Book Reviews
"Drawing on a wide range of studies in cognitive psychology, 'A Mind of Its Own' explores each of these shifty traits of the brain in eight engaging, highly readable chapters ... that document in fascinating detail the extent to which the truth-stretching, ego-boosting tactics of the brain keep us well-insulated from reality. ... there's no shortage of interesting material in the book, and Fine ... has a knack for presenting it in a clear, accessible, even humorous way, mixing crisp summaries of the psychological research with lighthearted anecdotes ... that lend a breezy charm to her writing. ... unsettling as it is to realize just how distorted our perception of ourselves and the world may be, 'A Mind Of Its Own' is a thoroughly enjoyable read, as entertaining as it is informative."
Dr Elisabeth Herschbach, Metapsychology online reviews "A fascinating, funny, disconcerting and lucid book ... you'll realise that your brain can (and does) run rings around you." Helen Dunmore "Fine [is] a cognitive neuroscientist with a sharp sense of humour and an intelligent sense of reality." The Times "[a] witty survey ... this natty, well-referenced book would make an ideal gift for anyone interested in psychology." Dr Christian Jarrett, BBC Focus Magazine "A light and amusing introduction to the brain and how it works on our perceptions and actions." Publishing News "remarkably entertaining" Los Angeles Times "This is one of the most interesting and amusing accounts of how we think we think - I think." Alexander McCall Smith "accessible ... with an easy style and light wit. ... A Mind of Its Own is a fun introduction to some of the factors that can distort our reasoning." Dr Tom Stafford, The Psychologist "an unsettlingly entertaining tour. ... An edifying exploration, wryly and ruefully expressed." Booklist "Fine writes a more than fine account of how ingenious psychological research methodology has been used to uncover an incredible range of automatic processes that people take for granted and of which many would be unaware and outright deny without direct testing." PsycCRITIQUES "Witty and informative" Philip Pullman "A Mind of Its Own manages to combine thorough research with charm and wit, not an easy task." Caryl Rivers "An entertaining tour of current thinking" The Daily Telegraph "Consistently well-written and meticulously researched" Alain de Botton, The Sunday Times "Engaging, intelligent" Scotland on Sunday "Excellent ... Fine's very engaging and chatty style ... will delight many readers ... Fine has got it just right. Although she is an academic, she writes like a human being ... All in all this short and enjoyable book is a must for anyone who wants to get a better understanding of what their brain gets up to when they aren't watching it. First class." Five stars Brian Clegg, Popular Science (website) "... provocative enough to make you start questioning your each and every action." Entertainment Weekly "Fine writes with clarity and humour ... [and] offers many insights ... Although her style is light-hearted and conversational, making for easy reading, there is a serious side to A Mind of Its Own. It's certainly worth a read and will probably surprise you." Insight "Dr Fine has a way with words ... She also has a light touch and sense of humour rarely displayed by those with an alphabet of letters after their name." New Zealand Management "[A Mind of Its Own] pulls the evidence together in a particularly neat and revealing way ... Cordelia Fine writes clearly and elegantly and even made this reader laugh out loud (in public)." Rita Carter (author of Mapping the Mind and Exploring Consciousness) - website "Fine ... describes with wit and clarity, and without wasting a single word, the brain's capacity to mislead and distort. It is an expert, valuable, if whistle-stop, guided tour of what cognitive psychology reveals to us about the human condition." Human Givens Journal "Cordelia Fine lays out in a highly entertaining fashion the myriad ways in which our vain, immoral, pig-headed brains are constantly deceiving us. ...One of the strongest points of this book is the way Fine deftly describes how research is done in psychology. She does not just tell what is known about how the brain deceives, she explains how we know it." Skeptic "This is a delightful book, which manages to explain serious science simply, and with humour. It should be required reading for anyone who thinks they are in control of their faculties, if only to shatter that illusion. ... Fine's academic credentials are solid, yet she manages to write for an audience that extends far beyond the circles of experimental psychologists." The Herald "Fascinating stuff." Mail & Guardian "Fine ... catalogs [our] mental scramble in wry, spirited prose. Fine is ever entertaining on the bigotry and pigheadedness of those nearest and dearest to her ... [she] succeeds marvelously at a tricky task - exposing the psychological hijinks and hijacks that propel us forwards." Psychology Today "... it's entertaining, and it's written in an engaging and none too serious style, but it packs a punch all the same. ... Fine writes with a light touch, there's a gentle humour and a peppering of homely anecdotes throughout the book." London Book Review (website) "We humans often behave in irrational ways, and in this volume, Cordelia Fine explains and elaborates many of them in a clear, engaging, humorous style. ... Fine has an excellent knack for selecting good examples from the psychological research and presenting the information clearly and entertainingly." Science Books & Films "Filled with quotable stories and interactive ways of how our brain has a buoyant ego of its own and is not the objective tool we might like to believe." Bookseller "Fine is that rare academic who's also an excellent writer. Highly recommended ..." Library Journal "excellent, witty and informative ... [Fine] has an admirable gift for making complex issues stimulating and understandable without losing contact with the underlying painstaking research on which this understanding is based. ... This book is kindly, recognizes our human fallibility, and is a delight to read." Dr Bruce Ritson, The Academical "accessible and witty" University College London Book Reviews "Fine's flair for the humorous and anecdotal makes this a delightful read." The Irish Times "[Fine] succeeds brilliantly, cherry-picking the most intriguing facts from hundreds of academic papers and wrapping them in witty, self-deprecating prose." Damian Thompson, Mail on Sunday "Clear, accessible writing makes [Fine] a science writer to watch." Metro "Fine's style is chirpy ... [with] many affectionately amusing scenes" The Guardian "Fine documents a wealth of surprising information about the brain in this readable account that adopts a good-humored tone about the brain's failings without underestimating the damage they do."' Publishers Weekly (U.S.) "[a] little gem of a book". Highly recommended. Good Reading Magazine "one of the most engaging books on social psychology" Professor Brint Montgomery, Science & Theology News "Marvellous ... knowledgeable and funny ... terrific. Don't miss it." Adele Geras (website) "This funny, wicked little book is a must." Rachel McAlpine (website) "entertaining ... [Fine's] research is broad and judiciously employed and her arguments lucid." The Adelaide Review "a really good read ..." Radical Faith (website) "A Mind of Its Own ... holds its own as a thought-provoking read." Daily Yomiuri "Brilliant and witty neuroscientist Cordelia Fine ... explains how we constantly con ourselves and are all slightly delusional in the interests of protecting our fragile egos. In an accessible and humorous manner, she takes us on a tour of the brain, where you'll discover plenty of things you've always wanted to know, and some you didn't!" Shape Magazine "If you think you are in control of your brain, you won't after reading Cordelia Fine's A Mind of its Own ... The neuroscientist employs the latest research to take us on an amusing and enlightening tour of the brain ... " Financial Mail |
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