The Consciousness Instinct: Unraveling the Mystery of How the Brain Makes the Mind
Written by Michael S. Gazzaniga
Narrated by David Colacci
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
“The father of cognitive neuroscience” illuminates the past, present, and future of the mind-brain problem
How do neurons turn into minds? How does physical “stuff”―atoms, molecules, chemicals, and cells―create the vivid and various worlds inside our heads? The problem of consciousness has gnawed at us for millennia. In the last century there have been massive breakthroughs that have rewritten the science of the brain, and yet the puzzles faced by the ancient Greeks are still present. In The Consciousness Instinct, the neuroscience pioneer Michael S. Gazzaniga puts the latest research in conversation with the history of human thinking about the mind, giving a big-picture view of what science has revealed about consciousness.
The idea of the brain as a machine, first proposed centuries ago, has led to assumptions about the relationship between mind and brain that dog scientists and philosophers to this day. Gazzaniga asserts that this model has it backward―brains make machines, but they cannot be reduced to one. New research suggests the brain is actually a confederation of independent modules working together. Understanding how consciousness could emanate from such an organization will help define the future of brain science and artificial intelligence, and close the gap between brain and mind.
Captivating and accessible, with insights drawn from a lifetime at the forefront of the field, The Consciousness Instinct sets the course for the neuroscience of tomorrow.
Michael S. Gazzaniga
Susan Herrmann Loomis is a well-respected journalist and the author of six best-selling cookbooks. She is also a contributor to American culinary magazines, a monthly columnist for the Conde Nast website, epicurious.com and author of a number of cookbooks.
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Reviews for The Consciousness Instinct
93 ratings6 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Must read if you’re into this stuff Gazaniga is great at explaining
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Incredibly rich brain food, even though,
I must admit, ingesting and digesting it can prove quite of a challenge!1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Very long and thorough analysis of how the brain works. But doesn’t quite conclude with a strong idea of what is consciousness really. Left me feeling wanting a stronger conclusion
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5crossing the schnit
his sense of humor and life experiences, especially split brain patients - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This book is very well researched but incomplete without including Hindu and Buddhist thought on consciousness which are 2500 yrs old
3 people found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5"The Consciousness Instinct" serves as a captivating voyage into the realms of neurobiology, seamlessly weaving through physics, biology, genetics, and psychology. Its brilliant exploration not only provides a concise history but also delves into cutting-edge research, making it a stellar introduction to the complex landscape of consciousness. With clarity and finesse, the author navigates through diverse scientific disciplines, rendering this book a must-read for those seeking a comprehensive understanding of the advances in neurobiology presented at a popular level.
1 person found this helpful