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The Evolving Brain: How to Thrive in a World We Weren't Made For
Neurologist and neuroscientist Dr Paul Goldsmith reveals compassionate, practical insights on the evolutionary origins of our brain and how we can best use it to thrive in our daily lives.
'A fascinating exploration of how our ancient brains are mismatched for our modern ecosystem, and what we can do about it.' Anna Lembke, MD, author of Dopamine Nation
'Exciting and accessible . . .This is a book to help us to understand ourselves.' Kathryn Mannix, author of With the End in Mind and Listen
A New Scientist 'Best New Popular Science Books of 2026' pick.
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We often blame ourselves when we struggle with modern life. We see loneliness, anxiety, and burnout as signs of personal failure. We feel miserable when we fall short of the unachievable goals we've set. We become frustrated when we compare our lives to others - whether through job titles or social media likes.
But the problem isn't you. The problem is that the human brain was built for an environment utterly different to the one we now inhabit. Processes that once ensured our survival now leave us overloaded, restless and unhappy. Yet we don't have to by understanding our brain's original design, we can work with it to thrive.
In The Evolving Brain, Dr Paul Goldsmith draws on cutting-edge neuroscience and case studies from his clinical practice to produce the definitive user's guide to our ancient mind, offering actionable insights to help us live happier, healthier and more connected lives.
'A fascinating exploration of how our ancient brains are mismatched for our modern ecosystem, and what we can do about it.' Anna Lembke, MD, author of Dopamine Nation
'Exciting and accessible . . .This is a book to help us to understand ourselves.' Kathryn Mannix, author of With the End in Mind and Listen
A New Scientist 'Best New Popular Science Books of 2026' pick.
-----
We often blame ourselves when we struggle with modern life. We see loneliness, anxiety, and burnout as signs of personal failure. We feel miserable when we fall short of the unachievable goals we've set. We become frustrated when we compare our lives to others - whether through job titles or social media likes.
But the problem isn't you. The problem is that the human brain was built for an environment utterly different to the one we now inhabit. Processes that once ensured our survival now leave us overloaded, restless and unhappy. Yet we don't have to by understanding our brain's original design, we can work with it to thrive.
In The Evolving Brain, Dr Paul Goldsmith draws on cutting-edge neuroscience and case studies from his clinical practice to produce the definitive user's guide to our ancient mind, offering actionable insights to help us live happier, healthier and more connected lives.
400 pages, Hardcover
Published May 12, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 4, 2026
I've been reading a lot of brain-related books in the past couple of years, so some of the insights were not as path-breaking. That being said, I did enjoy the practical implications of each concept explained. Particularly enjoyed the chapters on the Ego-less brain and the appendix. It gave me a lot to think about.
Review of advance copy
It’s a great read that discusses different elements of neuroscience and behavior. It discusses topics related to behavior similar to other books from Frans De Waal and Robert Sapolsky.
The most interesting character was the one about the calibrating brain. The core thesis of this book is that our modern brain evolved over a slow process that took thousands of years to be optimized for our external environment. The author makes the case that rapidly advancing technology continues to remove us further and further from our natural environment, which is a leading factor in the rise of mental health problems.
Some of the points made were the fact that our social structure was optimized for smaller groups around 150, so cooperation and reciprocity were essential for group cohesion because any deviance was met with immediate feedback.
The larger the group, the less connected the relationships become which lowers incentives for cooperation and reciprocity because those that deviate might not face immediate feedback or consequences. He also makes the case that the permanence of social media has made the process of forgiveness and reconciliation more difficult.
The most interesting character was the one about the calibrating brain. The core thesis of this book is that our modern brain evolved over a slow process that took thousands of years to be optimized for our external environment. The author makes the case that rapidly advancing technology continues to remove us further and further from our natural environment, which is a leading factor in the rise of mental health problems.
Some of the points made were the fact that our social structure was optimized for smaller groups around 150, so cooperation and reciprocity were essential for group cohesion because any deviance was met with immediate feedback.
The larger the group, the less connected the relationships become which lowers incentives for cooperation and reciprocity because those that deviate might not face immediate feedback or consequences. He also makes the case that the permanence of social media has made the process of forgiveness and reconciliation more difficult.
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February 12, 2026review text for 2719
March 22, 2026
brilliant
The secrets and controversies of the brain explained so well. Great style from a clinician and scientist, easy read. Much recommended
The secrets and controversies of the brain explained so well. Great style from a clinician and scientist, easy read. Much recommended
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews