Warhead
How the Brain Shapes War and War Shapes the Brain
Published on 30. October 2025
Book
Hardback
400 pages
978-1-0350-1398-2 (ISBN)
Description
'Lively, ingenious and original' - Sir Lawrence Freedman
'Eye-opening... a powerful argument' - Mail on Sunday
Discover the new science behind warfare. From Dr Nicholas Wright, leading neuroscientist and adviser to the Pentagon.
Why did France lose to the Nazis, despite its defenders having more tanks, troops, and guns? How did Ukraine repel Russia's initial onslaught? How do you know if you can trust an ally? How can we make clearer decisions under pressure?
In Warhead, Nicholas Wright takes us on a fascinating journey through the brain to show you why, if you want to understand warfare, you must first look inside your own head. Drawing on his work as a neuroscientist, and over a decade advising the Pentagon and the UK Government, he reveals how, whether we like it or not, the brain is wired for conflict - in the office or on the battlefield.
With a unique framework that helps explain today's rising tensions and how to defuse them, Warhead brings cutting-edge research to life through battle stories from across history. What was it like for a foot soldier at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815? How could Shaka Zulu or Winston Churchill see through the fog of conflict, make better decisions, and communicate with their troops? How will human conflict shape our future technologies?
In an increasingly dangerous world that threatens our values and success, Warhead is an essential read to understand why we fight, lose and win wars.
'A mind-expanding journey . . . invigorating, educational and entertaining' - Peter Pomerantsev, author of How to Win an Information War
'Eye-opening... a powerful argument' - Mail on Sunday
Discover the new science behind warfare. From Dr Nicholas Wright, leading neuroscientist and adviser to the Pentagon.
Why did France lose to the Nazis, despite its defenders having more tanks, troops, and guns? How did Ukraine repel Russia's initial onslaught? How do you know if you can trust an ally? How can we make clearer decisions under pressure?
In Warhead, Nicholas Wright takes us on a fascinating journey through the brain to show you why, if you want to understand warfare, you must first look inside your own head. Drawing on his work as a neuroscientist, and over a decade advising the Pentagon and the UK Government, he reveals how, whether we like it or not, the brain is wired for conflict - in the office or on the battlefield.
With a unique framework that helps explain today's rising tensions and how to defuse them, Warhead brings cutting-edge research to life through battle stories from across history. What was it like for a foot soldier at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815? How could Shaka Zulu or Winston Churchill see through the fog of conflict, make better decisions, and communicate with their troops? How will human conflict shape our future technologies?
In an increasingly dangerous world that threatens our values and success, Warhead is an essential read to understand why we fight, lose and win wars.
'A mind-expanding journey . . . invigorating, educational and entertaining' - Peter Pomerantsev, author of How to Win an Information War
Reviews / Votes
A mind-expanding journey through the literal war for our minds. Combines neuroscience, history and memoir in the best traditions of popular science and military history. Invigorating, educational and entertaining -- Peter Pomerantsev, Senior Fellow at Johns Hopkins University and award-winning author of <i>How to Win an Information War</i> and <i>Nothing is True and Everything is Possible</i> Eye-opening ... Warhead is a powerful argument for a greater understanding of the way the brain shapes the nature of war in the past, the present and the future he predicts. -- Nick Rennison, <i>Mail on Sunday</i> This remarkable book charts the living history of war and conflict, from what unfolds on the evening news to spellbinding examples from military history. -- Karl Friston, Professor of Neuroscience at University College London Distinctive and fascinating ... Nick Wright reminds us of the true importance of all the various brain functions, wherever they may be in the brain's hierarchy of function -- Chris Frith, Emeritus Professor of Neuropsychology at University College London, and author of <i>Making up the Mind</i> I learned a great deal from Nicholas Wright's unique book about how today's neuroscience can better explain the workings of the brain, and provide understanding of how our brains feed the roots of human conflict. Highly recommended -- Sir David Omand, Professor at the War Studies Department of King's College London, and former Director of GCHQ This is a lively, ingenious and original book. Taking us on a journey through the distinctive parts of the brain, Nicholas Wright is able to make human behaviour during the extreme circumstances of war make more sense -- Sir Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies at King's College London Truly original and (unfortunately) timely. Wright combines brain science, history and psychology to challenge our views on war and peace. Would understanding the mind help bring peace or help nations fight better? Perhaps both. Fresh, engaging and provocative. -- <b>Tali Sharot, award-winning author of <i>The Influential Mind</i></b> A fresh neuroscientific exploration of the science of war. Warhead is for anyone who thinks conflict is explained by cold reason and analysis, rather than by understanding our imperfect brains. -- <b>Beatrice Heuser, Distinguished Professor at the Free University of Brussels, and author of <i>Flawed Strategy: Why Smart Leaders Make Bad Decisions</i></b> In the great canon of war literature you will search far and wide for an examination, accessible to all, that considers how the structure of the brain, its chemistry and processes, provides the key to understanding those violent events. ... But now we have Warhead. -- Mark Urban, <i>Sunday Times</i>More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Pan Macmillan
Target group
Interest Age: From 18 years
Dimensions
Height: 238 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 39 mm
Weight
614 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-0350-1398-2 (9781035013982)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
10/2025
Macmillan
€27.99
Not yet available
Person
Dr Nicholas Wright is a neuroscientist who researches the brain, technology and security at University College London, Georgetown University and the New America think tank in Washington, DC, where he also advises the Pentagon Joint Staff. On emerging technologies, he has worked with the White House, the UK Cabinet Office and the Australian prime minister's office. He has published over twenty peer-reviewed research papers, many of which have been covered by the BBC and The New York Times. He has appeared on CNN and the BBC and regularly contributes to high-profile outlets like Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, The Atlantic and Slate. Warhead is his first book.