The Animal and the Thinker
Instinct, Reason and the Dance of Our Divided Selves
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Ebury Publishing
Publishing:9th Jul '26
£12.99
This title is due to be published on 9th July, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
This paperback is available in another edition too:
- Hardback£25.00(9780753560921)
Why are we so often in conflict—arguing with ourselves and with others, uncertain over who we are what we need from our lives?
In The Animal and the Idea, the world-leading, pioneering neuroscientist John Duncan explains that each of us is not just one person – we are two. On one side are our animal instincts, built on the sophisticated needs of human life through evolution, but struggling to navigate the complexity of modern life. On the other side is our rational brain which calculates and cogitates, but is often helpless in the face of bigger questions of meaning and purpose.
Dovetailing these two competing sides of ourselves, Duncan draws on a lifetime’s pioneering work to attack puzzles that have concerned thinkers, writers and philosophers through human history. Right and wrong. Freedom and responsibility. Women and men. Democracy and justice. Ambition and fulfilment. Understanding how these two sides of ourselves interact offers revealing and often surprising answers to some of the great questions of our lives.
Discover a new perspective on human behaviour, and learn how we can better understand ourselves, our struggles, and our search for meaning.
A tour de force. John Duncan has marshalled his experience as a world-class cognitive neuroscientist to remind us that whilst reason seems to define the human mind, the role of our animal instincts, as studied through Darwinian ethology, powerfully shape our behaviour and our social values. Duncan writes with an elegant clarity which is simultaneously thought-provoking and entertaining * Professor Sir Simon Baron-Cohen, University of Cambridge *
Electric... a book full of good science, sage advice and deep understanding of the human condition * Professor Robin Dunbar, University of Oxford *
John Duncan is one of the most interesting and thoughtful scientists to tackle the complexities of the human brain, and in this provocative and enjoyable book he explores how we are simultaneously rational and logical, but also animalistic and reactive in our thoughts and behaviour. Spanning human experience, from laughter to logic, he delves into the conflicts and convergences of these different brain systems with wit and insight * Professor Sophie Scott CBE *
ISBN: 9780753560945
Dimensions: 196mm x 129mm x 28mm
Weight: 318g
432 pages