The Idiot Brain

Why do we know a face but forget a name? Why do we get motion sickness or jet lag? Dean Burnett explores these questions and why we dwell on small things. He looks at how the brain’s flaws shape daily life. Topics include anxiety, memory, intelligence and personality.

This book offers a guide to neuroscience with humour for general readers. It draws on Burnett’s work as a neuroscientist. He treats the brain’s errors as part of being human. This tenth-anniversary edition adds a new introduction and afterword.