Elastic

January 15, 2018
With the world changing so rapidly, our thinking must change as well. This ingenious account by bestselling science writer Mlodinow (Subliminal: How Your Unconscious Mind Rules Your Behavior, 2012, etc.) describes how we think and how we might do it better.Business writers often argue that humans hate change. What they actually hate, the author insists, are the painful consequences often associated with change--e.g., getting fired. In their absence, we love change and actively seek it. According to one expert in evolutionary anthropology, "we [humans] jump borders. We push into new territory even when we have resources where we are. Other animals don't do this." This "neophilia" confronts us with new problems, but humans are superb problem-solvers. Mostly, we solve them through analytical thinking, a top-down, step-by-step approach based on facts or reason. This works fine in most cases, and it is also how higher animals and computers work, but true creativity requires what Mlodinow calls elastic thinking. Nonlinear, operating largely in the unconscious, and more emotion driven, it's a bottom-up process that considers unusual and even bizarre ideas, resulting in genuine creativity essential in art and business and, increasingly, in our personal lives. Mixing a century of psychology and brain research with descriptions of fascinating cutting-edge technology and anecdotes from his own life, the author delivers the latest findings on how the brain takes in, processes, filters, and--if we apply a few techniques--improves on the perceptions that pour in. As he writes, "the world today is a moving target," and we must be better prepared as a result.Readers looking for advice on business success or personal growth will find pearls of wisdom, but this is not Mlodinow's focus. He sticks firmly to a few ideas already showing their age (that computers will never be truly intelligent), but mostly this is top-quality popular neuroscience.

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February 15, 2018
Mlodinow (The Upright Thinkers, 2015) continues his exploration into the workings of the human mind with this deeply researched and well-sourced treatise on how ideas come to form in undercurrent thinking. His specific phrase of bottom up thinking belies the common belief that all ideas are consciously structured and put into motion with similar awareness. Mlodinow bases his findings on how the brain's reward center reacts to new conditions and options. By understanding this nimbleness of the brain, we can better maneuver through life and expand our thought processes. With the excess of change the modern world has to offer, this volume makes for fascinating reading. However, it is like a transcript of an extended TED talk, including all the anecdotes and asides meant to amuse the audience. Alas, the playful analogies often fall flat on the page to distracting effect. Still, historical insights abound, including the revelations of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, the origins of the EEG and PET scans, and an answer to thinking outside the box. Mlodinow fans will enjoy another journey into how we think.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

Starred review from February 1, 2018

Incorporating the most recent developments in psychology and neuroscience, award-winning science writer Mlodinow (Subliminal; The Drunkard's Walk) elucidates how the human mind evolved a cognitive style he names "elastic thinking." This assembly of characteristics and skills includes an affinity for novelty and imagination, a tendency toward unusual perception, and divergent and integrative thinking. Using examples of innovators from Frankenstein author Mary Shelley to the inventor of jumbo-sized popcorn, Mlodinow explains how elastic thinking can create paradigm shifts and how analytical thinking can serve to resist such shifts. He argues that as the pace of change in society increases, the qualities of elastic thinking will be required for success in business and life. In addition to the varied examples of elastic thinking, Mlodinow offers quizzes and techniques to get the reader started. VERDICT With elements of self-help and business writing and including entertaining anecdotes and turns of phrase, this fantastically accessible science writing about the brain can be enjoyed by anyone. Of particular interest to those wishing to understand how to cope with the pace of change in the modern world.--Nancy H. Fontaine, Norwich P.L., VT

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