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Introducing Graphic Guides
Introducing Mind and Brain: A Graphic Guide
How do emotions affect your basic decision making? Why do certain smells prompt long-forgotten memories, and what makes us suddenly self-conscious? How does the biological organ, the brain, give rise to all of the thoughts in your head- enable you to think, to feel, to be conscious and aware- to have 'a mind'? Introducing Mind and Brain explains what the sciences have to say about planning and action, language, memory, attention, emotions and vision. It traces the historical development of ideas about the brain and its function from antiquity to the age of neuro-imaging. Clearly explained by Professor of Psychology Angus Gellatly and award-winning artist Oscar Zarate, they invite you to take a fresh look at the nature of mind, consciousness and personal identity.
176 pages, Paperback
Published April 5, 2018
About the author
Angus Gellatly
14 books2 followersEmeritus Professor Angus Gellatly’s research interests are in cognitive psychology broadly conceived. Over the years they have included memory, reasoning, ergonomics and cognitive development. He has also explored how the sociology of knowledge can be applied to psychological knowledge claims and has been particularly concerned with how attributions of cognitive competence are or are not made to humans, animals and machines.
The focus of his current research interest is in visual cognition. He has had recent ESRC grants to investigate visual attention and visual masking. The aim of this work is to understand the processes involved in deriving a representation of the environment in terms of objects and background, and how these processes influence and are influenced by different forms of visual attention. Or, put more simply, why you usually do but sometimes don't see what's in front of you!
The focus of his current research interest is in visual cognition. He has had recent ESRC grants to investigate visual attention and visual masking. The aim of this work is to understand the processes involved in deriving a representation of the environment in terms of objects and background, and how these processes influence and are influenced by different forms of visual attention. Or, put more simply, why you usually do but sometimes don't see what's in front of you!
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 17, 2020
Covers a lot of really fascinating things in an entertaining and digestible way, with just enough said about things for me to get an idea of what I'd like to do further reading on. And that's exactly what an Introducing book should do.
March 31, 2023
A packed and easy to read introduction to brain science and consciousness. 👍
July 20, 2018
Good overview
This was a good introduction to vocabulary and theory. The illustrations and diagrams are both entertaining and informative. I have enjoyed many books from this series.
This was a good introduction to vocabulary and theory. The illustrations and diagrams are both entertaining and informative. I have enjoyed many books from this series.
March 2, 2019
Mind and brain, what's the difference? A graphic novel overview of the human history of the concept of our minds and how they work, going over lobotomies, drugs, neuroscience, and the ancient Greeks. Science-heavy with a pinch of philosophy and theory.
April 3, 2019
Graphically readable
The historical description of the human understanding of the brain enhances our motivation to read further. But Eastern history is ignored. But the graphics vindicate the saying, "one picture is worth a thousand words ". A great read.
The historical description of the human understanding of the brain enhances our motivation to read further. But Eastern history is ignored. But the graphics vindicate the saying, "one picture is worth a thousand words ". A great read.
May 7, 2025
"Introducing Mind and Brain: A Graphic Guide" von Angus Gellatly und Oscar Zárate
4/5☆
Auf meinem Kurztrip nach Amsterdam habe ich die Introducing-Reihe in einem Buchladen gesehen und war komplett begeistert. Es werden wissenschaftliche und gesellschaftliche Themen kurz und auf allgemeinverständliche Weise als eine Art Comic dargestellt. Obwohl der Laden nicht mal das gesamte Angebot der Reihe führte, konnte ich mich nicht entscheiden und da die Bücher auch nur 5€(!) kamen, habe ich dieses und ein weiteres (dessen Rezension folgen wird) gekauft.
Ich war wirklich komplett gehypet und habe mich so aufs Lesen gefreut und ich denke, dabei auch zu hohe Erwartungen gehabt.
"Mind and Brain" beschäftigt sich weitgehend mit den Grundlagen der Neurobiologie und viele Studieninhalt konnte ich wiederentdecken. Ich war jedoch auch positiv überrascht, wie viel Neues es zu Lernen gab, da unter anderem auf verschiedenste Krankheiten eingegangen wurde.
Ich hätte mir aber irgendwie gewünscht, dass mehr Humor verwendet wird, wie es bei Comics der Fall war. Es gab zwar auch lustiges Stellen, aber meistens waren die Zeichnungen nur Teil des Textes. Außerdem wäre mir eine deutlichere Einteilung in Kapitel lieb gewesen, obwohl man schon Unterteilungen erkennen konnte.
Eigentlich stört es mich auch nicht, dass das Buch in Schwarz-Weiß war, aber an einigen Stellen wurde bewusst auf die Farbe der Zeichnungen eingegangen und da ist der Farbdruck einfach sinnvoller.
Das Buch war sehr interessant, war super schnell und einfach zu lesen und ich werde mir nach dem zweiten Buch auch mehr Teile der Reihe besorgen, jedoch war es - durch meine sehr hohen Erwartungen - nicht der heilige Gral, den ich mir erhofft hatte.
4/5☆
Auf meinem Kurztrip nach Amsterdam habe ich die Introducing-Reihe in einem Buchladen gesehen und war komplett begeistert. Es werden wissenschaftliche und gesellschaftliche Themen kurz und auf allgemeinverständliche Weise als eine Art Comic dargestellt. Obwohl der Laden nicht mal das gesamte Angebot der Reihe führte, konnte ich mich nicht entscheiden und da die Bücher auch nur 5€(!) kamen, habe ich dieses und ein weiteres (dessen Rezension folgen wird) gekauft.
