Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
A deeply researched and beautifully written account of how the human brain evolved, from the earliest primates through the modern age. "Jebelli masterfully illuminates the neurobiological road by which we arrived, and where it might reach from here." (David Eagleman, author of Livewired and Incognito)
The human brain is an astonishing thing. No other life form on the planet has a brain like ours. How did this unique brain emerge? How did a mere bundle of cells give rise to conscious, self aware beings capable of understanding time, language, mathematics, and music, of exploring outer space and sequencing their own DNA?
How the Mind Changed is the definitive book on the evolution of the human mind, from its remarkable origins through its miraculous modern form. It explores the development of memory, language, consciousness, intelligence, neurodiversity, and emotions, and sets out to answer provocative questions about what the future holds for our brains--and, by extension, for humanity. Will brain computer interfaces change human life? Will we free our minds from the confines of biology and achieve digital immortality? What are the implications of such advances? Are new, different kinds of minds emerging before our eyes?
Drawing on the latest breakthroughs in neuroscience, psychology, and evolutionary biology, How the Mind Changed is a fascinating, in depth look at the history--and future--of the organ that truly makes us human.
Synopsis
The extraordinary story of how the human brain evolved... and is still evolving. We've come a long way. The earliest human had a brain as small as a child's fist; ours are four times bigger, with spectacular abilities and potential we are only just beginning to understand.
This is How the Mind Changed, a seven-million-year journey through our own heads, packed with vivid stories, groundbreaking science, and thrilling surprises. Discover how memory has almost nothing to do with the past; meditation rewires our synapses; magic mushroom use might be responsible for our intelligence; climate accounts for linguistic diversity; and how autism teaches us hugely positive lessons about our past and future.
Dr. Joseph Jebelli's In Pursuit of Memory was shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prize and longlisted for the Wellcome. In this, his eagerly awaited second book, he draws on deep insights from neuroscience, evolutionary biology, psychology, and philosophy to guide us through the unexpected changes that shaped our brains. From genetic accidents and environmental forces to historical and cultural advances, he explores how our brain's evolution turned us into Homo sapiens and beyond.
A single mutation is all it takes.