David J. Linden explores the cellular underpinnings of memory formation in the brain and other facets of neuroscience. His work prioritizes scientific communication, making complex topics accessible to a general audience. Linden delves into the biological basis of behavior, investigating how our senses and perceptions shape our experiences. His accessible yet insightful books on science are celebrated for their depth and clarity.
Why can't we tickle ourselves? Why do footballers who hug score more goals? Why does holding a hot coffee make us feel more positively about people? In this book the author reveals the secrets of our senses, and how to harness them to change your personal and professional life.
My Life as an Acrobat, Circus Performer, Stunt Man and Comedian
The author's journey unfolds through his unique experiences as a self-taught acrobat and balancing artist, ultimately leading him to the world of stand-up comedy. His performances at the Flappers Comedy Club in Claremont, CA, showcase his evolution and the blend of physical artistry with humor, reflecting a vibrant and unconventional career path.
Friedrich Hayek's The Road to Serfdom (1944) analyzes the ways in which excessive government planning can erode democracy. The work draws influential parallels between the totalitarianism of both left and right, questioning the central government control exerted by Western democracies.
Psychological disorders – their origins, clinical symptoms and treatment – have a central place in contemporary public health debate. Understanding how disruptions in the brain's biological mechanisms can influence our thoughts, feelings and actions is one of the most exciting challenges for psychologists in the twenty-first century. The Biology of Psychological Disorders is an authoritative account of some of the most prevalent psychological disorders, from schizophrenia, depression, mania and substance abuse to disorders of childhood, adolescence and ageing. Detailed and engaging coverage of these disorders is combined with a comprehensive grounding in the fundamentals of neuroscience and the principles of psychopharmacology that underpin their treatment. Drawing on the fields of psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience and biology, this highly relevant text is an invaluable resource for students of biological psychology and psychopharmacology, trainee psychiatrists and anyone interested in understanding, researching and treating psychological disorders.
The "New York Times" bestselling author of "The Compass of Pleasure" examines how our sense of touch is interconnected with our emotions Dual-function receptors in our skin make mint feel cool and chili peppers hot.
From the New York Times bestselling author comes a "hugely entertaining" (NPR.org) look at vice and virtue through cutting-edge science As he did in his award-winning book The Accidental Mind, David J. Linden—highly regarded neuroscientist, professor, and writer—weaves empirical science with entertaining anecdotes to explain how the gamut of behaviors that give us a buzz actually operates. The Compass of Pleasure makes clear why drugs like nicotine and heroin are addictive while LSD is not, how fast food restaurants ensure that diners will eat more, why some people cannot resist the appeal of a new sexual encounter, and much more. Provocative and illuminating, this is a radically new and thorough look at the desires that define us.
As a scientist, the author had devoted his career to understanding the brain processes and behaviors that are common to us all. That is, until a few years ago, when he found himself on OKCupid. Looking through that vast catalog of human difference, he got to thinking, where does it all come from? Why does one person have perfect pitch, a taste for hoppy beer, and an aversion to bathroom selfies? That is, what makes you, you, and me, me? In this book, the author tells a riveting and accessible story of human individuality. Exploring topics that touch all of our lives - among them sexuality, gender identity, food preferences, biological rhythms, mood, personality, memory, and intelligence - the author shows that human individuality is not simply a matter of nature versus nurture. Rather, it is a product of the complex, and often counterintuitive, interplay between our genetic blueprints and our experiences. Experience isn't just how your parents reared you, but the diseases you have had, the foods you have eaten, the bacteria that reside in your body, the weather during your early development, and the technology you've been exposed to. Drawing all those factors together, the author argues that human individuality is key to how we live as individuals and groups and explores how questions of individuality are informing social discussions of morality, public policy, religion, healthcare, education, and law. Like Carl Zimmer's She Has Her Mother's Laugh and Robert Sapolsky's Behave, this book unveils a vista on the intricacies of human existence. But, for all its brilliance and insight, this is not a weighty academic tome - here, the story of uniqueness is told with an unusual combination of authority and openness, seriousness of purpose, and a great sense of humor. -- Adapted from publisher's description
Counters the assumption that the brain is a paragon of design - and offers an explanation of how the brain's serendipitous evolution has resulted in nothing short of our humanity.
A leading brain scientist's look at the neurobiology of pleasure - and how pleasures become addictions
Friedrich Hayek’s 1944 Road to Serfdom is a classic of conservative economic argument. While undeniably a product of a specific time in global politics – which saw the threat of fascism from Nazi Germany and its allies beguilingly answered by the promises of socialism – Hayek’s carefully constructed argument is a fine example of the importance of good reasoning in critical thinking. Reasoning is the art of constructing good, persuasive arguments by organizing one’s thoughts, supporting one’s conclusions, and considering counter-arguments along the way. The Road to Serfdom illustrates all these skills in action; Hayek’s argument was that, while many assumed socialism to be the answer to totalitarian, fascist regimes, the opposite was true. Socialist government’s reliance on a large state, centralised control, and bureaucratic planning – he insisted – actually amounts to a different kind of totalitarianism. Freedom of choice, Hayek continued, is a central requirement of individual freedom, and hence a centrally planned economy inevitably constrains freedom. Though many commentators have sought to counter Hayek’s arguments, his reasoning skills won over many of the politicians who have shaped the present day, most notably Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan.