Ich war wirklich komplett gehypet und habe mich so aufs Lesen gefreut und ich denke, dabei auch zu hohe Erwartungen gehabt.
"Mind and Brain" beschäftigt sich weitgehend mit den Grundlagen der Neurobiologie und viele Studieninhalt konnte ich wiederentdecken. Ich war jedoch auch positiv überrascht, wie viel Neues es zu Lernen gab, da unter anderem auf verschiedenste Krankheiten eingegangen wurde.
Ich hätte mir aber irgendwie gewünscht, dass mehr Humor verwendet wird, wie es bei Comics der Fall war. Es gab zwar auch lustiges Stellen, aber meistens waren die Zeichnungen nur Teil des Textes. Außerdem wäre mir eine deutlichere Einteilung in Kapitel lieb gewesen, obwohl man schon Unterteilungen erkennen konnte.
Eigentlich stört es mich auch nicht, dass das Buch in Schwarz-Weiß war, aber an einigen Stellen wurde bewusst auf die Farbe der Zeichnungen eingegangen und da ist der Farbdruck einfach sinnvoller.
Das Buch war sehr interessant, war super schnell und einfach zu lesen und ich werde mir nach dem zweiten Buch auch mehr Teile der Reihe besorgen, jedoch war es - durch meine sehr hohen Erwartungen - nicht der heilige Gral, den ich mir erhofft hatte.
February 26, 2023
Mind & Brain by Angus Gellatly and Oscar Zarate is a thought provoking book.
Professor Angus Gellatly describes the studies on the brain that scientists have been doing over time. Experiments on animals and primates seem to show that human behavior originates in the brain, which is the house of emotions.
It seems that the brain regulates human actions. It retains the memory of individual experiences and acts consequently. Brain memory is similar to the ‘engrams’ that L. Ron Hubbard describes in his book, Dianetics.
Angus Gallantly makes no mention of the existence of the soul. I have described something about the interaction between body and mind or soul in my books Travels of the Mind and The Vibrations of Words. However, I consider Mind & Brain by Angus Gellatly and Oscar Zarate a good starting point for further studies on the existence or not of the soul, which possibly governs the human body, including the brain.
Ettore Grillo
Professor Angus Gellatly describes the studies on the brain that scientists have been doing over time. Experiments on animals and primates seem to show that human behavior originates in the brain, which is the house of emotions.
It seems that the brain regulates human actions. It retains the memory of individual experiences and acts consequently. Brain memory is similar to the ‘engrams’ that L. Ron Hubbard describes in his book, Dianetics.
Angus Gallantly makes no mention of the existence of the soul. I have described something about the interaction between body and mind or soul in my books Travels of the Mind and The Vibrations of Words. However, I consider Mind & Brain by Angus Gellatly and Oscar Zarate a good starting point for further studies on the existence or not of the soul, which possibly governs the human body, including the brain.
Ettore Grillo
May 10, 2026
Somewhat disjointed. Most of the book focuses on the effects of damage to specific areas of the brain rather than anything of real introduction.
There's a bit towards the end where the author takes a trait typically only seen in autistic 3-5 year olds and extrapolates that to autistic individuals at large when most autistic people do grow out of that and eventually develop at least some level of ToM so maybe stop listening to SBC idk
There's a bit towards the end where the author takes a trait typically only seen in autistic 3-5 year olds and extrapolates that to autistic individuals at large when most autistic people do grow out of that and eventually develop at least some level of ToM so maybe stop listening to SBC idk
August 5, 2024
I enjoyed this book but got bored by it at the end :( I think I preferred the parts that I have studied in school because it was easier to understand. The parts I didn’t recognize were a little harder to grasp and I got a bit tired of it. However! I think this book will be great to return to if I ever need a quick and easy explanation of something.
August 30, 2026
I have read the entire book in one sitting, it has on one end consolidated my understanding of how the brain areas work greatly and on the other introduced me to brand new terminology and knowledge that have enriched my understanding of several affects and inklings of the brain.
The illustrations are also great for the scope of the book, which further help in comprehending the contents.
The illustrations are also great for the scope of the book, which further help in comprehending the contents.
October 9, 2019
3.5 stars
It's a fun educational read if you're curious about how our minds biologically work. The chopping of the content into bite sized facts makes it easy to understand and does not overwhelm the reader.
It's a fun educational read if you're curious about how our minds biologically work. The chopping of the content into bite sized facts makes it easy to understand and does not overwhelm the reader.
August 31, 2019
Factual Read
Most of the fact contents depicts abnormalities induced due to effect of certain parts of brain and hence informational and descriptive.
Good read!
Most of the fact contents depicts abnormalities induced due to effect of certain parts of brain and hence informational and descriptive.
Good read!
January 19, 2021
Has good technical review with biological explaination. The illustrations help to present the idea. The books flow from the early history which is good for overall view
May 5, 2023
Wonderful book ! Really enjoyed it ....
August 30, 2023
Packed and easy to digest. I even recalled some stuff I learned in uni. This is really great.
July 28, 2025
I love how those graphic guides are made! It's such a fun way to learn about a topic and I'm looking forward to reading more in that series.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews