has been reproduced with all the printer marks and irregularities that were present in the edition first printed in 1924. It is presented in a stylish gold-foiled slipcase with a beautiful paper bellyband wrapped around it.
When We Were Very Young is Milne’s first volume of rhymes written especially for children. It’s as popular now as when it was first written. This collection offers the same sense of humour, imagination and whimsy that we’ve come to expect from Milne's books about Winnie-the-Pooh, that Bear of Very Little Brain.
This facsimile edition is all the more special due to E.H.Shepard’s decorations, which are shown in their original black line glory. They are truly iconic and contributed to him being known as ‘the man who drew Pooh’.
Buy On:
Bookshop.org UK £23.75
Bookshop.org US $32.55
Blackwells £25.00
Waterstones £25.00
Q. Do you prefer reading on paper, Kindle or listening to an audiobook?
Paper almost always. I love the feeling of a book in my hands. I have managed to read a few books on a tablet but have yet to listen to an audiobook.
Q. Do you have a favourite bookshop (and why that shop)?
Max Minerva's
Max Minerva’s Marvellous Books and More, Bristol, UK. This is a wonderful local bookshop (‘marvellous’ actually) that supports local authors and has a wide-ranging stock. The staff are always helpful and well-informed, and although small, it is all you need from a local bookshop.
Many thanks to James for recommending a brilliant group of books! Please don't forget to check out Trains of Thought - A Natural History of the Mind.
Daryl
Image Copyrights: (Trains of Thought - A Natural History of the Mind), Little, Brown Book Group (Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge), Vintage Publishing (Politics On the Edge: A Memoir From Within), HarperCollins Publishers (When We Were Very Young).
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