Mind Myths

Albert Moukheiber holds a doctorate in neuroscience and is a clinical psychologist. His work has been adapted into documentaries and translated into twelve languages. He lives in Paris, France.Pablo Strauss grew up in British Columbia and has lived in Quebec City for two decades. His twenty translations from Quebec and France include a wide range of contemporary fiction and nonfiction.

• IntroductionPart 1: The Origins of Reductionism: A Brief History of the Braini. The Cartesian Methodii. Phrenologyiii. Localists vs. Distributistsiv. The Two-Brain Theoryv. The Three-Brain Theoryvi. The Limits of Brain Imagingvii. The Mechanistic Brain and the Promise of AIviii. Can We Learn From Reductionist Models?Part 2: Cognitive Science as a Personal Development Tooli. The Seductive Scienceii. What Is the Self?iii. Personality Testsiv. Neuroplasticityv. Vibrational Frequencyvi. The Law of Attractionvii. Excessive Individual Responsibility and Burnoutviii. Where There’s a Will, There’s a WayPart 3: The Complex Beauty of the Braini. Emotion vs. Reason: A False Dichotomyii. The Hard Problem of ConsciousnessPart 4: I Am Not Just My Braini. Cognition Is Embodiedii. Toward Less Reductionist Views of Painiii. Toward Less Reductionist Views of Drugsiv. Toward Less Reductionist Views of Mental Illnessv. Toward Less Reductionist Views of Mental Healthvi. Toward Less Reductionist Views of Addictionvii. Toward Less Reductionist Views of PerformancePart 5: When Cognitive Science Becomes a Political Tooli. Can Neuroscience Predict Your Vote?ii. Neuroscience and the Lawiii. Neuroscience and the Environmentiv. Fake News and Cognitive Biasv. The Problem of Performative BeliefsConclusionAcknowledgmentsNotesFurther readingIndex

"[F]ast-paced and interesting...this book will make readers think while leaving their minds yearning for a solution."—Library Journal, STARRED review"This enlightening report by neuroscientist Moukheiber (Your Brain Is Playing Tricks on You) unravels misconceptions about the human mind... Nuanced and accessible, this will make readers rethink how they think."—Publishers Weekly, STARRED review"At a time when neuroscience is invoked to explain almost everything, Mind Myths by Albert Moukheiber separates genuine scientific insight from fashionable fiction with clarity, wit and refreshing intellectual honesty. Thought-provoking, balanced and deeply informed, Mind Myths should become essential reading for anyone interested in how the mind really works."—Adrian Owen, author of Into the Gray Zone"Packed with information and canny wisdom, Mind Myths is a jaw-dropping book that will change what you think you know about yourself. Dr. Moukheiber calls out our collective "neuro" obsession and makes a sharp-eyed case for why the modern rhetoric isn't just lazy but may also be destructive. It is a vital reminder not to trust everything you may hear about the brain on TikTok—and a book I plan to return to often."—Zach Schonbrun, author of The Performance Cortex"A timely reminder that we are not just our brains. Arm yourself against the forces of misinformation by reading this book!" —Gina Rippon, author of The Gendered Brain