Top Brain, Bottom Brain: Surprising Insights into How You Think - Hardcover

Kosslyn, Stephen; Miller, G. Wayne

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1451645104 ISBN 13: 9781451645101

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2013

Synopsis

In this groundbreaking contribution to the literature of human personality, a celebrated psychologist and an award-winning author offer an exciting new way of thinking about our minds—and ourselves—based on a new way of looking at the brain.

IN THIS GROUNDBREAKING contribution to the literature on human personality, a celebrated psychologist and an award-winning author offer a novel way to learn about how each of us thinks. For the past fifty years, popular culture has led us to believe in the left brain vs. right brain theory of personality types. It would be an illumi­nating theory if it did not have one major drawback: It is simply not supported by science. In contrast, the Top Brain, Bottom Brain theory is based on solid research that has stayed within the confines of labs all over the world—until now.

With cowriter G. Wayne Miller, Stephen M. Kosslyn, PhD, a leader in the field of cognitive neuroscience, explains this exciting new theory for the first time. Kosslyn and Miller describe how the top and bottom parts of the brain work together, summarizing extensive research with ease and accessibility. In doing so, they introduce us to four modes of thought: Mover, Perceiver, Stimulator, and Adaptor.

These ways of thinking and behaving shape your personality, and with the scientifically developed test provided in the book, you’ll quickly be able to determine which mode best defines your dominant way of thinking. Once you’ve identified your dominant cognitive mode, you can reflect on the many possible practical applications from the way you conduct business to your relationships to your voyage of personal discovery.

About this title

About the Author

Stephen M. Kosslyn, PhD, is founding dean of the Minerva Schools at the Keck Graduate Institute. He previously served as director of the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences and Professor of Psychology at Stanford University and as the John Lindsley Professor of Psychology at Harvard University, where he also served as chair of the Department of Psychology and dean of Social Science. Stephen has been recognized by election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, three honorary doctorates, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and the National Academy of Sciences Award for Initiatives in Research.

G. Wayne Miller is a staff writer at The Providence Journal, a documentary filmmaker, and the author of seven books of nonfiction, three novels, and three short story collections. He is also director and cofounder of the Story in the Public Square program at Salve Regina University’s Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy in Newport, RI. Find him at GWayneMiller.com or on Twitter @GWayneMiller.

Review

"Kosslyn and Miller describe a new insight emerging from contemporary brain research: that the upper reaches of the brain's cerebral hemispheres think differently from their lower portions... They bolster their argument with evidence from key studies, meta-analyses of brain functioning, and a new scale of cognitive style. The writing is lively and accessible, and I was excited about the idea of using insights from brain science to identify new dimensions of our character."
-- John D. Mayer, Scientific American/Farrar, Straus & Giroux.

"A beguiling sweep of brain science... a fun excursion through the mind, shedding light on one's own way of thinking."
-- Providence Sunday Journal.

"Top Brain, Bottom Brain provides insight not only into our individual personalities, but the manner in which we interact with others and the implications for our personal and professional lives. This book provides inventive data on the workings of the human brain with the potential to change the way society thinks about thinking."
-- Bookshelf Reviews

An " 'Upending' idea.. The traditional paradigm of the way we understood how the brain learns has been replaced by an interdependent model of cognition that is more scientifically robust.  Our educational system should be a place where such scientific research has an immediate societal effect. If we have a better understanding of how the brain learns, we can construct more efficient and effective curricula for our children."
-- Chris Kukk, professor at Western Connecticut State University, founding Director of the Center for Compassion, Creativity and Innovation, and TED Talk speaker.

About this edition

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1451645104
• ISBN 13: 9781451645101
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240