The Biological Mind
By Alan Jasanoff
How Brain, Body, And Environment Collaborate to Make Us Who We Are. Basic Books, 2018.
Summary of The Biological Mind book by Alan Jasanoff
A thought-provoking look at common assumptions about the essential role of the human brain and the separation between mind and body, urging us to recognize that the biological mind is intimately connected to the body and the environment around it.
Chapters in The Biological Mind book summary
What do you get from this book? A new perspective on the brain and the way it interacts with the world
The cerebral mystique idealizes the brain, but our brains are not mysterious and all-powerful
The brain is a physical, messy organ, but we still see it as an almost other-worldly entity
The idea that brains and computers are alike is common among scientists and in the popular imagination
The brain is portrayed as unbelievably complicated, but the huge numbers which quantify it aren’t always that relevant
Neuroimaging is a popular way of visualizing the brain, yet such images can be interpreted in many different ways
The brain and body work together to give us a sense of individuality; they cannot be separated
Physical illnesses have effects on the mind, and apparently mental processes emerge in the body through embodied cognition
It can seem like the brain acts on its own, simply responding to the environment—but there’s more to it
The brain responds instantly to changes in the environment, functioning in tune with the world around it
The brain-centered view of human behavior has far-reaching social implications and disregards external forces
Defining mental illnesses as brain disorders creates a new sort of stigma and ignores potentially useful treatments
The cerebral mystiques promotes an unrealistic view of the future of brain technology
Jasanoff imagines his own existence as a brain in a vat, painting a bleak picture of life without a body
Summary of the key insights
Selected critiques in brief
FInal word
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The Biological Mind — Book Summary Snapshot
Who should read The Biological Mind book
- Fans of neuroscience
- psychologists and mental health professionals
- philosophy students
- anyone fascinated by the brain
About the author of The Biological Mind
Alan Jasanoff
Alan Jasanoff is known for his expertise and progressive research as an MIT professor of neurobiological engineering. He frequently writes about cognitive science and engineering and has been published in Nature, Forbes, and among other prestigious publications.
Books similar to The Biological Mind
Related books that explore themes found in The Biological Mind
Lisa Feldman Barrett
The Secret Life of the Brain. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017.
Ray Kurzweil
The Secret of Human Thought Revealed. Viking Press, 2012.
Jeffery M. Schwartz
The 4-Step Solution for Changing Bad Habits, Ending Unhealthy Thinking, and Taking Control of Your Life. Avery, 2011.
Daniel J. Siegel
The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain. Langara College, 2017.
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