The Evolving Brain

How to Thrive in a World We Weren't Made For

By: Dr Paul Goldsmith

Neurologist and neuroscientist Dr Paul Goldsmith reveals compassionate, practical insights on the evolutionary origins of our brain and how we can best use it to thrive in our daily lives.

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'A fascinating exploration of how our ancient brains are mismatched for our modern ecosystem, and what we can do about it.' ANNA LEMBKE, MD, AUTHOR OF DOPAMINE NATION

'Shines a light on the complexity of the human brain and our resulting behaviours in an exciting and accessible way. This is a book to help us to understand ourselves.' KATHRYN MANNIX, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF WITH THE END IN MIND AND LISTEN

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We often blame ourselves when we struggle with modern life. We see loneliness, anxiety, and burnout as signs of personal failure. We feel miserable when we fall short of the unachievable goals we've set. We become frustrated when we compare our lives to others - whether through job titles or social media likes.

But the problem isn't you. The problem is that the human brain was built for an environment utterly different to the one we now inhabit. Processes that once ensured our survival now leave us overloaded, restless and unhappy. Yet we don't have to struggle: by understanding our brain's original design, we can work with it to thrive.

In The Evolving Brain, Dr Paul Goldsmith draws on cutting-edge neuroscience and case studies from his clinical practice to produce the definitive user's guide to our ancient mind, offering actionable insights to help us live happier, healthier and more connected lives.©2026 Dr Paul Goldsmith

Critic reviews

Paul writes beautifully, and his combination of storytelling and scientific exploration shines a light on the complexity of the human brain and our resulting behaviours in an exciting and accessible way. This is a book to help us to understand ourselves.

The Evolving Brain is a fascinating exploration of how our ancient brains are mismatched for our modern ecosystem, and what we can do about it. With case studies, rich science, and compelling prose, Goldsmith reminds us we are the strangest of animals.

An excellent book, beautifully written. A very enjoyable read.

A wide-sweeping, panoramic perspective on how our brains are confronted by - and can adapt to - the formidable challenges of the modern world.

The Evolving Brain explores how many of our struggles are not personal shortcomings but the legacy of an ancient brain in a modern world. By tracing the roots of these challenges and offering ways to adapt, Goldsmith provides a fresh and compassionate perspective on what it means to thrive today.

Clear, thoughtful, and accessible. The clinical cases bring the science to life, making The Evolving Brain an essential read for anyone interested in not just understanding themselves, but in building a healthier society.

We design objects to fit our evolved bodies, yet seldom shape our lives around our evolved minds. This sensational book goes a long way to correcting that painful omission.

A rather impressive and beautifully written multidisciplinary tour de force of knowledge of science and culture . . . The author draws on his many-faceted background and clinical practice to provide clinical vignettes and a broad reading of science.

We blame ourselves for burnout, envy and endless distraction. But this book shows it is wiring, not weakness: an ancient brain flailing in a modern world. The Evolving Brain explains why stress, distraction and anxiety are evolutionary. It takes in the neuroscience lab and evolutionary human backstory to explain why we're wired not for happiness but for persistence. Why status feels addictive, why copying drives culture - and why the secret to thriving is to understand, not override, the brain we have. This is about why we crave approval, why we mirror others, why we stumble when rewards come too slowly. The Evolving Brain offers a bracing (if sometimes disturbing) new clarity on the allure and snares for humans in the digital world.

Goldsmith reveals with striking clarity how the brain's ancient wiring - shaped for survival tens of millennia ago - continues to sculpt our thoughts and feelings today. The Evolving Brain bridges evolution, anatomy and modern life with rare insight.