The Accidental Mind: How Brain Evolution Has Given Us Love, Memory, Dreams, and God

I have been a professional neuroscientist for the last 20 years. When asked for a book on this field aimed for the general public, however, I always found it very difficult to recommend one. Is not that there are few published books on the topic; but they tend to be too superficial, prone to groundless speculation, or both. Here you have a book that is well written, entertaining and superb at explaining the core ideas and principles of modern Neuroscience for the layman. Although brain science is not a simple subject, Dr. Linden does a superb job at making it understandable and interesting. Highly recommended.

While some of the explanations of brain physiology seemed a bit more complex than necessary to build a foundation for later chapters, the book was still quite fascinating. No one should be fooled into thinking that this is light reading/listening though. The author gives about as deep of a treatment of the neuroscience behind subjects such as why we dream, how we form memories and why we fall in love as a college educated lay person can handle. On the other hand, the author's insistence that the brain is an inefficient kludge was not supported at any reasonable scientific level. For example, the comparisons of the speed of neuro-transmission to the speed of electrons over copper wire, and the focus on agglomeration of newer and ancient brain structures that have some overlap do not make the case for inefficiency. Nevertheless, this is not the focus of the book. Well worth the credit for anyone interested in understanding the science.

This is what popular science writing is, or should be, all about... Making "real" science just that little bit more accessible to the keen reader with an interest in the field and the willingness to stretch themselves just enough for the journey. As always, it couldn't have been easy for the author to decide how much "nuts & bolts" biology and chemistry to include. Undoubtedly many readers will, like this reviewer, find some sections too technical, but they're always short enough that the reader can forge ahead and get to the "real world" implications of the chemistry -- the emergence of mind and its interaction with the body and environment.

Even though I'm quite a keen reader of accessible books, blogs and articles on neuroscience, psychology and philosophy of mind, I still learnt quite a bit from this book. A few examples that come to mind (!) are:

(1) The circadian ("approximately one day") timing circuit;
(2) The working of "blind sight," our second sight ability situated in the more primitive brain;
(3) The left brain's ability and predisposition to look for patterns, filling in the blanks even when they don't exist; ...and many more.

The narration by Ray Porter is engaging, more akin to an informal chat than a read speech.

David Linden in “The Accidental Mind” relates how the human brain has evolved and describes how it biologically works. Along the way he links the chemical, electric, psychological and behavioral apparatus as we experience it on a daily basis. Linden uses an engaging style which keeps the reader’s attention. This is also an approachable introduction to neuroscience as it is currently understood. The novice with little or no background will not find segments of the book difficult, but will need to pay attention to follow the descriptions and explanations provided. Otherwise, the book is readily approachable by the person with a general interest. The text is aptly read by Ray Price.

a little dry, the narrator is actually fantastic, I'm used to hearing Porter in the Joe Ledger novels so i was always expecting him to start talking about the inner workings of the brain, and then have a zombie eat it.

Although this has a strong scientifc bent, I enjoyed the entire book; but like the two previous posters, I have a science background. The material is extremely interesting, but some may find it less than enthralling with all the scientific explanations. Having said that, how could any writing about the function of the human brain not have a strong scientific bent...

Fascinating book (to me, I know all those different receptors aren't for everyone) but quite challenging to follow if you do stuff that requires much thought while you listen. Reader is excellent in his ability to make sense of the sometimes dense prose, although he does make a few pronunciation errors.

I enjoyed the descriptions of how the brain works but not at the molecular/electrical pulse level. He does address interesting questions of memory, dreams, love and religion. Narration was quite good.

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a few too many details of the biochemistgry in several places for an audiobook, but overall very informative, lots of good examples and applications. Most technically oriented people will enjoy.

Full of great information about the mind presented in a dull way. Not personaly insightfull and alot of overlapping information with more interestly written books. No outstanding insight beyond what has already been written.