Why are we so often in conflict – arguing with ourselves and with others, uncertain over who we are and what we want?For thousands of years, writers, thinkers and philosophers have seen life as a battle between the guiding power of reason and a disruptive animal within. In a world where fierce culture wars and endless newsfeeds turn up the tension, how can we overcome our uncertainties and know the many sides of ourselves?In The Animal and the Thinker

"Travels in Western Africa" by John Duncan is an insightful account of his explorations in the region during the mid-19th century. The book captures the rich cultural tapestry and diverse landscapes of Western Africa, as Duncan navigates through various territories, documenting his experiences and observations. His narrative is filled with vivid descriptions of the people he encounters, their customs, and the challenges faced during his travels. This work serves as both a travelogue and a ...

"Travels in Western Africa" by John Duncan is a captivating account of his explorations in the region during the mid-19th century. This volume, the second in a two-part series, delves into the rich cultures, diverse landscapes, and the challenges faced by travelers in Western Africa. Duncan's observations provide a unique perspective on the social and economic conditions of the time, as well as the interactions between European explorers and local populations. His vivid descriptions and de...

A lively journey through the brain's inner workings from "one of the world's leading cognitive neuroscientists" ( The Wall Street Journal).Human intelligence builds sprawling cities, vast cornfields, and complex microchips. It takes us from the atom to the limits of the universe. How does the biological brain, a collection of billions of cells, enable us to do things no other species can do?In this book, neuroscientist John Duncan offers an adventure...

What are the fundamental mechanisms of decision making, processing speed, memory and cognitive control? How do these give rise to individual differences, and how do they change as people age? How are these mechanisms implemented in neural unctions, in particular the functions of the frontal lobe? How do they relate to the demands of everyday, 'real life' behaviour? Over almost five decades, Pat Rabbitt has been among the most distinguished of British cognitive psychologists. His work has b...

Wit and wisdom . . . and engineering.Engineers create models of natural processes in order to build the world we live in. Resonance, natural frequency, design, controls—no one understands the physical world like an engineer.But can engineering tell us anything about human nature?In this short and witty book, author J L Duncan explores the analogues between human behaviour and physical processes. Do individuals have a natural frequency? Can we be predicted and modifi...

Remarkable cricket by remarkable people, from Rory Bremner to the Duke of Edinburgh.Boundaries, maidens, Botham and Bell; centuries, ducks, Lara and Laker...in this amazing collection of interviews, John Duncan explores the idiosyncratic, historical and entertaining game of cricket through people who share a true passion for the sport. Drawing upon various cricketing memories of some of the most respected names in British culture, busines and politics -- including Michael Parkinson, Sir Ti...

Henry Fords design of the Model T automobile between 1906 and 1908 was an extraordinary achievement. The industry was, at the time, still in an experimental phase and yet this design lasted without major change for nearly two decades. More than 15 million Model Ts were built: performance and price gave the car an edge. In this sense they were popular, yet owners were apologetic about owning one. Mr Ford had the audacity to provide the car people needed, not the car they wanted.The reasons ...

"That didn't go like I thought it would.""Why does it seem like nothing is ever easy?""Life is too painful sometimes. ""Why does God require us to work so hard?"Have you heard yourself making any of these statements? We all have at times; sometimes it seems like all the time. This book is about the "grit" of life. Grit is what we frequently refer to as struggles, problems, difficulties, or trials. Grit is like coarse sandpaper. In the hands of a master carpente...

Down the Mast Road is a historical fiction written by John M. Duncan and originally published in 1956. This new edition was published in 2016 by the Lee, New Hampshire Heritage Commission to mark the 250th anniversary of the town. The text was transcribed from the original book by Scott Bugbee. Fourteen-year-old Obadiah Merritt is living at home in Lee, New Hampshire with his mother Patience and their slave Pluvius, while Obadiah’s father is away in New Jersey involved with the Revolutiona...

While the importance of the prefrontal cortex for "higher-order" cognitive functions is largely undisputed, no consensus has been reached regarding precise specifications of these functions. For example, although some degree of regional specialization within the frontal lobe seems inevitable, by and large, most attempts to map specific cognitive functions onto neuroanatomical and/or cytoarchitectonic subdivisions have been disappointing. Although a high degree of functional specialization ...

This is a book about a land far away in a time long forgotten … The dreaded thunder of hoofbeats penetrates deeper and deeper into the forest. Instead of standing up to this wicked cavalry, the forest folk slip away into the shadows. Where are the heroes of old who drove the invaders out? Where is the Lord of the forest? His people have forgotten him – except for a handful who refuse to bend the knee to brutal oppression and who insist on singing the song of their ancestors. Little do they...