The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World - Tapa dura

"In his fascinating, groundbreaking, relentlessly researched, and eloquently written work, Iain McGilchrist, a consultant psychiatrist as well as professor of English--one wants to say a 'scientist' as well as an 'artist'--challenges this misconception. The difference between the hemispheres, McGilchrist argues, is not in what they do, but in how they do it. And it's a difference that makes all the difference."--Gary Lachman, "Los Angeles Times"--Gary Lachman "Los Angeles Times " Named one of the best books of 2010 by "The Guardian"--Best Books of 2010 "Guardian " "A beautifully written, erudite, fascinating, and adventurous book.It goes from the microstructure of the brain to great epochs of Western civilisation, confidently and readably.One turns its five hundred pages . . . as if it were an adventure story." A. C./i>--A.C. Grayling "Literary Review "" Named one of thebest books of 2010 by "The Guardian"--Best Books of 2010 "Guardian "" "To call Iain McGilchrist's The Master and His Emissary. . . an account of brain hemispheres is to woefully misrepresent its range. McGilchrist. . . persuasively argues that our society is suffering from the consequences of an over-dominant left hemisphere losing touch with its natural regulative 'master, ' the right."--;i>The Guardian --Salley Vicker "The Guardian " "It is no exaggeration to say that this quite remarkable book will radically change the way you understand the world and yourself. . . . It is a genuine tour de force, a monumental achievement."--;i>Scientific and Medical Network Review --David Lorimer "Scientific and Medical Network Review " "This is a very remarkable book. . . McGilchrist, who is both an experienced psychiatrist and a shrewd philosopher, looks at the relation between our two brain-hemispheres in a new light, not just as an interesting neurological problem but as a crucial shaping factor in our culture. . .splendidly thought-provoking. . . .I couldn t put it down."--;i>The Guardian --Mary Midgley "The Guardian "" "A landmark new book. . . It tells a story you need to hear, of where we live now." Bryan Appleyard, The Sunday Times--Bryan Appleyard "The Sunday Times "" "That a book can lead me to question myself is praise indeed I can think of no higher recommendation. Like any really interesting book, it is to be valued more for this than for any answers it gives." Felix Dux, Parabola--Felix Dux "Parabola "" In his fascinating, groundbreaking, relentlessly researched, and eloquently written work, Iain McGilchrist, a consultant psychiatrist as well as professor of English one wants to say a 'scientist' as well as an 'artist' challenges this misconception. The difference between the hemispheres, McGilchrist argues, is not in what they do, but in how they do it. And it s a difference that makes all the difference. Gary Lachman, Los Angeles Times--Gary Lachman "Los Angeles Times "" Named one of thebest books of 2010 by The Guardian--Best Books of 2010 "Guardian "" Hugely ambitious. --;i>Bookforum --Jonah Lehrer "Bookforum "" "At last! A book on neuroscience that is a thrilling read, philosophically astute and with wonderful science."--;br> --Mark Vernon "Philosophy and Life blog "" "Absolutely fascinating."--;br>--Jessa Crispin "Bookslut.com " Hugely ambitious. --;i>Bookforum" "" --Jonah Lehrer "Bookforum "" "To call Iain McGilchrist's "The Master and His Emissary." . . an account of brain hemispheres is to woefully misrepresent its range. McGilchrist. . . persuasively argues that our society is suffering from the consequences of an over-dominant left hemisphere losing touch with its natural regulative 'master, ' the right."--;i>The Guardian "--Salley Vicker "The Guardian " "To call Iain McGilchrist''s "The Master and His Emissary". . . an account of brain hemispheres is to woefully misrepresent its range. McGilchrist. . . persuasively argues that our society is suffering from the consequences of an over-dominant left hemisphere losing touch with its natural regulative ''master, '' the right."--;i>The Guardian "--Salley Vicker "The Guardian " "Absolutely fascinating."--;br>--Jessa Crispin "Bookslut.com " "Hugely ambitious."--;i>Bookforum" " " --Jonah Lehrer "Bookforum " "A giant in his vital field shows convincingly that the degeneracy of the West springs from our failure to manage the binary division of our brains." -- Book of the Year choice, David Cox, "Evening Standard" "" --David Cox "Evening Standard "

Why is the brain divided? The difference between right and left hemispheres has been puzzled over for centuries. In a book of unprecedented scope, Iain McGilchrist draws on a vast body of recent brain research, illustrated with case histories, to reveal that the difference is profound - not just this or that function, but two whole, coherent, but incompatible ways of experiencing the world. The left hemisphere is detail-oriented, prefers mechanisms to living things, and is inclined to self-interest, where the right hemisphere has greater breadth, flexibility and generosity. This division helps explain the origins of music and language, and casts new light on the history of philosophy, as well as on some mental illnesses. In the second part of the book, he takes the reader on a journey through the history of Western culture, illustrating the tension between these two worlds as revealed in the thought and belief of thinkers and artists, from Aeschylus to Magritte. He argues that, despite its inferior grasp of reality, the left hemisphere is increasingly taking precedence in the modern world, with potentially disastrous consequences. This is truly a tour de force that should excite interest in a wide readership.