Problems of Living

Dan J. Stein is Professor and Chair of the Dept of Psychiatry at the University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, and Director of the South African Medical Research Council’s Unit on Risk & Resilience in Mental Disorders. Dan’s training includes doctoral degrees in clinical neuroscience and in philosophy, and a post-doctoral fellowship in psychopharmacology. He is a clinician-scientist whose work has long focused on anxiety and related disorders. He has also mentored a range of other research, with publications spanning basic neuroscience, through clinical research, and on to public mental health. His research has had considerable influence (as evidenced by his h-index, perhaps the highest of any African scholar), as has his mentorship (as evidenced by the career success of his postgraduate students and fellows). Awards for his work include the International College of Neuropsychopharmacology’s Max Hamilton Award for his contributions to psychopharmacology, and its Ethics in Psychopharmacology Award.

• 1. Introduction2. Brain–minds: What’s the best metaphor?3. Reason and passion4. The pleasures of life5. Pain and suffering6. The good and the bad7. How can we know what is true, then?8. The meaning of life9. Conclusion: Metaphors of life

"Problems of Living must be acknowledged as one of the most remarkable achievements to which his (Stein's) already acclaimed accolades attest. It is an excellent example of what can be achieved in terms of interdisciplinary work, when this work is the outcome, not of a dilettante, but of a true specialist in different fields – in this case psychiatry, philosophy and neuroscience… What this reviewer appreciated more than everything else, is Stein's conviction that the traditional 'big' questions of philosophy – What is the relation between reason and passion? Is there any sense in pain and suffering? How can we distinguish between good and bad? When are we dealing with truth? What is the meaning of life? – are not only still valid, but can be approached from a variety of the interdisciplinary perspectives, and that significant (or at least notable) progress can be made with such an enterprise, without any claim that all questions have been definitively or adequately answered… Whether the journey metaphor is the most appropriate for our understanding of life, remains to be seen. There can, however, be no doubt that reading Stein's book is a journey through a masterpiece. It is one of the most enriching experiences that this reviewer has had in a long time." --South African Journal of Science"Dan Stein's new books is an engaging and courageous piece of writing that raises fundamental questions about the nature of mind and brain. It examines how to live a fulfilling life and be contented, despite the paradox of, on the one hand feeling our lives are central to the world, and on the other, that we are just one of many species… Stein investigates the mechanisms that underlie reason and passion, from a philosophical and psychiatric perspective. There are key implications for psychiatric and psychological practice, public mental health and societal flourishing. His primary source material is rich, and he communicates a sense of awe and of wonder about our precious and transient lives, as well as a synopsis of a more authentic and progressive scientific account of the mind and brain wetware. All trainees and students of subjects related to the mind and brain should read this book, as should those specialists working daily in health and social systems and public mental health. The book busts many myths simply by sharing what we know about the brain and mind, which is a great deal, but it also is clear on the limitations of our thinking." --British Journal on Psychiatry"The book is interesting in its approach to answering traditional philosophical questions through an integrated manner, utilizing perspectives from philosophy, psychiatry, and cognitive-affective science. The author is uniquely qualified to discuss these questions from all of these perspectives given his credentials. While the author has answered the objectives, the book was difficult to read and comprehend at many points, despite my background as a physician in psychiatry, as it requires a significant amount of background knowledge in philosophical theories. The author tries to mitigate this by providing extensive references throughout, but this does little to help the readers if they have not performed a significant amount of outside research." --© Doody’s Review Service, 2021,Chad R Percifield, DO(Michigan State University College of Medicine) reviewer, expert opinion