The Idiot Brain cover art

The Idiot Brain

A Neuroscientist Explains What Your Head Is Really up To

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The Idiot Brain

By: Dean Burnett
Narrated by: Matt Addis
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About this listen

Why do you lose arguments with people who know MUCH LESS than you?

Why can you recognize that woman, from that thing...but can't remember her name?

And why, after your last break-up, did you find yourself in the fetal position on the sofa for days, moving only to wipe the snot and tears haphazardly from your face? Here's why: the idiot brain.

For something supposedly so brilliant and evolutionarily advanced, the human brain is pretty messy, fallible and disorganized. For example, your memory is egotistical. No, really. Conspiracy theories and superstitions are the inevitable effects of a healthy brain. And alcohol can actually improve your memory.**

In The Idiot Brain, neuroscientist Dean Burnett tours our mysterious and mischievous grey (and white) matter. Along the way he explains the human brain's imperfections in all their glory and how these influence everything we say, do and experience. Expertly researched and entertainingly written, this audiobook is for anyone who has wondered why their brain appears to be sabotaging their life, and what on earth it is really up to.

**Editor's note: please listen to the book before testing this conclusion.

From the hugely popular Guardian science blogger, a surprising, funny and mind-bending examination of how and why the brain sabotages our behavior.

©2016 Dean Burnett (P)2016 Audible, Ltd
Biological Sciences Neuroscience & Neuropsychology Human Brain Mental Health Funny Inspiring Genetics

Critic Reviews

"Compelling and wise and rational. You know you can trust him... a great read." (Jon Ronson)
"An entertaining romp through the science of our mental mental processes. Full of fascinating insight into the brain and the origins of our crazy behaviour." (Gaia Vince)

What listeners say about The Idiot Brain

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Insightful and funny

Author provides both a conversational and informative way of explaining neuroscience. Fantastic use of analogies and humour to properly punctuating your understanding of the subject. Perfect for those curious about how the brain works, and how it effects who you are.

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Information and humor

Educational and makes you laugh along the journey. If you are interested in the brain, then this book might tickle your fancy.

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1 person found this helpful

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A great listen

This book has the perfect combination, a scientist who refers to evidence based research but who also has a great sense of humour which is reflected in his writing.
I learnt so much from this book. It is not airy fairy stuff, just facts rolled into a great format.
As for the narrator.... Awesome! I could listen to him all day, great tone and great accent.

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Packed full of information and knowledge

So much info in one book. Really great source of nerdy facts and knowledge. Each sentence is full of fascinating facts. I've listened to this book several times and looking forward to the next.

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Loved this

Great book, very entertaining and informative, highly enjoyed and highly recommend. Will help you with understanding the way your mind works.

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Great read!

very well written and entertaining narrative. this book is also crammed with a heap of information. I'll have to go over it again! that said knowing this, as accurate as it is for now, has helped me really understand emotions and the nature of things like mood, stress, and development.

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Very interesting and funny.<br />

Engaging performance and interesting sibject matter, if you are in to that sort of thing.

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fantastic book

love it interesting and entertaining make science reachable for everyone and I really liked in the narrator

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fun and informative

this book was great! so many interesting topics and examples, and it was performed really well.

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very good if you like to learn about being human

it was logical and humerous. explains the brain in layman's terms. highly recommended read it

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