Brain Briefs: Answers to the Most (and Least) Pressing Questions about Your Mind

by Art Markman, Bob Duke

United Publishing Pub 2018-11-01 296 Beijing United Publishing Company Why do we love watching kitten videos? Why do people call dogs dogs? Why is the tongue twister? More efficient and more efficient? Many problems in life are act...

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Science, Self Help, Popular Science, Brain

288 pages, Hardcover

First published October 4, 2016

About the author

Art Markman is a professor of Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and is one of the premier cognitive scientists in the field. He served as director of the program in the Human Dimensions of Organizations. Now, Art is Executive Director of the IC2 Institute. Art's research explores a variety of topics in thinking including how people use analogies, make decisions, communicate, and get motivated. He also consults to companies teaching their employees to think more effectively. That work is central to his books Smart Thinking, Smart Change, Brain Briefs, and Habits of Leadership. His newest book is Bring Your Brain to Work. When Art is not working or spending time with his family, he is playing the saxophone in a band.

Reviews

[عبدالرحمن عقاب · Rating 3 out of 5]

كتابٌ جيّد؛ مسلٍّ ومتوسط الفائدة. وهو إعادة إنتاج لمادةٍ إذاعية قدّمها المؤلفان. وكون ‏المادة إذاعية ابتداءً فقد تنوّعت المواضيع، وامتلأ الكتاب بالحشو وعانت مادته أحيانًا من ‏بعض التشعّب والتشتّت، مما انعكس على مستوى الفصول الأربعين فجاءت على عدّة ‏مستويات؛ منها السطحيّ ومنها العميق، ومنها العجول ومنها المرتّب المتكامل. ‏
كان جديده بالنسبة لي محدودًا، لكنّي أراه مدخلاً جيدًا لكل راغبٍ في مقدمةٍ مشجّعة ‏ومبسطة إلى عالم العقل والسلوك الإنساني. ‏
كان هذا الكتاب تجربتي الأولى في القراءة الرقمية بصيغة الepub‏ التي آمل أن تتحسن وتزداد ‏لاحقًا بإذن الله.‏

[Cathy Reidhaar Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting info on how ours brains function.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever, relatable, and informative, this book was actually quite fun to read. Taking a tip from the authors (really, there are two or so I can guess), I did not read this straight through. Rather, I followed what caught my attention, or more specifically my mother's attention because I read bits and pieces to her while she was recovering in physical rehabilitation after a stint in ICU. What could we learn about our minds, problem-solving skills, or outlook on life and ourselves? The short chapters were easy to manage, and they led to empowering conversations during an uncertain time. Beyond the time I was with Mom, I found that their lessons stayed with me for quite a while as I worked through my day. Mom grew stronger and returned to her regular life with a stronger body, yes, but also a more flexible and open mind because of this book. I put this book down for about a month, only about 2/3 through with it. Today found me snowed in and looking for something both entertaining and educational. It was quite fun to finish reading these chapters.

I've read many similar books which developed from blogs or podcasts, and the writing in many of those was unprofessional. For this book, the author and additional contributor adapted the writing for the genre. Also, some other books about the brain have been educational but a bit tedious; I realize I'm being picky here, but I sometimes dutifully read those books but just don't enjoy them. In contrast, each chapter within the book was still just as entertaining and thought-provoking as the podcasts which inspired this compilation.

Read this! Enjoy!

[Wulan Suci Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun easy to read book, I reco the book to read for everyone weekend entertainment. It consists of 40 chapters that discussed useful thing about brain. I also like how the authors put interesting one page quote at the end of each chapter. Writing some of book line that I find it useful here for my future reference
1. In the end, we are likely to enrich our lives by being open to new opportunities
2. Sometimes happiness just comes to you; sometimes you have to go and get it
3. Liars dont know what they dont know
4. Brain games doesnt make us smarter
5. Multitasking : doing less by doing more
6. Punctual creativity is oxymoron
7. All brain all on all the time
8. Time flies when you are getting old
9. Forgive and forget
10. Failure may be bad in the moment, but it can be springboard to great things in the long run
11. Analogy is the mother of invention
12. Practice with pressure promoted poised performance
13. The ability to relate and the ability to deceive are two sides of the same coin
14. Distances makes the heart and mind grow fonder

[William Schram · Rating 4 out of 5]

How does the brain work? Should I play brain games? Can people multitask? The answers to these and more questions are in the pages of this book. For the record, the answers to those above are chemical signals, no, and no.

Podcasts were popular. I don’t know if they still draw an audience, so I can’t say they are popular in the present tense. Art Markman and Bob Duke are professors from Texas. I hadn’t heard of them, so the main draw to this book was the subject matter.

