The Idiot Brain
A Neuroscientist Explains What Your Head Is Really up To
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The Idiot Brain
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Narrated by:
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Matt Addis
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By:
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Dean Burnett
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, LtdListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
"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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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Joe Public
- 05-10-16
Informative and intertwining
interesting book to read about the way human brain works. made me giggle a couple of times.
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15 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Ellie Rose
- 14-08-20
Extremely enjoyable and informative
This book made me laugh out loud, which is not what you'd expect from a book on the human brain. The narrator is top class, and the book is interesting and witty. I liked it so much I've just bought a second book by the same author and narrator.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- LucyUAE
- 21-10-20
Worth reading for Chapter 7 and 8 only!
Great narrator. Made me chuckle out loud in places with the self-deprecating humour. I faded out a bit half way through but then we had some very interesting chapters on social pressures, blame/rape culture and also depression and addiction. Really valid in this current time of BLM movement and metoo and destigmatising mental health problems. Explains a lot and definitely made me think about various triggers.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Harry
- 07-03-21
Captivating, humorous storytelling
Interesting, relatable facts, told in a cheeky way,yet scientifically backed up. I enjoyed it very much
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Melanie
- 10-11-21
Well
Interesting and a lot to take in. Confusing and clearing at the same time.
Definitely something I have to listen to again in a few month time to take in the things I wasn't able to understand just yet.
Looking forward to it :)
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Kylie. F
- 14-07-18
easy and funny read for people new to neuroscience
I could not put this book down! amazing! a light, witty and easy read. I would recommend it to people interested in psychology.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Ash
- 10-09-19
Excellent
Brilliant and funny and extremely interesting. Will no doubt listen again. Very interesting subject. My brain hurts!!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Trailerfitters Toolbox
- 05-03-20
Astounding Book
I totally enjoyed this book from cover to cover. Informative and witty packed full of useful and entertaining information on how the brain really is. This is science but with the boring bits taken out. Highly recommended.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Thomas
- 18-09-20
awesome book
such a good way of explaining the different parts and there uses of the brain.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Lebo
- 24-06-17
I loved it...
the author was able to take such a complex, boring topic and breath so much life and insight into the subject.
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