Dean Burnett

Dr Dean Burnett is a PhD Neuroscientists, experienced tutor and lecturer, regular blogger/contributor for the Guardian and other mainstream publications, and now international bestselling author following his debut book The Idiot Brain ('Idiot Brain' in the US).

The genesis of Idiot Brain is unusual in that Dean Burnett hadn't actually planned to write a book but was offered the opportunity following his highly-popular blogging efforts. When he expressed reluctance at writing a book about the brain because "all brain books treat it with such reverence, but I think it's a bit rubbish", his publishers suggested he write a book about why he thought that, and that were Idiot Brain first began.

Expecting it to be a flash in the pan that people would just nod at before getting on with their lives, Dean had no plans or expectations regarding the writing of a second book, but Idiot Brain's success meant one was soon expected. In a panic, Dean asked all his colleagues/friends/fellow writers/passing strangers what they thought would be a good subject for a second book. Everyone provided different ideas, but one common refrain was 'You just need to write about whatever makes you happy". Being an intensely literal sort, he decided he would indeed write about the neurobiological mechanisms that make us happy.

And that's how Happy Brain was created.

Dean Burnett has appeared on NPR's Fresh Air, CBC's The Current, Ireland's NewsTalk and countless platforms and publications in the UK. The TV rights for Idiot Brain were purchased by Whoopi Goldberg's 'One Ho' productions.

He is currently a Research Associate (Honorary) at Cardiff University Psychology School, and lives in Cardiff with his wife, two children, and alarmingly psychopathic kitten Pickle.