Hey all, I read two books recently that I thought sounded really interesting. One was called Your Brain on Art and the second was called The Extended Mind. Both are kind of neuroscience-y in that they explore the brain and its functioning in certain contexts, in the first book, in its interaction with art, the second in a variety of contexts. I was disappointed by both of these books because it felt they were written as a self-help guide. As in, if you do x, y and z, your life will be improved, you’ll be more productive, you’ll be fitter, happier, healthier, etc. I’m not sure what else I expected from these books as they are part of pop-psychology but I’m now wary of what feels like a sub genre of self help. Anyone notice this? Is this take too cynical? Maybe I just need to end my fiction reading hiatus.
by bailingniao