Innate
How the Wiring of Our Brains Shapes Who We Are
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Princeton University Press
Published:14th Sep '18
Should be back in stock very soon
This hardback is available in another edition too:
- Paperback£15.99(9780691204154)
This book offers a profound exploration of how our brain's wiring shapes individual differences. Innate changes the way we perceive nature and nurture.
In Innate, leading neuroscientist Kevin Mitchell delves into the intricate workings of the human brain to uncover the roots of our individual differences. He argues that our personal traits are more innate than we might assume, suggesting that the wiring of our brains is influenced significantly by genetic factors and random developmental processes. This exploration reveals how these variations shape our personalities, intelligence, and perceptions, making each of us uniquely ourselves from the very beginning of life.
Mitchell discusses the shared genetic blueprint for human brain development while emphasizing that the unique expression of this blueprint can lead to significant differences, even among identical twins. The core message of Innate is that the interplay between genetic predispositions and developmental randomness creates the innate differences that define our psychological makeup. This perspective invites readers to reconsider the longstanding debate between nature and nurture, offering a more nuanced understanding of human behavior and identity.
Additionally, Innate addresses the genetic and neural foundations of various disorders, such as autism and schizophrenia, shedding light on how these insights can revolutionize our comprehension of such conditions. The book also contemplates the ethical implications of emerging technologies that may allow us to predict or even alter human traits. With its compelling narrative, Innate promises to transform our understanding of ourselves and the complex factors that contribute to who we are.
"One of Publishers Weekly's Best Books of 2018"
"One of Forbes' Must-Read Brain Books of 2018"
"A powerful antidote to genetic determinism."---Barbara Kiser, Nature
"A lucid, up-to-the-minute account of the human mind. . . . In considering the social, ethical, and philosophical implications of the accumulation of scientific discoveries, Mitchell changes the paradigm of what truly defines human nature."---Tiffany Jeung, Inverse
"Innate is the best guide to the intersection of neuroscience, psychology, and genetics that I’ve found in recent years. . . . If there’s any question you have about how our brains make us who we are, chances are you’ll find an enlightening answer in Innate."---Carl Zimmer, Publishers Weekly
"A good read for anyone at any age interested in how we get to be who we are. . . . Let us get books like Innate into the hands and minds of students as early as possible so that informed public discussion of ethical, social, and political issues surrounding genetic knowledge keeps pace with the inexorable growth of that knowledge."---Richard Haier, Quillette
"An engaging science book."---Anthony King, Irish Times
ISBN: 9780691173887
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
304 pages