A new edition of the bestselling classic – published with a special introduction to mark its 10th anniversary This pioneering account sets out to understand the structure of the human brain – the place where mind meets matter. Until recently, the left hemisphere of our brain has been seen as the ‘rational’ side, the superior partner to the right. But is this distinction true? Drawing on a vast body of experimental research, Iain McGilchrist argues while our left brain makes for a wonderful servant, it is a very poor master. As he shows, it is the right side which is the more reliable and insightful. Without it, our world would be mechanistic – stripped of depth, colour and value. Reviews and Endorsements: "One of the few contemporary works deserving classic status."—Nicholas Shakespeare, The Times "Persuasively argues that our society is suffering from the consequences of an over-dominant left hemisphere losing touch with its natural regulative ‘master’ the right. Brilliant and disturbing."—Salley Vickers, a Guardian ‘Best Book of the Year’ "A landmark. . . It tells a story you need to hear, of where we live now"–Bryan Appleyard, Sunday Times "A seminal book"—Professor Ervin László, Huffington Post "McGilchrist describes broad [intellectual] movements and famous figures as if they were battles and soldiers in a 2,500-year war between the brain’s hemispheres. . .A scintillating intelligence is at work."—Economist "A fascinating book. . . [McGilchrist] is a subtle and clever thinker, and unusually qualified to range with such authority over so many different domains of knowledge"—Harry Eyres, Financial Times About the Author: Iain McGilchrist is a former Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, where he taught literature before training in medicine. He is an associate Fellow of Green Templeton College, Oxford, a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Consultant Emeritus of the Bethlem and Maudsley Hospital, London, and has researched in neuroimaging at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore.. He now lives on the Isle of Skye, where he continues to write, and lectures worldwide. |