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Great Myths of Psychology
Great Myths of the Brain
"Great Myths of the Brain" introduces readers to the field of neuroscience by examining popular myths about the human brain.
Explores commonly-held myths of the brain through the lens of scientific research, backing up claims with studies and other evidence from the literature. Looks at enduring myths such as "Do we only use 10% of our brain?," "Pregnant women lose their mind," "Right-brained people are more creative" and many more. Delves into myths relating to specific brain disorders, including epilepsy, autism, dementia, and others. Written engagingly and accessibly for students and lay readers alike, providing a unique introduction to the study of the brain. Teaches readers how to spot neuro hype and neuro-nonsense claims in the media.
Explores commonly-held myths of the brain through the lens of scientific research, backing up claims with studies and other evidence from the literature. Looks at enduring myths such as "Do we only use 10% of our brain?," "Pregnant women lose their mind," "Right-brained people are more creative" and many more. Delves into myths relating to specific brain disorders, including epilepsy, autism, dementia, and others. Written engagingly and accessibly for students and lay readers alike, providing a unique introduction to the study of the brain. Teaches readers how to spot neuro hype and neuro-nonsense claims in the media.
368 pages, Paperback
First published September 2, 2014
51 people are currently reading
762 people want to read
About the author
Christian Jarrett
23 books53 followersA cognitive neuroscientist by training, Christian Jarrett has been popularizing psychology and neuroscience for over two decades. His award-winning writing on the mind, brain, and behavior has appeared in publications across the world, including the BBC, New York magazine, VICE, Aeon, The Guardian, GQ, WIRED, and many more. Today he is Editor of Psyche, a digital magazine that illuminates the human condition. Dr. Jarrett has written several critically acclaimed books including The Rough Guide to Psychology and Great Myths of the Brain. He was also a consultant editor and lead author for the best-selling 30-Second Psychology. He lives in the countryside near Brighton, England with his wife and twins (a boy and a girl) and their miniature schnauzer.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 16, 2018
3.5
Obala mnóstwo mitów, w które wierzyłam nawet ja (a wydawało mi się, że wiem dużo o mózgu), ale sposób podania wydaje mi się przeciętnie fascynujący - tak gdzieś pomiędzy popularnonaukową a stricte naukową pozycją.
Autor ma dla nas wiele wiadomości dobrych (nowe neurony powstają jednak przez całe życie; mózgi męskie i kobiece nie różnią się prawie wcale; ciąża nie ogłupia; internet również nie; duży mózg nie równa się lepszy mózg) ale też złych (z grubsza nie ma czegoś takiego jak ludzie lewo- i prawopółkulowi; treningi mózgu niczego nie trenują; wykorzystujemy cały nasz mózg, a nie tylko jego 10%; WIERCENIE OTWORÓW W CZASZCE NIE UWALNIA ZŁYCH DUCHÓW).
Pożyteczna lektura zarówno dla neuro-sceptyków, jak i fanatyków różnych (pseudo)teorii neurobiologii. Uczy przede wszystkim, że mało jest rzeczy tak trudnych do zbadania, jak ludzki mózg. Głównie dlatego, że aby zbadać mózg, musimy użyć właśnie mózgu ;)
Obala mnóstwo mitów, w które wierzyłam nawet ja (a wydawało mi się, że wiem dużo o mózgu), ale sposób podania wydaje mi się przeciętnie fascynujący - tak gdzieś pomiędzy popularnonaukową a stricte naukową pozycją.
Autor ma dla nas wiele wiadomości dobrych (nowe neurony powstają jednak przez całe życie; mózgi męskie i kobiece nie różnią się prawie wcale; ciąża nie ogłupia; internet również nie; duży mózg nie równa się lepszy mózg) ale też złych (z grubsza nie ma czegoś takiego jak ludzie lewo- i prawopółkulowi; treningi mózgu niczego nie trenują; wykorzystujemy cały nasz mózg, a nie tylko jego 10%; WIERCENIE OTWORÓW W CZASZCE NIE UWALNIA ZŁYCH DUCHÓW).
Pożyteczna lektura zarówno dla neuro-sceptyków, jak i fanatyków różnych (pseudo)teorii neurobiologii. Uczy przede wszystkim, że mało jest rzeczy tak trudnych do zbadania, jak ludzki mózg. Głównie dlatego, że aby zbadać mózg, musimy użyć właśnie mózgu ;)
May 16, 2015
Let me say this--Jarrett has done his homework. Hundreds--and I do mean hundreds--of studies are cited in the course of this book. That's probably the strongest point of the effort.
I don't really like books whose sole aim is to dispel myths--it makes the entire work have a negative tenor--that's not true, this isn't true, neither is that over there. Also, I doubt a lot of these are actually myths. How many people go around believing, "glial cells are little more than brain glue" (Myth #24). Anybody? He has to stretch in order to cover the things he wants to cover. He also gets a little preach, particularly when discussing myths related to mental illness.
He begins with "defunct myths"--that thought actually resides in the heart, that the brain pumps animal spirits. Then he discusses antiquated forms of brain treatment--trepanning, frontal lobotomy, etc. I especially appreciated his treatment of the "immortal myths"--that right-brained people are more creative, that we only use 10% of our brain, that adults don't grow new brain cells, etc. His chapter on myths of the brain's physical structure was weak, again because I doubt anyone actually believes the myths he punctures.
The chapter on "technology and food myths" was great--brain training is of little value. And chocolate? Ain't gonna turn you into Einstein either. I also appreciated his chapter on brain disorders and illnesses (despite the occasional preachiness). I learned a lot about autism, epilepsy, and dementia especially. And perhaps the one myth that I myself actually believed is here as well--turns out, people aren't depressed or mentally ill because of "chemical imbalances" in the brain. That's a total fallacy.
I would recommend this work. We all need to understand our brains better, and this is a great place to start.
I don't really like books whose sole aim is to dispel myths--it makes the entire work have a negative tenor--that's not true, this isn't true, neither is that over there. Also, I doubt a lot of these are actually myths. How many people go around believing, "glial cells are little more than brain glue" (Myth #24). Anybody? He has to stretch in order to cover the things he wants to cover. He also gets a little preach, particularly when discussing myths related to mental illness.
He begins with "defunct myths"--that thought actually resides in the heart, that the brain pumps animal spirits. Then he discusses antiquated forms of brain treatment--trepanning, frontal lobotomy, etc. I especially appreciated his treatment of the "immortal myths"--that right-brained people are more creative, that we only use 10% of our brain, that adults don't grow new brain cells, etc. His chapter on myths of the brain's physical structure was weak, again because I doubt anyone actually believes the myths he punctures.
The chapter on "technology and food myths" was great--brain training is of little value. And chocolate? Ain't gonna turn you into Einstein either. I also appreciated his chapter on brain disorders and illnesses (despite the occasional preachiness). I learned a lot about autism, epilepsy, and dementia especially. And perhaps the one myth that I myself actually believed is here as well--turns out, people aren't depressed or mentally ill because of "chemical imbalances" in the brain. That's a total fallacy.
I would recommend this work. We all need to understand our brains better, and this is a great place to start.
December 1, 2024
dlugo sie plynelo, aczkolwiek fajna sprawa dla brainrowych swirow!! (choc nie dla pro swirow, bo wiele informacji i ciekawostek bylo wiedza powszechna)
January 14, 2015
I should have given this only four stars, because the Kindle version has some irritating issues. First, a half blank page often turns up; ie, a page will only have text on the upper third/half and not on the rest. Usually this corrects itself if you move back and forth between the pages; sometimes it doesn't. And sometimes the top line of any boxed text is cut off, particularly in the latter part of the book. Secondly, Jarrett time and again refers the reader to a page further on in the book, or previous to what we're currently reading. This is fine in a print version, but in a Kindle version is of course impossible. It would have been good to have had links to these.
Thirdly, while I know it would require a bit of cutting and pasting, having up to 120 notes following a chapter is rather irritating when you're reading an e-version, necessitating constant 'page' turning to get to the next chapter. I guess I could have avoided this by using the 'go to' tool on my Kindle but that only occurred to me after I'd finished the book! Anyway, for users of other e-devices this may not be an option.
That's all the complaints. The book is full of marvellous information. Jarrett, of course, isn't just setting out to debunk myths, he's also offering us the alternatives, the things that are the realities about the brain - where they're known. A lot of things aren't yet known about the brain, something that may come as a surprise to many readers.
Time after time I learned something that I'd never heard in regard to neuroscience and the brain. I highlighted so much of the book it's probable that Amazon won't let see half my highlights!
The section towards the end on depression, and the one on dementia and Alzheimer's were both very enlightening, and corrected mistaken ideas I held.
There's a nice humility about Jarrett's writing: he doesn't claim to be the last word on neuroscience and he has a gentle sense of humour that comes across on page after page.
I could go on at length. Suffice to say this beats all other books on the brain that I've read hands down!
Thirdly, while I know it would require a bit of cutting and pasting, having up to 120 notes following a chapter is rather irritating when you're reading an e-version, necessitating constant 'page' turning to get to the next chapter. I guess I could have avoided this by using the 'go to' tool on my Kindle but that only occurred to me after I'd finished the book! Anyway, for users of other e-devices this may not be an option.
That's all the complaints. The book is full of marvellous information. Jarrett, of course, isn't just setting out to debunk myths, he's also offering us the alternatives, the things that are the realities about the brain - where they're known. A lot of things aren't yet known about the brain, something that may come as a surprise to many readers.
