Human: The Science Behind What Makes Us Unique - Hardcover

Gazzaniga, Director Michael S

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0060892889 ISBN 13: 9780060892883

Publisher: Ecco Press, 2008

Synopsis

One of the world's leading neuroscientists explores how best to understand the human condition by examining the biological, psychological, and highly social nature of our species within the social context of our lives.

What happened along the evolutionary trail that made humans so unique? In his widely accessible style, Michael Gazzaniga looks to a broad range of studies to pinpoint the change that made us thinking, sentient humans, different from our predecessors.

Neuroscience has been fixated on the life of the psychological self for the past fifty years, focusing on the brain systems underlying language, memory, emotion, and perception. What it has not done is consider the stark reality that most of the time we humans are thinking about social processes, comparing ourselves to and estimating the intentions of others. In Human, Gazzaniga explores a number of related issues, including what makes human brains unique, the importance of language and art in defining the human condition, the nature of human consciousness, and even artificial intelligence.

About this title

Review:

"One could ask for no better guide... compelling, wide-ranging tour."--Daniel Henninger

"[Readers] will enjoy the science he unravels."--Floyd E. Bloom

"Michael Gazzaniga shares his considerable insight... compelling, and at the same time, clear."--Dr. Steven E. Hyman

"Brilliantly written and utterly fascinating. Gazzaniga stands as a giant among neuroscientists, for both the quality of his research and his ability to communicate it to a general public with infectious enthusiasm."--Robert Bazell, Chief Science Correspondent, NBC News

"In this book, Gazzaniga uses science AND some truly engaging, witty writing to explain us to us."--CNBC.com

"A savvy, witty guide to neuroscience today."--Kirkus Reviews

"Wonderfully smart and often funny...I recommend [HUMAN] highly. This book combines succinct views of how we became the amazing animals that we are, the biological bases of morality, and some atonishing futurology."--Titlepage.tv

"The book is an intellectual romp through the cognitive neurosciences . . . a rich testimony to the incredible accomplishments of the human brain in coming to understand itself."--New York Sun

"Readers of Gazzaniga's intriguing insights into the realm of neuroscience are certain to have their consciousnesses pleasantly piqued in numerous ways."--Saturday Evening Post

"Gazzaniga is one of the founders of the field of cognitive neuroscience... full of dazzling insights... engaging."----V.S. Ramachandran

About the Author:

Michael S. Gazzaniga is internationally recognized in the field of neuroscience and a pioneer in cognitive research. He is the director of the SAGE Center for the Study of the Mind at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is the author of many popular science books, including Who's in Charge? (Ecco, 2011). He has six children and lives in California with his wife.

About this edition

• Publisher: Ecco Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0060892889
• ISBN 13: 9780060892883
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 464