Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain

By: Lisa Feldman Barrett

Narrated by: Lisa Feldman Barrett

Length: 3 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

From the author of How Emotions Are Made, a myth-busting primer on the brain in the tradition of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics and Astrophysics for People in a Hurry.

Have you ever wondered why you have a brain? Let renowned neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett demystify that big gray blob between your ears. In seven short essays (plus a bite-sized story about how brains evolved), this slim, entertaining, and accessible collection reveals mind-expanding lessons from the front lines of neuroscience research. You'll learn where brains came from, how they're structured (and why it matters), and how yours works in tandem with other brains to create everything you experience. Along the way, you'll also learn to dismiss popular myths such as the idea of a "lizard brain" and the alleged battle between thoughts and emotions, or even between nature and nurture, to determine your behavior.

Sure to intrigue casual listeners and scientific veterans alike, Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain is full of surprises, humor, and important implications for human nature - a gift of a book that you will want to savor again and again.

©2020 Lisa Feldman Barrett (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Acclaimed neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett narrates her series of essays in this brief but sprightly introduction to the brain. In her erudite, enthusiastic voice…Barrett's goal is to give compelling and comprehensible information to a general audience. In this production she has definitely succeeded." - AudioFile Magazine, An Earphones Award Winner

“An excellent education in brain science…[Feldman Barrett] deftly employs metaphor and anecdote to deliver an insightful overview of her favorite subject…so short and sweet that most readers will continue to the 35-page appendix, in which the author delves more deeply, but with no less clarity, into topics ranging from teleology to the Myers-Briggs personality test to ‘Plato’s writings about the human psyche.’ Outstanding popular science.” - Kirkus, STARRED

"What about that 'three-pound blob between your ears'? In seven essays about the brain and a half-size one about its evolution…Barrett has crafted a well-written tribute to this wow-inducing organ." - Booklist

Extremely interesting and useful information

The book is not very long but I'm so pleased I listened, because it brought light to a lot of things I think we have all had an inkling is happening but it's actual fact. I felt the need to spread the information it was so useful! She explains it well, and it did NOT go in one ear and out the other. The fact about why people assume one race looks all the same I found very interesting because someone people make comments in passing but no one knows its about the faces you were around and tuned into as a baby! And how stress has an effect on how you absorb fat/calories. And much more! I found this one very useful and easy to digest, and the information will stay with me. I've listened to many of the chapters twice just to download it into my brain well enough.

MUST READ. You have no choice... You are HUMAN

So much wisdom succinctly and comprehensively represented in this book. These are essential, updated insights and understandings about the brain that need to be SPREAD. Be ahead of the curve and listen in.

10!!!

Simple but quite complete explanation of neurological functions and development at base, building to human social and cognitive recognition

great

I loved this book it is a great continuation of the "How Emotions Are Made."

An absolute must read!

Helps underhand us humans, change our lives for better and genuinely gives hope for a more aware future! Brilliant!

Amazingly enlightening. Absolutely enjoyable.

Very understandable ever for a non scientist. An amazingly refreshing take on the human condition.

Surprising, cutting edge facts about your brain

Dr. Barrett must be a fantastic teacher! As an author, she makes complex scientific ideas cuome alive with stories and memorable metaphors. She convinced me to upgrade my model of the brain from the triune model to a network, which fits the data better. She explains why it's easier for us to distinguish facial features of the "race " we grew up with--but that we can learn. She also raised my awareness of the importance of our social brain for out everyday lives... and why words really do have the power to hurt us as individuals and societies.

Who we are

Well written and an easy read.clear concepts well explained. I wish she dwelt on consciousness and it’s evolutionary role.

a clear view

A very nice book with interesting ideas; nicely and clearly written that makes it easy to understand.

Interesting insights

A set of interesting scientific facts about our brain that is listen and easy to digest