The book comes off as a printed version of a short radio piece. It is a collection of essays on matters of the mind. There are forty questions for the book to tackle. At the end of each chapter is a blurb, a takeaway from the piece as a whole.

I enjoyed the book. Popular psychology occupies a special place in my heart. Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time.

[Sophie Rivers - Heimbecher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I can’t classify this as a real page turner, I undoubtedly enjoyed this book. Each chapter answers a different question about the brain in humorous way, highlighting fundamental ideas within psychology while being fun and easy to understand. This style allows the reader to read each chapter independently in any order they chose, although I just read it from front to back anyways. I would definitely recommend it to someone in the beginning stages of learning about psychology, like myself.

[Mallorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining, witty book outlining the quirky and sometimes counterintuitive processes of our minds and subconscious habits.
I found it so engrossing that I wished there was more detail in each chapter but alas, the title is “briefs” after all isn’t it?
Definitely recommend, especially for those who do not hunker down on a book studiously but rather enjoys bite sized bits here and there to feed the mind.
I’ll be looking for more by these wonderful authors!

[Anthony Cabot, MD · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was both an interesting and entertaining read. I enjoyed the brain anatomy and physiology the most. Some of the chapters were of great use and interest, such as whether multitasking is of use or is it a fool's errand? Other chapters seemed less illuminating, but the good far outweighed the more inane. The banter between Art and Bob broke up any monotony, but at times I felt left out of their private jokes. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.

Anthony Cabot, MD

[ema ❆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow she is so cool and intelligent reading a non fiction book 😅 in all seriousness this book was very easily accessible so for anyone that’s interested in figuring out why some unusual events occur in our brains this is for you. very simple to just pick up and read the short little chapters that had nothing to do with each other but were fascinating nonetheless

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an educational and entertaining book written by two psychologists about the human brain. They cover many interesting topics in short, understandable chapters. Subjects include why we love kitten videos, can we do more by multitasking, and if prejudice is avoidable.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun book to read. It gives insight into our thinking and even makes suggestions on how to approach certain situations. It also debunks a few myths about intelligence and how to develop one's gifts.

[MaryAnn Lockey · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a clever book. It took a rather mundane topic ( for most of us) and gave short anecdotal stories on different ways the brain works. They were able to filter down to topics that could hold the attention of most of us. I would read book 2. Wait... is there a book 2? I can’t remember.

[Lynked · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. This book has bite-sized and thought-provoking pieces, some of which can also be of practical uses. This book also introduced me to their amazing podcast. These two men have helped me see the world with curiosity and joy.

[Sue Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy read answering some interesting questions in how the brain is involved.
A few of the interesting questions are:

"How do we catch a liar?"
"Is our right brain different form our left brain?"
"Is prejudice avoidable?"
"Why do we call a dog a "dig"?"

[Aroog · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF but only because Sam Kean is the only way I can stay engaged in nonfiction. Sorry :(

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Answers are well explained but it's all a bit boring.

[Mlg · Rating 3 out of 5]

New Psychology in short bites.

[Jadeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could teach you a lot, but not the most interesting book.

[Jzak12 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice read, very easy to follow. I learned a couple new things from this book.

[Ellen Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Elsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

40 courts textes sur autant de sujets liés à la psychologie et à l’esprit humain. Divertissant, léger et instructif.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t read the entire book. I skipped around and read topics that seemed intriguing to me, maybe half the book. It was very interesting, and an easy read for such a scientific subject.

[The_J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful Flashes of Cranial Insight.

[Karthik · Rating 5 out of 5]

You'll enjoy reading this book!

[Georgette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good, eye opening book. Definitely makes me rethink multitasking as a non-good tool in my trade. Onward and upward!

[Andy TheBookSmuggler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had so much fun reading Brain Briefs by these two guys! I want to check out their podcast now 🤝.

[Proka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Common myths, debunked.
A good lifehack book.

[Marisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book rather enjoyable but challenging to finish in one go. The authors made it easy to understand scientific facts and jargons- although I major in Biology, there were many facts that were still new to me.

I loved their humour too (they make science seem so fun) and the chapters were just right in length, bite-size, without being overly dry. Overall, this was a good read, but I probably won’t read it twice.

[Staci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. We recently had Art Markman on the VeryPink Knits podcast, and we were able to ask him questions about knitting and the brain, which was such a treat. I'm a fan, and I never miss the Two Guys on Your Head podcast. This book, with its short chapters, was sort of like the podcast in print form. Little bites of learning made entertaining.

[Gabrielle Wonnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyable book for a non-scientist who's interested in how our brains work.