Trains of Thought - A Natural History of the Mind - by James H Brennan (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

An accessible must-read for anyone intrigued by the mysteries of the mind and how each of us constructs reality... or for anyone looking for a rational understanding of how people think.

The human mind is unique within Nature. It emerges from the brain but is far more than the sum of its parts. Our mind gives rise to our entire experience of life, but what is it, how does it work, and where do minds sit within Nature as a whole? Trains of Thought distils and clarifies our most essential quality as human beings, the ability to think and feel.

Taking a natural history approach, clinical psychologist James Brennan guides us through different realms of psychology - memory, emotion, drives, consciousness, childhood, relationships, therapy, and above all how we think and how we adjust to change - all brought to life through case vignettes drawn from his work as a therapist.

More than just another book on neuroscience or consciousness, Trains of Thought is a deeper story about the human mind, and how we come to think, feel, and live our lives.

Review Quotes

'A handbook for Humanists' - John McAllister

"Trains of Thought describes the experience of consciousness, how we think and remember, how we make sense of the world, and how our mind operates within our brain. More ambitious still, Brennan shines a light on what makes us the people we are and how we recognise and think about ourselves within the world." Dr Hugh Herzig

"James Brennan maps the journey of thinking, feeling, and becoming, revealing how we construct reality and how our minds change across a lifetime. His case examples are particularly illuminative and fascinating." Dr Matt Ellis