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| the elephant in the brain free download: The Elephant in the Brain Kevin Simler, Robin Hanson, 2018 Human beings are primates, and primates are political animals. Our brains, therefore, are designed not just to hunt and gather, but also to help us get ahead socially, often via deception and self-deception. But while we may be self-interested schemers, we benefit by pretending otherwise. The less we know about our own ugly motives, the better - and thus we don't like to talk or even think about the extent of our selfishness. This is the elephant in the brain. Such an introspective taboo makes it hard for us to think clearly about our nature and the explanations for our behavior. The aim of this book, then, is to confront our hidden motives directly - to track down the darker, unexamined corners of our psyches and blast them with floodlights. Then, once everything is clearly visible, we can work to better understand ourselves: Why do we laugh? Why are artists sexy? Why do we brag about travel? Why do we prefer to speak rather than listen? Our unconscious motives drive more than just our private behavior; they also infect our venerated social institutions such as Art, School, Charity, Medicine, Politics, and Religion. In fact, these institutions are in many ways designed to accommodate our hidden motives, to serve covert agendas alongside their official ones. The existence of big hidden motives can upend the usual political debates, leading one to question the legitimacy of these social institutions, and of standard policies designed to favor or discourage them. You won't see yourself - or the world - the same after confronting the elephant in the brain. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: Your Brilliant Brain Belinda Thomson, 2020-03-17 Children who have been exposed to abuse and neglect often suffer the detrimental effects of complex trauma including toxic stress.This book is intended to help a child explore and understand complex childhood trauma and toxic stress, how it might affect them and talk about and practice strategies that can help. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: To the Elephant Graveyard Tarquin Hall, 2020-03-03 “Introduces us to the darker side of the Asian elephant. It is more of a thriller than a straightforward travel book . . . insightful and sensitive.” —Literary Review On India’s northeast frontier, a killer elephant is on the rampage, stalking Assam’s paddy fields and murdering dozens of farmers. Local forestry officials, powerless to stop the elephant, call in one of India’s last licensed elephant hunters and issue a warrant for the rogue’s destruction. Reading about the ensuing hunt in a Delhi newspaper, journalist Tarquin Hall flies to Assam to investigate. To the Elephant Graveyard is the compelling account of the search for a killer elephant in the northeast corner of India, and a vivid portrait of the Khasi tribe, who live intimately with the elephants. Though it seems a world of peaceful coexistence between man and beast, Hall begins to see that the elephants are suffering, having lost their natural habitat to the destruction of the forests and modernization. Hungry, confused, and with little forest left to hide in, herds of elephants are slowly adapting to domestication, but many are resolute and furious. Often spellbinding with excitement, like “a page-turning detective tale” (Publishers Weekly), To the Elephant Graveyard is also intimate and moving, as Hall magnificently takes us on a journey to a place whose ancient ways are fast disappearing with the ever-shrinking forest. “Hall is to be congratulated on writing a book that promises humor and adventure, and delivers both.” —The Spectator “Travel writing that wonderfully hits on all cylinders.” —Booklist “A wonderful book that should become a classic.” —Daily Mail |
| the elephant in the brain free download: The Executive and the Elephant Richard L. Daft, 2010-07-06 Lessons for leaders on resolving the ongoing struggle between instinct and the creative mind Kings, heads of government, and corporate executives lead thousands of people and manage endless resources, but may not have mastery over themselves. Often leaders know that right action is important, but have little (if any) understanding of what prevents them from acting in accordance with their intentions. In this important book, leadership expert Richard Daft portrays this dilemma as a struggle between instinct (elephant) and intention (the executive) using the most current research on the intentional vs. the habitual mind to explain how this phenomenon occurs. Based on current research and real-life examples Offers leaders a method for directing themselves more productively Written by an expert in leadership, organizational performance, and change management Through real-life examples and recent studies in psychology, management and Eastern spirituality Daft provides guidance to all of us who struggle finding our own balance and cultivating the behavior of others. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: Kari, the Elephant Dhan Gopal Mukerji, 1922 The growth and adventures of an elephant and his young master. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: The Elephant in the Room Jim Bombicino, 2015-04-03 Skyler has a hearing loss. And he doesn't feel much like talking today. No wonder-he keeps missing what his parents and siblings have to say, and it's frustrating. Skyler's little sister, Maizy, tags along on his morning routine and, with the help of her special friend, we learn that it takes more than hearing aids to help Skyler feel like talking again. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: The Folly of Fools Robert Trivers, 2011-10-25 Explores the author's theorized evolutionary basis for self-deception, which he says is tied to group conflict, courtship, neurophysiology, and immunology, but can be negated by awareness of it and its results. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: Words Can Change Your Brain Andrew Newberg, Mark Robert Waldman, 2012-06-14 In our default state, our brains constantly get in the way of effective communication. They are lazy, angry, immature, and distracted. They can make a difficult conversation impossible. But Andrew Newberg, M.D., and Mark Waldman have discovered a powerful strategy called Compassionate Communication that allows two brains to work together as one. Using brainscans as well as data collected from workshops given to MBA students at Loyola Marymount University, and clinical data from both couples in therapy and organizations helping caregivers cope with patient suffering, Newberg and Waldman have seen that Compassionate Communication can reposition a difficult conversation to lead to a satisfying conclusion. Whether you are negotiating with your boss or your spouse, the brain works the same way and responds to the same cues. The truth, though, is that you don't have to understand how Compassionate Communication works. You just have to do it. Some of the simple and effective takeaways in this book include: • Make sure you are relaxed; yawning several times before (not during) the meeting will do the trick • Never speak for more than 20-30 seconds at a time. After that they other person's window of attention closes. • Use positive speech; you will need at least three positives to overcome the effect of every negative used • Speak slowly; pause between words. This is critical, but really hard to do. • Respond to the other person; do not shift the conversation. • Remember that the brain can only hold onto about four ideas at one time Highly effective across a wide range of settings, Compassionate Communication is an excellent tool for conflict resolution but also for simply getting your point across or delivering difficult news. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: Seven and a Half Lessons about the Brain Lisa Feldman Barrett, 2020 Have you ever wondered why you have a brain? Let renowned neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett demystify that big gray blob between your ears. In seven short essays (plus a bite-sized story about how brains evolved), this slim, entertaining, and accessible collection reveals mind-expanding lessons from the front lines of neuroscience research. You'll learn where brains came from, how they're structured (and why it matters), and how yours works in tandem with other brains to create everything you experience. Along the way, you'll also learn to dismiss popular myths such as the idea of a lizard brain and the alleged battle between thoughts and emotions, or even between nature and nurture, to determine your behavior. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: The Whole-Brain Child Daniel J. Siegel, MD, Tina Payne Bryson, 2011-10-04 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • More than 1 million copies in print! • The authors of No-Drama Discipline and The Yes Brain explain the new science of how a child’s brain is wired and how it matures in this pioneering, practical book. “Simple, smart, and effective solutions to your child’s struggles.”—Harvey Karp, M.D. In this pioneering, practical book, Daniel J. Siegel, neuropsychiatrist and author of the bestselling Mindsight, and parenting expert Tina Payne Bryson offer a revolutionary approach to child rearing with twelve key strategies that foster healthy brain development, leading to calmer, happier children. The authors explain—and make accessible—the new science of how a child’s brain is wired and how it matures. The “upstairs brain,” which makes decisions and balances emotions, is under construction until the mid-twenties. And especially in young children, the right brain and its emotions tend to rule over the logic of the left brain. No wonder kids throw tantrums, fight, or sulk in silence. By applying these discoveries to everyday parenting, you can turn any outburst, argument, or fear into a chance to integrate your child’s brain and foster vital growth. Complete with age-appropriate strategies for dealing with day-to-day struggles and illustrations that will help you explain these concepts to your child, The Whole-Brain Child shows you how to cultivate healthy emotional and intellectual development so that your children can lead balanced, meaningful, and connected lives. “[A] useful child-rearing resource for the entire family . . . The authors include a fair amount of brain science, but they present it for both adult and child audiences.”—Kirkus Reviews “Strategies for getting a youngster to chill out [with] compassion.”—The Washington Post “This erudite, tender, and funny book is filled with fresh ideas based on the latest neuroscience research. I urge all parents who want kind, happy, and emotionally healthy kids to read The Whole-Brain Child. This is my new baby gift.”—Mary Pipher, Ph.D., author of Reviving Ophelia and The Shelter of Each Other “Gives parents and teachers ideas to get all parts of a healthy child’s brain working together.”—Parent to Parent |
| the elephant in the brain free download: The Age of Em Robin Hanson, 2016-05-19 Robots may one day rule the world, but what is a robot-ruled Earth like? Many think the first truly smart robots will be brain emulations or ems. Scan a human brain, then run a model with the same connections on a fast computer, and you have a robot brain, but recognizably human. Train an em to do some job and copy it a million times: an army of workers is at your disposal. When they can be made cheaply, within perhaps a century, ems will displace humans in most jobs. In this new economic era, the world economy may double in size every few weeks. Some say we can't know the future, especially following such a disruptive new technology, but Professor Robin Hanson sets out to prove them wrong. Applying decades of expertise in physics, computer science, and economics, he uses standard theories to paint a detailed picture of a world dominated by ems. While human lives don't change greatly in the em era, em lives are as different from ours as our lives are from those of our farmer and forager ancestors. Ems make us question common assumptions of moral progress, because they reject many of the values we hold dear. Read about em mind speeds, body sizes, job training and career paths, energy use and cooling infrastructure, virtual reality, aging and retirement, death and immortality, security, wealth inequality, religion, teleportation, identity, cities, politics, law, war, status, friendship and love. This book shows you just how strange your descendants may be, though ems are no stranger than we would appear to our ancestors. To most ems, it seems good to be an em. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: Switch Chip Heath, Dan Heath, 2011 'A fantastic book.' WIRED 'Witty and instructive.' WALL STREET JOURNAL 'Invaluable for anyone wanting to make long-lasting change a reality.' BBC FOCUS 'A must-read.' FORBES ______________________________________________ We all know that change is hard. It's unsettling, it's time-consuming, and all too often we give up at the first sign of a setback. But why do we insist on seeing the obstacles rather than the goal? This is the question that bestselling authors Chip and Dan Heath tackle in their compelling and insightful book. They argue that we need to understand how our minds function in order to unlock shortcuts to switch up our behaviours. Illustrating their ideas with scientific studies and remarkable real-life turnarounds - from the secrets of successful marriage counselling to the pile of gloves that transformed one company's finances - the brothers Heath prove that deceptively simple methods can yield truly extraordinary results. In a compelling, story-driven narrative, the Heaths bring together decades of counterintuitive research in psychology, sociology, and other fields to shed new light on how we can effect transformative change. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: Wired for Story Lisa Cron, 2012-07-10 This guide reveals how writers can utilize cognitive storytelling strategies to craft stories that ignite readers’ brains and captivate them through each plot element. Imagine knowing what the brain craves from every tale it encounters, what fuels the success of any great story, and what keeps readers transfixed. Wired for Story reveals these cognitive secrets—and it’s a game-changer for anyone who has ever set pen to paper. The vast majority of writing advice focuses on “writing well” as if it were the same as telling a great story. This is exactly where many aspiring writers fail—they strive for beautiful metaphors, authentic dialogue, and interesting characters, losing sight of the one thing that every engaging story must do: ignite the brain’s hardwired desire to learn what happens next. When writers tap into the evolutionary purpose of story and electrify our curiosity, it triggers a delicious dopamine rush that tells us to pay attention. Without it, even the most perfect prose won’t hold anyone’s interest. Backed by recent breakthroughs in neuroscience as well as examples from novels, screenplays, and short stories, Wired for Story offers a revolutionary look at story as the brain experiences it. Each chapter zeroes in on an aspect of the brain, its corresponding revelation about story, and the way to apply it to your storytelling right now. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: The Language Instinct Steven Pinker, 2010-12-14 A brilliant, witty, and altogether satisfying book. — New York Times Book Review The classic work on the development of human language by the world’s leading expert on language and the mind In The Language Instinct, the world's expert on language and mind lucidly explains everything you always wanted to know about language: how it works, how children learn it, how it changes, how the brain computes it, and how it evolved. With deft use of examples of humor and wordplay, Steven Pinker weaves our vast knowledge of language into a compelling story: language is a human instinct, wired into our brains by evolution. The Language Instinct received the William James Book Prize from the American Psychological Association and the Public Interest Award from the Linguistics Society of America. This edition includes an update on advances in the science of language since The Language Instinct was first published. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: Phantoms in the Brain V. S. Ramachandran, Sandra Blakeslee, 2005 Using a series of case studies, 'Phantoms in the brain' introduces a strange and unexplored mental world. Ramachandran, through his research into brain damage, has discovered that the brain can react in strange ways to major physical changes. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: The Animals in My Brain Sarah Joseph, 2018-10-15 A new tool for kids and parents/teachers to support them in talking about and dealing with fight, flight or freeze responses. These automatic responses often come with complex emotions and actions. Now we have a way to put the power into the children's own hands for kids to effectively regulate their behaviour.... When Pam gets annoyed by her little sister, she throws her colouring book at her. Pam's mom steps in to help her understand how the brain works to direct behaviour. Mom uses animals to explain the complex brain processes in a way that young learners can understand. Pam is empowered by understanding her behaviour and learning the importance of taking a break when she is feeling upset before doing something she might regret. Children and adults will love this delightfully illustrated book that so wonderfully explains the workings of the brain to school aged children... Dr. Jane Nelsen, Author and co-author of the Positive Discipline book series. This book is revolutionary as it provides a simple, relatable, and powerful methodology to teach our kids about brain science... Ricky Shetty, Founder of DaddyBlogger |
| the elephant in the brain free download: Origins of Neuroscience Stanley Finger, 2001 With over 350 illustrations, this impressive volume traces the rich history of ideas about the functioning of the brain from its roots in the ancient cultures of Egypt, Greece, and Rome through the centuries into relatively modern times. In contrast to biographically oriented accounts, this book is unique in its emphasis on the functions of the brain and how they came to be associated with specific brain regions and systems. Among the topics explored are vision, hearing, pain, motor control, sleep, memory, speech, and various other facets of intellect. The emphasis throughout is on presenting material in a very readable way, while describing with scholarly acumen the historical evolution of the field in all its amazing wealth and detail. From the opening introductory chapters to the concluding look at treatments and therapies, this monumental work will captivate readers from cover to cover. It will be valued as both an historical reference and as an exciting tale of scientificdiscovery. It is bound to attract a wide readership among students and professionals in the neural sciences as well as general readers interested in the history of science and medicine. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: Sophie's World Jostein Gaarder, 1994 The protagonists are Sophie Amundsen, a 14-year-old girl, and Alberto Knox, her philosophy teacher. The novel chronicles their metaphysical relationship as they study Western philosophy from its beginnings to the present. A bestseller in Norway. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: Rhythms of the Brain G. Buzsáki, 2006 Studies of mechanisms in the brain that allow complicated things to happen in a coordinated fashion have produced some of the most spectacular discoveries in neuroscience. This book provides eloquent support for the idea that spontaneous neuron activity, far from being mere noise, is actually the source of our cognitive abilities. It takes a fresh look at the coevolution of structure and function in the mammalian brain, illustrating how self-emerged oscillatory timing is the brain's fundamental organizer of neuronal information. The small-world-like connectivity of the cerebral cortex allows for global computation on multiple spatial and temporal scales. The perpetual interactions among the multiple network oscillators keep cortical systems in a highly sensitive metastable state and provide energy-efficient synchronizing mechanisms via weak links. In a sequence of cycles, György Buzsáki guides the reader from the physics of oscillations through neuronal assembly organization to complex cognitive processing and memory storage. His clear, fluid writing-accessible to any reader with some scientific knowledge-is supplemented by extensive footnotes and references that make it just as gratifying and instructive a read for the specialist. The coherent view of a single author who has been at the forefront of research in this exciting field, this volume is essential reading for anyone interested in our rapidly evolving understanding of the brain. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: The Symbolic Species Terrence William Deacon, 1997 Discusses the evolution of language from the viewpoint of symbolic reference as opposed to the conventional grammar-based theories. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: A History of the Brain Andrew P. Wickens, 2014-12-08 A History of the Brain tells the full story of neuroscience, from antiquity to the present day. It describes how we have come to understand the biological nature of the brain, beginning in prehistoric times, and progressing to the twentieth century with the development of Modern Neuroscience. This is the first time a history of the brain has been written in a narrative way, emphasizing how our understanding of the brain and nervous system has developed over time, with the development of the disciplines of anatomy, pharmacology, physiology, psychology and neurosurgery. The book covers: beliefs about the brain in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome the Medieval period, Renaissance and Enlightenment the nineteenth century the most important advances in the twentieth century and future directions in neuroscience. The discoveries leading to the development of modern neuroscience gave rise to one of the most exciting and fascinating stories in the whole of science. Written for readers with no prior knowledge of the brain or history, the book will delight students, and will also be of great interest to researchers and lecturers with an interest in understanding how we have arrived at our present knowledge of the brain. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: Healthy Brain, Happy Life Wendy Suzuki, Billie Fitzpatrick, 2015-05-19 A neuroscientist transforms the way we think about our brain, our health, and our personal happiness in this clear, informative, and inspiring guide—a blend of personal memoir, science narrative, and immediately useful takeaways that bring the human brain into focus as never before, revealing the powerful connection between exercise, learning, memory, and cognitive abilities. Nearing forty, Dr. Wendy Suzuki was at the pinnacle of her career. An award-winning university professor and world-renowned neuroscientist, she had tenure, her own successful research lab, prestigious awards, and international renown. That’s when to celebrate her birthday, she booked an adventure trip that forced her to wake up to a startling reality: despite her professional success, she was overweight, lonely, and tired and knew that her life had to change. Wendy started simply—by going to an exercise class. Eventually, she noticed an improvement in her memory, her energy levels, and her ability to work quickly and move from task to task easily. Not only did Wendy begin to get fit, but she also became sharper, had more energy, and her memory improved. Being a neuroscientist, she wanted to know why. What she learned transformed her body and her life. Now, it can transform yours. Wendy discovered that there is a biological connection between exercise, mindfulness, and action. With exercise, your body feels more alive and your brain actually performs better. Yes—you can make yourself smarter. In this fascinating book, Suzuki makes neuroscience easy to understand, interweaving her personal story with groundbreaking research, and offering practical, short exercises—4 minute Brain Hacks—to engage your mind and improve your memory, your ability to learn new skills, and function more efficiently. Taking us on an amazing journey inside the brain as never before, Suzuki helps us unlock the keys to neuroplasticity that can change our brains, or bodies, and, ultimately, our lives. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: The "God" Part of the Brain Matthew Alper, 2008-09-01 A thought-provoking study of science and religion about our human need to believe in a higher power, for spiritual seekers and atheists alike. In The God Part of the Brain, Matthew Alper pioneers a radical theory: the human inclination toward spirituality and belief in a higher power can be attributed to a specific part of our brain. This bold hypothesis takes us on an exciting journey that merges science, philosophy, and spirituality in a unique way. Alper engages readers with compelling arguments based on neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and anthropology, provoking profound thought on the nature of existence and our inherent need for spiritual meaning as a coping mechanism that emerged in humans to help us survive our unique and otherwise debilitating awareness of death. His narrative is accessible yet deeply profound, providing insights that stimulate both intellectual curiosity and spiritual introspection. Key Features: Groundbreaking Hypothesis: Presents a bold new theory about the neuroscientific basis of human spirituality. Interdisciplinary Approach: Combines insights from neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and anthropology to explore spiritual experiences. Intellectually Stimulating: Challenges readers to contemplate profound questions about existence, faith, and the human mind. Accessible Narrative: Engages readers with a narrative that is both informative and accessible, regardless of their scientific background. Provocative and Thoughtful: Invites deep introspection about our inherent need for spiritual meaning. Praise for The God Part of the Brain This cult classic in many ways parallels Rene Descartes' search for reliable and certain knowledge...Drawing on such disciplines as philosophy, psychology, and biology, Alper argues that belief in a spiritual realm is an evolutionary coping method that developed to help humankind deal with the fear of death...Highly recommended.— Library Journal I very much enjoyed the account of your spiritual journey and believe it would make excellent reading for every college student - the resultant residence-hall debates would be the best part of their education. It often occurs to me that if, against all odds, there is a judgmental God and heaven, it will come to pass that when the pearly gates open, those who had the valor to think for themselves will be escorted to the head of the line, garlanded, and given their own personal audience. — Edward O. Wilson, two-time Pulitzer Prize-Winner This is an essential book for those in search of a scientific understanding of man's spiritual nature. Matthew Alper navigates the reader through a labyrinth of intriguing questions and then offers undoubtedly clear answers that lead to a better understanding of our objective reality. — Elena Rusyn, MD, PhD; Gray Laboratory; Harvard Medical School What a wonderful book you have written. It was not only brilliant and provocative but also revolutionary in its approach to spirituality as an inherited trait.— Arnold Sadwin, MD, former chief of Neuropsychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania A lively manifesto...For the discipline's specific application to the matter at hand, I've seen nothing that matches the fury of The 'God' Part of the Brain, which perhaps explains why it's earned something of a cult following. — Salon.com All 6 billion plus inhabitants of Earth should be in possession of this book. Alper's tome should be placed in the sacred writings' section of libraries, bookstores, and dwellings throughout the world. Matthew Alper is the new Galileo...Immensely important...Defines in a clear and concise manner what each of us already knew but were afraid to admit and exclaim.— John Scoggins, PhD Vibrant ... vivacious. An entertaining and provocative introduction to speculations concerning the neural basis of spirituality.— Free Inquiry Magazine |
| the elephant in the brain free download: Elephant Talk Ann Downer, 2017-01-01 Audisee® eBooks with Audio combine professional narration and sentence highlighting for an engaging read aloud experience! On a hot day in the African savannah, a group of elephants searches for food. While foraging they often lose sight of one another. Yet at the end of the day, in one coordinated movement, the elephants suddenly regroup. This coordinated movement—and others like it—has puzzled scientists and caused them to question how elephants communicate with each other. Since the 1990s, scientists have gathered significant data on elephant “talk.” Biologists have determined that elephants use a complex system of communication of at least ten distinct sounds, combined in many variations. Researchers are now asking: what do these sounds mean? As scientists study the elephant sounds that humans can hear, they are also identifying ways elephants communicate through nonverbal behaviors and making sounds too low for human ears. Scientists have realized that elephants even receive messages by using their sensitive feet to feel vibrations in the ground. All of these discoveries are helping elephant researchers better understand elephant behavior. But the elephant’s time as a wild animal is running out. Threatened by habitat loss and illegally hunted for their ivory tusks, elephants are on the brink of extinction. Will understanding elephant talk be the key to saving the species? |
| the elephant in the brain free download: Every Home Needs an Elephant Jane Heinrichs, 2021-05-11 One hot summer’s day nine-year-old Sarah goes to the grocery store...and comes home with an elephant. Sarah's new elephant is not without its challenges, he has trouble fitting through doorways, knocks over everything in sight, is allergic to the neighbor’s cat and cowers at the sight of a mouse. But he also has a knack for arranging flowers and keeping Sarah company. And it’s because of the elephant that Sarah meets her new next-door neighbor and makes her first real friend. It's because of the elephant that Sarah's mother starts spending more time with her. In fact, despite the destruction, just about everything good that happens is because of the elephant. It turns out that every home, and every nine-year-old girl, does need an elephant. A story about friendship, adventure, and never being afraid to be yourself, this hybrid graphic novel is the perfect introduction to chapter books for all the young animal-lovers in your life. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: Descartes' Error Antonio Damasio, 2005-09-27 An ambitious and meticulous foray into the nature of being. -- The Boston Globe A landmark exploration of the relationship between emotion and reason Since Descartes famously proclaimed, I think, therefore I am, science has often overlooked emotions as the source of a person’s true being. Even modern neuroscience has tended, until recently, to concentrate on the cognitive aspects of brain function, disregarding emotions. This attitude began to change with the publication of Descartes’ Error in 1995. Antonio Damasio—one of the world’s leading neurologists (The New York Times)—challenged traditional ideas about the connection between emotions and rationality. In this wondrously engaging book, Damasio takes the reader on a journey of scientific discovery through a series of case studies, demonstrating what many of us have long suspected: emotions are not a luxury, they are essential to rational thinking and to normal social behavior. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: The Barefoot Book of Classic Poems , 2019-02-01 Inspire a lifelong love of language—and give kids a head start in school!—with this outstanding poetry collection. To improve reading comprehension, luminous watercolor paintings illustrate the 70 famous poems, which are arranged by life stages and cover a wide range of common human experiences. From Shakespeare to Stevenson and Milton to Moore, iconic English-language poetry comes alive in this breathtaking gift book that they'll never outgrow. Features an introduction from UK Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: Consciousness and the Brain Stanislas Dehaene, 2014-01-30 WINNER OF THE 2014 BRAIN PRIZE From the acclaimed author of Reading in the Brain and How We Learn, a breathtaking look at the new science that can track consciousness deep in the brain How does our brain generate a conscious thought? And why does so much of our knowledge remain unconscious? Thanks to clever psychological and brain-imaging experiments, scientists are closer to cracking this mystery than ever before. In this lively book, Stanislas Dehaene describes the pioneering work his lab and the labs of other cognitive neuroscientists worldwide have accomplished in defining, testing, and explaining the brain events behind a conscious state. We can now pin down the neurons that fire when a person reports becoming aware of a piece of information and understand the crucial role unconscious computations play in how we make decisions. The emerging theory enables a test of consciousness in animals, babies, and those with severe brain injuries. A joyous exploration of the mind and its thrilling complexities, Consciousness and the Brain will excite anyone interested in cutting-edge science and technology and the vast philosophical, personal, and ethical implications of finally quantifying consciousness. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: How To Think More About Sex Alain De Botton, Campus London LTD (The School of Life), 2012-06-01 Sex is the most intimately human experience there is. It can also be the most confusing. Our desire to be together conflicts with our desire to avoid vulnerability and appear 'normal', leaving us detached, desensitised or embarrassed. Covering topics including adultery, lust, pornography and impotence, Alain de Botton argues that 21st century sex will always be a balancing act of trust versus risk, and of primal desire versus studied civility. By examining sex from a subjective - rather than scientific - perspective, he uncovers new ideas on how we can achieve that balance. Pulling back the sheets on modern sexuality, 'How To Think More About Sex' offers important and surprising wisdom that proves that being good in bed is really all in your head. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: The Elephant in the Room Eviatar Zerubavel, 2006-04-01 The fable of the Emperor's New Clothes is a classic example of a conspiracy of silence, a situation where everyone refuses to acknowledge an obvious truth. But the denial of social realities--whether incest, alcoholism, corruption, or even genocide-is no fairy tale. In The Elephant in the Room, Eviatar Zerubavel sheds new light on the social and political underpinnings of silence and denial-the keeping of open secrets. The author shows that conspiracies of silence exist at every level of society, ranging from small groups to large corporations, from personal friendships to politics. Zerubavel shows how such conspiracies evolve, illuminating the social pressures that cause people to deny what is right before their eyes. We see how each conspirator's denial is symbiotically complemented by the others', and we learn that silence is usually more intense when there are more people conspiring-and especially when there are significant power differences among them. He concludes by showing that the longer we ignore elephants, the larger they loom in our minds, as each avoidance triggers an even greater spiral of denial. Drawing on examples from newspapers and comedy shows to novels, children's stories, and film, the book travels back and forth across different levels of social life, and from everyday moments to large-scale historical events. At its core, The Elephant in the Room helps us understand why we ignore truths that are known to all of us. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: Last Lecture Perfection Learning Corporation, 2019 |
| the elephant in the brain free download: Human Dimension and Interior Space Julius Panero, Martin Zelnik, 2014-01-21 The study of human body measurements on a comparative basis is known as anthropometrics. Its applicability to the design process is seen in the physical fit, or interface, between the human body and the various components of interior space. Human Dimension and Interior Space is the first major anthropometrically based reference book of design standards for use by all those involved with the physical planning and detailing of interiors, including interior designers, architects, furniture designers, builders, industrial designers, and students of design. The use of anthropometric data, although no substitute for good design or sound professional judgment should be viewed as one of the many tools required in the design process. This comprehensive overview of anthropometrics consists of three parts. The first part deals with the theory and application of anthropometrics and includes a special section dealing with physically disabled and elderly people. It provides the designer with the fundamentals of anthropometrics and a basic understanding of how interior design standards are established. The second part contains easy-to-read, illustrated anthropometric tables, which provide the most current data available on human body size, organized by age and percentile groupings. Also included is data relative to the range of joint motion and body sizes of children. The third part contains hundreds of dimensioned drawings, illustrating in plan and section the proper anthropometrically based relationship between user and space. The types of spaces range from residential and commercial to recreational and institutional, and all dimensions include metric conversions. In the Epilogue, the authors challenge the interior design profession, the building industry, and the furniture manufacturer to seriously explore the problem of adjustability in design. They expose the fallacy of designing to accommodate the so-called average man, who, in fact, does not exist. Using government data, including studies prepared by Dr. Howard Stoudt, Dr. Albert Damon, and Dr. Ross McFarland, formerly of the Harvard School of Public Health, and Jean Roberts of the U.S. Public Health Service, Panero and Zelnik have devised a system of interior design reference standards, easily understood through a series of charts and situation drawings. With Human Dimension and Interior Space, these standards are now accessible to all designers of interior environments. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: Freak the Mighty (Scholastic Gold) Rodman Philbrick, 2013-03-01 Freak the Mighty joins the Scholastic Gold line, which features award-winning and beloved novels. Includes exclusive bonus content!It has been over twenty years -- and more than two million copies, eight foreign editions, and a popular Miramax feature film -- since the world was introduced to this powerful story of a unique friendship between a troubled, oversized boy and the tiny, physically challenged genius who proves that courage comes in all sizes. This simple yet timeless story explores many themes, including bullying -- an important topic in today's schools. Freak the Mighty is sure to remain fresh, dramatic, and memorable for the next twenty years and beyond! |
| the elephant in the brain free download: The Rainbow Fish Marcus Pfister, 1992 Summary: The most beautiful fish in the entire ocean discovers the real value of personal beauty and friendship. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: Networks of the Brain Olaf Sporns, 2016-02-12 An integrative overview of network approaches to neuroscience explores the origins of brain complexity and the link between brain structure and function. Over the last decade, the study of complex networks has expanded across diverse scientific fields. Increasingly, science is concerned with the structure, behavior, and evolution of complex systems ranging from cells to ecosystems. In Networks of the Brain, Olaf Sporns describes how the integrative nature of brain function can be illuminated from a complex network perspective. Highlighting the many emerging points of contact between neuroscience and network science, the book serves to introduce network theory to neuroscientists and neuroscience to those working on theoretical network models. Sporns emphasizes how networks connect levels of organization in the brain and how they link structure to function, offering an informal and nonmathematical treatment of the subject. Networks of the Brain provides a synthesis of the sciences of complex networks and the brain that will be an essential foundation for future research. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: Incognito David Eagleman, 2011-04-07 *Why can your foot move halfway to the brake pedal before you're consciously aware of danger? *Why do you notice when your name is mentioned in a conversation that you didn't think you were listening to? *Why are people whose name begins with J more likely to marry other people whose name begins with J? *Why is it so difficult to keep a secret? Renowned neuroscientist David Eagleman navigates the depths of the subconscious brain to illuminate these surprising mysteries. Taking in brain damage, drugs, beauty, infidelity, synesthesia, criminal law, artificial intelligence and visual illusions - INCOGNITO is a thrilling subsurface exploration of the mind and all its contradictions. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: Throwing the Elephant Stanley Bing, 2009-03-17 Stanley Bing follows his enormously successful What Would Machiavelli Do? with another subversively humorous exploration of how work would be different—if the Buddha were your personal consultant. What would the Buddha do—if he had to deal with a rampaging elephant of a boss every day? That is the premise of Stanley Bing’s wickedly funny guide to finding inner peace in the face of relentlessly obnoxious, huge, and sometimes smelly bosses. Taking the concept of managing up to a new cosmic plateau, Bing urges no less than a revolution of the spirit in the American workplace, turning overwrought, oppressed, stressed-out employees into models of Zen-like powers of concentration, able to take their elephant-like bosses and grey, lumbering companies and twirl them around the little finger of their consciousness. In Bing’s unique tradition of social criticism cum business self-help, Throwing the Elephant presents Four Truths (or possibly Five), a Ninefold Path, and one useful, hilarious guide to workplace sanity, success, and enlightenment that surpasses all understanding, survival. |
| the elephant in the brain free download: The Incredible Book Eating Boy Oliver Jeffers, 2006 The mouth-wateringly irresistible tale of a boy's insatiable hunger! Henry loves books... but not like you and I. He loves to EAT books! This exciting new story follows the trials and tribulations of a boy with a voracious appetite for books. Henry discovers his unusual taste by mistake one day, and is soon swept up in his new-found passion - gorging on every delicious book in sight! And better still, he realises that the more books he eats, the smarter he gets. Henry dreams of becoming the Incredible Book Eating Boy - the smartest boy in the world! But a book-eating diet isn't the healthiest of habits, as Henry soon finds out... |
| the elephant in the brain free download: The Brain Fitness Book Rita Carter, 2021-04-20 A balanced, scientific, and practical approach to monitoring and maintaining your brain's agility and mental health Packed with expert advice, brain tests, and a range of exercises to stimulate your memory and mental agility, The Brain Fitness Book will equip you with everything you need to keep your brain working to its maximum potential. Inside the pages of this scientifically based brain fitness program, you’ll find: • Clear, easy-to-understand visual explanations on how the brain works, how it recalls memories, and how and why it forgets • Practical advice on how to maintain and build a healthy brain • Step-by-step mental exercises and activities to help train your brain - from sudoku to learning a language Discover how to achieve a brain-healthy lifestyle! This empowering guide highlights the role of quality sleep, a healthy diet, and physical exercise to help you look after both your physical and mental well-being. It’s the perfect book for anyone concerned about their mental health, in terms of memory loss or stress, anxiety, and the risk of depression. Packed with brain exercises, logic puzzles, and mind maps, this brain activity book offers a balanced, clear, colorful, and practical guide to keeping your brain fit. It also includes step-by-step introductions to activities varying from playing the guitar to beginning yoga and tai chi, all to aid you in keeping your brain fit, healthy, and young |
| the elephant in the brain free download: Das Gehirn meines Vaters Jonathan Franzen, 2009 2-sprachiger Lektüreband mit einer Erzählung von Jonathan Frantzen und einer Audio-CD mit dem englischen Text; für Lernende mit guten Vorkenntnissen. |
How Fast Can an Elephant Run? - Animals Answers
Sep 6, 2021 · African forest elephants are among the smallest elephant species. Their weight range is between 4,000 to 10,000 lbs. Asian elephant (Elephas maximus: Also called the …
What Do African Elephants Eat? - Complete Guide to African …
African Forest Elephant Diet. The African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) feeds on a wide variety of leaves, barks, fruits, grass, and mineral lick. The elephant’s diet comprises a major …
African Bush Elephant Habitat - Animals Answers
Nov 11, 2017 · The African bush elephant makes habitat in grasslands, plains, oceanic beaches, thick forests, woodlands, and semi-arid deserts. African bush elephants do not stay at one …
African Elephant Range & Habitat - Animals Answers
Nov 11, 2017 · There are two living species of African elephants: African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) and African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis). They are widely …
Why are Asian Elephants Endangered? - Animals Answers
Sep 11, 2021 · The demand for elephant labor has been declining since World War II. This is excepted in Myanmar, which has a smaller elephant population. Mahout, or elephant handler …
How Much Does A Blue Whale Weigh? – Blue Whale Weight
Do you have any idea how much does a blue whale weigh?Since blue whale is the biggest living mammal on earth it weighs in hundred thousand tons.
Animals Answers • Page 15 of 26 • Find your Animal Answer
African elephants are the largest of the herbivorous land mammals. They belong to the genus Loxodonta. There are two living species of African elephants: African bush elephant …
Animals Answers • Page 9 of 26 • Find your Animal Answer
What speeds can an Elephant reach? Some estimates indicate that the speed at which an elephant can run is 25 miles per hour (40 km/h). However, elephants running at 15 mph are …
Cane Rat (Thryonomyidae) • Animals Answers
Dec 10, 2023 · Grasses are their principal food, including elephant grass, Pennisetum purpureum, and buffalo or guinea grass, Panicum maximum. They consume the soft parts of the grasses …
What do Great White Sharks Eat? - Great White Shark & Eating …
White sharks like to eat bony fish like lingcod, demersal rockfish and benthic flatfish. They also prey on big fishes like bluefin tuna and broadbill swordfish. The primary diet of this species, …
How Fast Can an Elephant Run? - Animals Answers
Sep 6, 2021 · African forest elephants are among the smallest elephant species. Their weight range is between 4,000 to 10,000 lbs. Asian elephant (Elephas maximus: Also called the Asiatic or …
What Do African Elephants Eat? - Complete Guide to African …
African Forest Elephant Diet. The African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) feeds on a wide variety of leaves, barks, fruits, grass, and mineral lick. The elephant’s diet comprises a major …
African Bush Elephant Habitat - Animals Answers
Nov 11, 2017 · The African bush elephant makes habitat in grasslands, plains, oceanic beaches, thick forests, woodlands, and semi-arid deserts. African bush elephants do not stay at one place. …
African Elephant Range & Habitat - Animals Answers
Nov 11, 2017 · There are two living species of African elephants: African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) and African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis). They are widely distributed in sub …
Why are Asian Elephants Endangered? - Animals Answers
Sep 11, 2021 · The demand for elephant labor has been declining since World War II. This is excepted in Myanmar, which has a smaller elephant population. Mahout, or elephant handler is …
How Much Does A Blue Whale Weigh? – Blue Whale Weight
Do you have any idea how much does a blue whale weigh?Since blue whale is the biggest living mammal on earth it weighs in hundred thousand tons.
Animals Answers • Page 15 of 26 • Find your Animal Answer
African elephants are the largest of the herbivorous land mammals. They belong to the genus Loxodonta. There are two living species of African elephants: African bush elephant (Loxodonta …
Animals Answers • Page 9 of 26 • Find your Animal Answer
What speeds can an Elephant reach? Some estimates indicate that the speed at which an elephant can run is 25 miles per hour (40 km/h). However, elephants running at 15 mph are more likely to …
Cane Rat (Thryonomyidae) • Animals Answers
Dec 10, 2023 · Grasses are their principal food, including elephant grass, Pennisetum purpureum, and buffalo or guinea grass, Panicum maximum. They consume the soft parts of the grasses and …
What do Great White Sharks Eat? - Great White Shark & Eating Habits
White sharks like to eat bony fish like lingcod, demersal rockfish and benthic flatfish. They also prey on big fishes like bluefin tuna and broadbill swordfish. The primary diet of this species, however, …
