The Age of Insight

The Quest to Understand the Unconscious in Art, Mind, and Brain, from Vienna 1900 to the Present

By: Eric R. Kandel

Narrated by: James Anderson Foster

A brilliant book by Nobel Prize winner Eric R. Kandel, The Age of Insight takes us to Vienna 1900, where leaders in science, medicine, and art began a revolution that changed forever how we think about the human mind - our conscious and unconscious thoughts and emotions - and how mind and brain relate to art.

At the turn of the century, Vienna was the cultural capital of Europe. Artists and scientists met in glittering salons, where they freely exchanged ideas that led to revolutionary breakthroughs in psychology, brain science, literature, and art. Kandel takes us into the world of Vienna to trace, in rich and rewarding detail, the ideas and advances made then, and their enduring influence today.

©2012 Eric R. Kandel (P)2018 Tantor

I liked this book even more the second time through

I loved this book, I’m probably going to start listening to it again within the next six months.

Incredible!science and artistic insight!

Highly recommend this to serious artists and others seeking insights on the working of the mind and the effect of and on artistic practice, understanding and enjoyment of seeing!

Marvelous! A work of art as much as of science.

One of the best books I have read in many years. The analysis of creativity in art and/or science with profound knowledge and encyclopedic information, yet elegantly written.

An amazing achievement

This intertwined narrative of history, art, and neuroscience actually works. It is worth reading just for the insights into Vienna at the turn of the twentieth century, but there is so much more. Another magnificent gift Dr. Kandel has given us.

Astonishing and important book!

A world expert in brain biology and the increasing convergence with cognitive psychology gives us a great gift. I walked away in awe of what I’ve learned about how we see, perceive and what it means for not only our understanding of art but of the world !