"Kagan ponders a series of important nodes of debate while challenging us to examine what we know and why we know it. Most critically he presents an elegant argument for functions of mind that cannot be replaced with sentences about brains while acknowledging that mind emerges from brain activity. He relies on the evidence to argue that thoughts and emotions are distinct from their biological and genetic bases. In separate chapters he deals with the...

"In The Two Greatest Ideas, Linda Zagzebski tells the history of two hugely impactful ideas and their crucial role in shaping human culture over the last two thousand years. These ideas, Zagzebski argues, underlie virtually all of the intellectual innovations of human civilization, yet are so simple they are almost invisible. The first idea is that the human mind is capable of grasping the universe. The second is that the human mind is capable of...

What exactly is this "ego" that some tell us to assert, others tell us to deny, and still others say we must transform and transcend? Why is it there? When do we have it, and when does it have us? What is its relation to the world and to our soul? And how will our lives be better if we know? Anthony Damiani's down-to-earth, in-depth approach to these issues makes Standing in Your Own Way still the most invigorating and comprehensive treatment of these...

Alchemists of old attempted to make sense of the universe-to discover the connection between mind and matter. Some of today's scientists, in particular quantum physicists, are doing the same. In this contribution to the study of consciousness, physicist Fred Alan Wolf reveals what he calls the "new alchemy"-a melding of the ideas of the old alchemists and the new scientists to reach a fuller understanding of mind and matter. An elegant book with...

What if you aren't as in control of your actions as you think you are? What if your subconscious is driving your decisions without your approval? Is there a way to "hack" your brain to perform better, live healthier, and break your bad habits? We all can think of things about ourselves we'd like to change, but as neuroscientists are coming to realize, changing our behaviors isn't as straightforward as you might think. Many of our everyday decisions...

The concept of the soul has been a recurring area of exploration since ancient times. What do we mean when we talk about finding our soul, how do we know we have one, and does it hold any relevance in today's scientifically and technologically dominated society? From Socrates and Augustine to Darwin and Freud, In Search of the Soul takes readers on a concise, accessible journey into the origins of the soul in Western philosophy and culture, and examines...

For the millions who want to find peace, love, and purpose without religion, Cambridge-educated scientist, wisdom teacher, and leadership expert Nick Jankel sets out a radical new life philosophy that reunites cutting-edge science with timeless spiritual wisdom to help us make better life choices, understand our place in the universe, and transform our life, love, and leadership challenges so we thrive.

"A Socratic dialogue between a romantic young idealist and an elderly cynic, who debate such issues as whether man is a machine or a free actor, whether personal merit is meaningless given how our environment shapes who we are, and whether man has any impulse other than pursuing pleasure and avoiding pain."

"Do you like puzzles, coding, and taking things apart? Do you write stories, act in plays, slay at Wordle? The things you are good at are clues to how your brain works. Are you good at math? Working with your hands? Are you a neat freak or a big mess? With her knack for making science easy to understand, Temple Grandin explains different types of thinkers: verbal thinkers who are good with language, and visual thinkers who think in pictures and patterns....