Time after time I learned something that I'd never heard in regard to neuroscience and the brain. I highlighted so much of the book it's probable that Amazon won't let see half my highlights!
The section towards the end on depression, and the one on dementia and Alzheimer's were both very enlightening, and corrected mistaken ideas I held.
There's a nice humility about Jarrett's writing: he doesn't claim to be the last word on neuroscience and he has a gentle sense of humour that comes across on page after page.
I could go on at length. Suffice to say this beats all other books on the brain that I've read hands down!
June 7, 2019
Nöroloji alanında sık karşılaştığımız ve bazen açıklamakta zorlandığımız birçok mit için referanslı doğru bilginin olduğu , faydalı kitap.
July 3, 2022
An incredibly well written and researched book. It should be included in every school's curriculum.
April 12, 2023
At the time of this review, this book is already 9 years old. Hopefully there will be an updated version in the future as there has been a lot new research since this book was published.
The author debunks an extensive list of myths:
Defunct Myths
#1 Thought Resides in the Heart
#2 The Brain Pumps Animal Spirits Round the Body
#3 Brain Cells Join Together Forming a Huge Nerve Net
#4 Mental Function Resides in the Brain's Hollows
Myth-Based Brain Practices
#5 Drilling a Hole in the Skull Releases Evil Spirits
#6 Personality Can Be Read in the Bumps on the Skull
#7 Mental Illness Can Be Cured by Disconnecting the Frontal Lobes
Mythical Case Studies
#8 Brain Injury Turned Neuroscience's Most Famous Case into an Impulsive Brute
#9 The Faculty of Language Production Is Distributed Through the Brain
#10 Memory Is Distributed Throughout the Entire Cortex
Immortal Myths
#11 We only use ten percent of Our Brains
#12 Right-Brained People Are More Creative
#13 The Female Brain Is More Balanced (and Other Gender-Based Brain Myths)
#14 Adults Can't Grow New Brain Cells
#15 There's a God Spot in the Brain (and Other Lesser-Spotted Myths)
#16 Pregnant Women Lose Their Minds
#17 We All Need Eight Hours of Continuous Sleep (and Other Dozy Sleep Myths)
#18 The Brain Is a Computer
#19 The Mind Can Exist Outside of the Brain
#20 Neuroscience Is Transforming Human Self-Understanding
Myths about the Physical Structure of the Brain
#21 The Brain Is Well Designed
#22 The Bigger the Brain, the Better
#23 You Have a Grandmother Cell
#24 Glial Cells Are Little More Than Brain Glue
#25 Mirror Neurons Make Us Human (and Broken Mirror Neurons Cause Autism)
#26 The Disembodied Brain
Technology and Food Myths
#27 Brain Scans Can Read Your Mind
#28 Neurofeedback Will Bring You Bliss and Enlightenment
#29 Brain Training Will Make You Smart
#30 Brain Food Will Make You Even Smarter
#31 Google Will Make You Stupid, Mad, or Both
Brain Myths Concerning Perception and Action
#32 The Brain Receives Information from Five Separate Senses
#33 The Brain Perceives the World As It Is
#34 The Brain's Representation of the Body Is Accurate and Stable
Myths about Brain Disorder and Illness
#35 Brain Injury and Concussion Myths
#36 Amnesia Myths
#37 Coma Myths
#38 Epilepsy Myths
#39 Autism Myths
#40 Dementia Myths
#41 The Chemical Imbalance Myth of Mental Illness
The author debunks an extensive list of myths:
Defunct Myths
#1 Thought Resides in the Heart
#2 The Brain Pumps Animal Spirits Round the Body
#3 Brain Cells Join Together Forming a Huge Nerve Net
#4 Mental Function Resides in the Brain's Hollows
Myth-Based Brain Practices
#5 Drilling a Hole in the Skull Releases Evil Spirits
#6 Personality Can Be Read in the Bumps on the Skull
#7 Mental Illness Can Be Cured by Disconnecting the Frontal Lobes
Mythical Case Studies
#8 Brain Injury Turned Neuroscience's Most Famous Case into an Impulsive Brute
#9 The Faculty of Language Production Is Distributed Through the Brain
#10 Memory Is Distributed Throughout the Entire Cortex
Immortal Myths
#11 We only use ten percent of Our Brains
#12 Right-Brained People Are More Creative
#13 The Female Brain Is More Balanced (and Other Gender-Based Brain Myths)
#14 Adults Can't Grow New Brain Cells
#15 There's a God Spot in the Brain (and Other Lesser-Spotted Myths)
#16 Pregnant Women Lose Their Minds
#17 We All Need Eight Hours of Continuous Sleep (and Other Dozy Sleep Myths)
#18 The Brain Is a Computer
#19 The Mind Can Exist Outside of the Brain
#20 Neuroscience Is Transforming Human Self-Understanding
Myths about the Physical Structure of the Brain
#21 The Brain Is Well Designed
#22 The Bigger the Brain, the Better
#23 You Have a Grandmother Cell
#24 Glial Cells Are Little More Than Brain Glue
#25 Mirror Neurons Make Us Human (and Broken Mirror Neurons Cause Autism)
#26 The Disembodied Brain
Technology and Food Myths
#27 Brain Scans Can Read Your Mind
#28 Neurofeedback Will Bring You Bliss and Enlightenment
#29 Brain Training Will Make You Smart
#30 Brain Food Will Make You Even Smarter
#31 Google Will Make You Stupid, Mad, or Both
Brain Myths Concerning Perception and Action
#32 The Brain Receives Information from Five Separate Senses
#33 The Brain Perceives the World As It Is
#34 The Brain's Representation of the Body Is Accurate and Stable
Myths about Brain Disorder and Illness
#35 Brain Injury and Concussion Myths
#36 Amnesia Myths
#37 Coma Myths
#38 Epilepsy Myths
#39 Autism Myths
#40 Dementia Myths
#41 The Chemical Imbalance Myth of Mental Illness
March 22, 2021
I chose to read this book because I am researching neuroscience themes for a personal project. It was a good choice, because it is thoroughly researched and offers clear explanations of what the mainstream science community knows about our most important organ - the brain.
Sometimes the author has been constrained by the "50 myths" paradigm to follow, and for a non expert like myself some of the myths are little more than obscure science facts. But the majority of the issues is about important notions everyone should have about their brains and those of the people they love, and for this reason I recommend to read this book to anyone interested about getting to know something more about how we "work".
Sometimes the author has been constrained by the "50 myths" paradigm to follow, and for a non expert like myself some of the myths are little more than obscure science facts. But the majority of the issues is about important notions everyone should have about their brains and those of the people they love, and for this reason I recommend to read this book to anyone interested about getting to know something more about how we "work".
April 29, 2022
Terminado en lugar de terminar de estudiar para el examen de pedia y dormir tranquila.
En fin, un libro para cualquiera que esté interesado en las neurociencias. Aprendí muchísimo, y en muchas secciones simplemente quedé 🤡. No puede ser que en las propias universidades nos sigan metiendo tanta tontería que ha sido desmentida una, otra y otra vez.
La verdad aspiro a un día escribir algo como el autor de este libro. De verdad, no puedo con la cantidad de fuentes que consultó. De verdad una obra que está bien fundamentada. Estoy ansiosa por continuar los otros libros de las colección.
En fin, un libro para cualquiera que esté interesado en las neurociencias. Aprendí muchísimo, y en muchas secciones simplemente quedé 🤡. No puede ser que en las propias universidades nos sigan metiendo tanta tontería que ha sido desmentida una, otra y otra vez.
La verdad aspiro a un día escribir algo como el autor de este libro. De verdad, no puedo con la cantidad de fuentes que consultó. De verdad una obra que está bien fundamentada. Estoy ansiosa por continuar los otros libros de las colección.
February 15, 2020
I did enjoy this book, it was fun reading about the myths surrounding the brain and was easy to understand without being too complicated; the book has hundreds of studies/case studies in it which will be valuable when I have to do University coursework. Would recommend if you are interested in Psychology/ are doing a Psychology degree and want to learn some more information about common myths surrounding the brain.
September 20, 2021
My ratings of books on Goodreads are solely a crude ranking of their utility to me, and not an evaluation of literary merit, entertainment value, social importance, humor, insightfulness, scientific accuracy, creative vigor, suspensefulness of plot, depth of characters, vitality of theme, excitement of climax, satisfaction of ending, or any other combination of dimensions of value which we are expected to boil down through some fabulous alchemy into a single digit.
July 12, 2017
Per il neofita può essere molto interessante e utile, e c'è una bibliografia piuttosto ampia e interessante.
May 27, 2020
Jarrett writes a great article here: https://psyche.co/guides/how-to-culti...
April 3, 2021
Un excelente libro de divulgación para aprender más sobre nuestro cerebro con datos contrastados.
https://liblit.com/christian-jarrett-...
https://liblit.com/christian-jarrett-...
September 30, 2016
Citar algunas cosas no replicadas ahora y algunos detalles que refunfuñaría no cambian el veredicto final: Cumple perfectamente la función de no solo refutar mitos si no ofrecer de forma convincente y escueta la alternativa real en un amplísimo abanico de temas, y hacerlo de forma clara y entretenida. Recomendado a cualquiera de interés mismo, porque alguna de las cosas aquí discutidas se mencionan en clases o papers.
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