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The Extended Mind

The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain

Audiobook
0 of 4 copies available
Wait time: Available soon
0 of 4 copies available
Wait time: Available soon

A bold new book reveals how we can tap the intelligence that exists beyond our brains—in our bodies, our surroundings, and our relationships.Use your head. That's what we tell ourselves when facing a tricky problem or a difficult project. But a growing body of research indicates that we've got it exactly backwards. What we need to do, says acclaimed science writer Annie Murphy Paul, is think outside the brain. A host of "extra-neural" resources—the feelings and movements of our bodies, the physical spaces in which we learn and work, and the minds of those around us— can help us focus more intently, comprehend more deeply, and create more imaginatively. The Extended Mind outlines the research behind this exciting new vision of human ability, exploring the findings of neuroscientists, cognitive scientists, psychologists, and examining the practices of educators, managers, and leaders who are already reaping the benefits of thinking outside the brain. She excavates the untold history of how artists, scientists, and authors—from Jackson Pollock to Jonas Salk to Robert Caro—have used mental extensions to solve problems, make discoveries, and create new works.

The Extended Mind offers a dramatic new view of how our minds work, full of practical advice on how we can all think better.

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    • AudioFile Magazine
      Though its message is decidedly philosophical, this audiobook offers a broad selection of neurological and behavioral studies to show how mental processing is not isolated to the confines of the skull. The author argues that our brains work best when the thinking we do is coordinated with the wisdom of our physical bodies, the spaces we live and work in, and the influence of others--both past experts and current collaborators. The author's vocal quality and delivery style are not ideal for an audiobook with so many fascinating insights and such useful guidance. But she reads with unfailing fidelity, so nothing gets lost. With writing and reasoning that are always accessible, she describes the many ways we can extend our minds and shows how staying open to these external influences can improve our thinking and productivity. T.W. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      March 22, 2021
      Science journalist Paul (Brilliant: The New Science of Smart) pushes back against the idea that brains are “a cordoned-off space where cognition happens” in this thoroughly reported look at myriad types of thinking. She posits that bodies, physical spaces, and the minds of other people expand one’s ability to decide, analyze, focus, and solve problems. As such, being aware of one’s bodily signals (such as an increased heart rate) allows people to make better decisions beyond using solely intelligence, and she offers as an example successful Wall Street traders who hit it big by trusting their gut. As for physical spaces, Paul makes a case that nature allows for better focus, and tells of a medical researcher who found architecture so inspiring that it led to intellectual breakthroughs. And people tend to think better alongside others, Paul explains: physics students, for example, become more nimble problem solvers when they socialize with other physics students. Paul’s knack for finding real-world scenarios to illustrate scientific ideas makes this pop and lends much credence to the theory that an isolated mind isn’t the sole source of intelligence and creativity. Her fresh approach hits the mark. Agent: Tina Bennett, William Morris Endeavor.

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  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

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  • English

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