Our Minds, Our Selves: A Brief History of Psychology

by Keith Oatley

An original history of psychology told through the stories of its most important breakthroughs and the people who made them

Advances in psychology have revolutionized our understanding of the human mind. Imaging technology allows researchers to monitor brain activity, letting us see what happens when we perceive, think, and feel. But technology is only part of how ideas about the mind and brain have developed over the past century and a half. In Our Minds, Our Selves , distinguished psychologist and writer Keith Oatley provides an engaging, original, and authoritative history of modern psychology told through the stories of its most important breakthroughs and the men and women who made them.

Our Minds, Our Selves traverses a fascinating terrain: forms of conscious and unconscious knowledge; brain physiology; emotion; stages of mental development from infancy to adulthood; language acquisition and use; the nature of memory; mental illness; morality; free will; creativity; the mind at work in art and literature; and, most important, our ability to cooperate with one another. Controversial experiments--such as Stanley Milgram's investigation of our willingness to obey authority and inflict pain and Philip Zimbardo and his colleagues' study of behavior in a simulated prison―are covered in detail. Biographical sketches illuminate the thinkers behind key insights and turning points: historical figures such as Hermann Helmholtz, Charles Darwin, Sigmund Freud, Jean Piaget, B. F. Skinner, and Alan Turing; leading contemporaries such as Geoffrey Hinton, Michael Tomasello, and Tania Singer; and influential people from other fields, including Margaret Mead, Noam Chomsky, Jane Goodall, and Gabrielle Starr.

Enhancing our understanding of ourselves and others, psychology holds the potential to create a better world. Our Minds, Our Selves tells the story of this most important of sciences in a new and appealing way.

Genres: Psychology, History

376 pages, Hardcover

Published April 10, 2018

Reviews

[Katia N · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is not a history, rather the survey of the current thread in Psychology. And it might be too superficial for anyone who knows at least a bit about the subject. Maybe it would be suitable for a teenager considering further studies. For the readers who are interested in more meaningful overview The Ten Types of Human: Who We Are and Who We Can Be covers a similar ground, but so much better imho.

[Seyma Uluköylü · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would definitely recommend this book to everyone who is interested in psychology. It gives a great overview of the development of psychology as a science but also introduces all major streams (such as social psych, educational psych, developmental psych, etc.) and mentions all the important names of the pioneers throughout history. I only gave it 4 points though because sometimes it stretches out too much with examples. This is not a bad thing per se, it’s just that - as a psych grad student- I just found myself getting impatient. But that aside, great book!

[Shelbycat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, interesting in parts.

[Peym]

The least concern of this book is history

[Kashif · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could be summarised in a few chapters. Not sure who the target is. As a general trader, the obvious things were obvious and the specifics were too specific to follow.

Zoned out so many times reading the drivel.

[Patrick Irving · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple and engaging summary of what we have learned about the mind up until now, and a message about the role psychology can have in helping us live better lives.

[Cal Davie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read detailing the history of psychology. It draws on various themes throughout the discipline and is a decent introduction to those interested in the field.