“Why did a brain like ours evolve? The obvious answer is 'to think.' And it’s not surprising that one would assume that brain evolution had some upward trajectory — for example, from lower animals to higher ones, with the most advanced and rational brain, the human brain, at the top. After all, humanity's superpower is thought, don’t you agree?”

Well, the obvious answer is wrong. In fact, the idea that our brain evolved for thinking has led to many significant misunderstandings about human nature. Once we abandon this cherished belief, we will have taken the first step in our quest to understand how our brain works and what its most important task is — and, ultimately, what kind of creatures we truly are...

So, why do we have a brain? Watch distinguished neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett demystify the gray matter between your ears. In seven concise essays (plus a brief history of how the brain evolved), this small, entertaining, and accessible collection of essays offers inspiring lessons from the forefront of neuroscience research. This way, you will learn how your brain came to be, how it is structured (and why this matters), and how it interacts with those around you to create what you experience.

Along the way, you will discover why you should dismiss various widespread myths, such as the so-called “reptilian brain” or the alleged conflict between “thoughts and feelings,” or even between “nature and nurture,” in determining your behavior. The book will ignite the curiosity of both casual readers and science veterans, as it is filled with surprises, humor, and significant insights into human nature — the gift of a book you will want to enjoy again and again.

What they said about it:

• “Beautiful writing and wonderful ideas that will explode in your mind like a series of firecrackers. If you want a concise presentation of the brain and its magic, start here. [...]” — David Eagleman, professor of neuroscience, Stanford University

• “A clever and cool look at brain-related topics that most of us think we know — but actually don’t. [...]” — Daniel Gilbert, professor of psychology, Harvard University

• “Barrett is a pioneer in the field of neuroscience and one of the most provocative thinkers on the mind today. Prepare for an unusual experience.” — Adam Grant, professor of organizational psychology, University of Pennsylvania

• “...Barrett writes with the eye of a scientist and the heart of a storyteller. [...] Everyone who has a brain should read this. [...]” — Helen Mayberg, professor of neurology, psychiatry, and neuroscience, Mount Sinai School of Medicine

• “One of the best, concise, and subversive introductions I’ve ever read about the human brain. [...] Barrett is one of the brightest and boldest thinkers and scientists I’ve had the pleasure of talking with at length.” — Lex Fridman, artificial intelligence researcher, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• “A radical and thought-provoking look at a number of common misconceptions, emerging discoveries, and intriguing mysteries about our nature as individuals and interconnected social beings. Shedding light on the unfathomably complex, ever-evolving brain-body networks, Barrett arrives at the heart of our new understanding of who and what we are as creatures, and how much freedom and agency we have. [...]” — Jon Kabat-Zinn, professor emeritus of medicine, University of Massachusetts

• “Seven and a Half Lessons on the Brain reads like a novel — and its main character is all of us. [...] Read this book! It will make you smarter about yourself and our species.” — Leonard Mlodinow, theoretical physicist and author

• “Fascinating and informative book. [...] Popular science at its best.” — The Guardian

• “In her small but mighty book, Ms. Barrett [...] startlingly explains that much of what we thought we knew about the brain is wrong.” — Wall Street Journal

• “A must-read scientific book. [...]” — Discover Magazine

• On the “best books” list for 2020, from Amazon and Barnes & Noble

• On the “most notable books” list for 2020, from Behavioral Scientist

• One of “the best popular science books,” from BBC Science Focus (March 2021)