Making up the Mind

Reviews / Votes

"Making up the Mind is an excellent 'big picture' book.Exactly as its subtitle indicates, this book describes how ourbrains construct an internal model of the world that enables us tosuccessfully interact with others and generally navigate a complexworld." (Psychology Learning and Training, Autumn 2008) "Neuroscience and psychology often struggle to answer the reallyinteresting questions about the mind, but in this fascinating book,Chris Frith shows that science can finally start explaining how andwhy we experience the world as we do. Anyone interested in humannature - not just the nuts and bolts of neural circuits - will findhis storytelling compelling. Frith delves into topics such asdelusions, illusions, imagination and imitation, bringing clarityand insight to the simplest abservations and most complexexperiments alike." (New Scientist) "Making up the Mind is an interesting book to everybodywho wants to learn more about how the brain gives rise to ourmental experiences...As Frith himself depicts in a sort of framingstory, you will easily find yourself talking about these ideas atyour next dinner party, as well as use it for seriousconsiderations on the brain or as a toolbox for next term's essay.A stimulating new book by a distinguished scientist who knows whathe is talking about." ( Metapsychology Online Reviews) "Frith has produced an enthralling discussion on the subtlelinks between mind and brain, sometimes with humorous liaisonsbetween himself, as narrator, and others who might be labelled assceptics, unbelievers."(Psychologist) "Stands apart from many that have been written lately... For those who have time to read only one book ... thisshould be it. Essential."(Choice Reviews)Oliver Sacks"Making up the Mind is a fascinating guided tourthrough the elusive interface between mind and brain written by apioneer in the field. The authors obvious passion for the subjectshines through every page." -V. S. Ramachandran "I soon made up my mind that this is an excellent, mostreadable and stimulating book. The author is a distinguishedneuroscientist working especially on brain imaging." -RL Gregory, Experimental Psychology "Chris Frith, one of the pioneers in applying brain imagingto study mental processes, has written a brilliant introduction tothe biology of mental processes for the general reader. This superbbook describes how we recreate in our brains a representation ofthe external world. Clearly and beautifully written, this book isfor all who want to learn about how the brain gives rise to themental phenomenon of our lives. A must read!" -Eric R. Kandel, M.D. "Important and surprising. The brain will never seem the sameagain." -Lewis Wolpert, University College London "Frith's luminously intelligent book...raisesinteresting questions about how it is possible to make seriousscientific progress, on the borders of metaphysics, while stillthinking inside a framework that is an ontological andepistemological muddle." -Raymond Tallis, Brain