Trains of Thought: A Natural History of the Mind

"Not just another neuroscience book about consciousness, this is a deeper story of the human mind, and how we come to think, feel, and live our lives." The human mind is unique within Nature. It emerges from the brain but is far more than the sum of its parts. Our mind gives rise to our entire experience of life, but what is it, how does it work, and where do minds sit within Nature as a whole? Trains of Thought distils and clarifies our most essential quality as human beings, the ability to think. Taking a natural history approach to the mind, clinical psychologist Dr James Brennan guides us through different realms of psychology – memory, emotions, drives, consciousness, childhood, relationships, therapy, and above all how we think, and how we adjust to change – all brought to life in case vignettes drawn from his work as a therapist. "... an accessible must-read for anyone intrigued by the mysteries of the mind and how each of us constructs reality… or for anyone seeking a rational understanding of how minds work." "A handbook for Humanists" - John McAllister