If the conscious mind—the part you consider to be you—is just the tip of the iceberg, what is the rest doing?In this sparkling and provocative new book, the renowned neuroscientist David Eagleman navigates the depths of the subconscious brain to illuminate surprising mysteries: Why can your foot move halfway to the brake pedal before you become consciously aware of danger ahead? Why do you hear your name being mentioned in a conversation that you didn’t think you were listening to?...

From the renowned neuroscientist and New York Times bestselling author of Incognito comes the companion volume to the international PBS series about how your life shapes your brain, and how your brain shapes your life."An ideal introduction to how biology generates the mind.... Clear, engaging and thought-provoking." —NatureLocked in the silence and darkness of your skull, your brain fashions the rich narratives o...

**"Eagleman renders the secrets of the brain’s adaptability into a truly compelling page-turner.” *—*Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner“Livewired reads wonderfully like what a book would be if it were written by Oliver Sacks and William Gibson, sitting on Carl Sagan’s front lawn.” —The Wall Street JournalWhat does drug withdrawal have in common with a broken heart? Why is the enemy of memory not time but other memories? Ho...

At once funny, wistful and unsettling, Sum is a dazzling exploration of unexpected afterlives—each presented as a vignette that offers a stunning lens through which to see ourselves in the here and now. In one afterlife, you may find that God is the size of a microbe and unaware of your existence. In another version, you work as a background character in other people’s dreams. Or you may find that God is a married couple, or that the universe is running backward, or that you are forced to ...

A revolutionary new understanding of the human brain and its changeable nature.The brain is a dynamic, electric, living forest. It is not rigidly fixed but instead constantly modifies its patterns – adjusting to remember, adapting to new conditions, building expertise. Your neural networks are not hardwired but livewired, reconfiguring their circuitry every moment of your life.Covering decades of research – from synaesthesia to dreaming to the creation of n...

This enlightening examination of creativity looks “at art and science together to examine how innovations . . . build on what already exists and rely on three brain operations: bending, breaking and blending” (The Wall Street Journal)The Runaway Species is a deep dive into the creative mind, a celebration of the human spirit, and a vision of how we can improve our future by understanding and embracing our ability to innovate. David Eagleman and An...

*Why can your foot move halfway to the brake pedal before you're consciously aware of danger? *Why do you notice when your name is mentioned in a conversation that you didn't think you were listening to? *Why are people whose name begins with J more likely to marry other people whose name begins with J? *Why is it so difficult to keep a secret?Renowned neuroscientist David Eagleman navigates the depths of the subconscious brain to illuminate these surprising mysteries.Takin...

Our relentless drive to create makes us unique among living creatures. What is special about the human brain that enables us to innovate? Why don't cows choreograph dances? Why don't squirrels build elevators to their treetops? Why don't alligators invent speedboats?Weaving together the arts and sciences, neuroscientist David Eagleman and composer Anthony Brandt explore the need for novelty, the simulation of possible futures, and the social components that drive the inventiveness ...

The advent of the internet has been one of the most significant technological developments in history. In this thought-provoking and ground-breaking work David Eagleman, author of international bestseller Sum, presents six ways in which the net saves us from major existential threats: pandemics, poor information flow, natural disasters, political corruption, resource depletion and economic meltdown.

**"Eagleman renders the secrets of the brain’s adaptability into a truly compelling page-turner.” *—*Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner“Livewired reads wonderfully like what a book would be if it were written by Oliver Sacks and William Gibson, sitting on Carl Sagan’s front lawn.” —The Wall Street JournalWhat does drug withdrawal have in common with a broken heart? Why is the enemy of memory not time but other memories? Ho...

From the renowned neuroscientist and New York Times bestselling author of Incognito comes the companion volume to the international PBS series about how your life shapes your brain, and how your brain shapes your life."An ideal introduction to how biology generates the mind.... Clear, engaging and thought-provoking." —NatureLocked in the silence and darkness of your skull, your brain fashions the rich narratives o...

Our ability to remake our world is unique among all living things. But where does our creativity come from, how does it work, and how can we harness it to improve our lives, schools, businesses, and institutions? The Runaway Species is a deep-dive into the creative mind, a celebration of the human spirit, and a vision of how we can improve our future by understanding and embracing our ability to innovate. Composer Anthony Brandt and neurologist David Eagleman seek to discover what lies at ...