Synopses & Reviews
With its trillions of connections, the human brain is more beautiful and complex than anything we could ever build, but it's far from perfect. Our memory is unreliable; we can't multiply large sums in our heads; advertising manipulates our judgment; we tend to distrust people who are different from us; supernatural beliefs and superstitions are hard to shake; we prefer instant gratification to long-term gain; and what we presume to be rational decisions are often anything but. Drawing on striking examples and fascinating studies, neuroscientist Dean Buonomano illuminates the causes and consequences of these bugs in terms of the brain's innermost workings and their evolutionary purposes. He then goes one step further, examining how our brains function-and malfunction-in the digital, predator-free, information-saturated, special effects-addled world that we have built for ourselves. Along the way, Brain Bugs gives us the tools to hone our cognitive strengths while recognizing our inherent weaknesses.
Review
"[An] intriguing take on behavioral economics, marketing and human foibles." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"An ingenious idea, and Buonomano has fully delivered on its promise. . . . A remarkably accessible and engaging introduction to the neuroscience of the human condition." Sam Harris, author of The Moral Landscape
Review
"A great book, filled with nuggets about how the brain works--and falters--and even some suggestions on how to put it to better use." Joseph LeDoux, author of The Emotional Brain
Synopsis
The human brain may be the best piece of technology ever created, but it's far from perfect. Drawing on colorful examples and surprising research, neuroscientist Dean Buonomano exposes the blind spots and weaknesses that beset our brains and lead us to make misguided personal, professional, and financial decisions. Whether explaining why we are susceptible to advertisements or demonstrating how false memories are formed, not only explains the brain's inherent flaws but also gives us the tools to counteract them.
Synopsis
"Excellent. . . . [Buonomano] reveals the intricate limitations and blessings ?of the most complex device in the known universe."--
Synopsis
The human brain may be the best piece of technology ever created, but it s far from perfect. Drawing on colorful examples and surprising research, neuroscientist Dean Buonomano exposes the blind spots and weaknesses that beset our brains and lead us to make misguided personal, professional, and financial decisions. Whether explaining why we are susceptible to advertisements or demonstrating how false memories are formed, Brain Bugs not only explains the brain s inherent flaws but also gives us the tools to counteract them.
About the Author
Dean Buonomano is a professor in the Departments of Neurobiology and Psychology and the Brain Research Institute at UCLA. He lives in Los Angeles, California.