The best 100 Neuroscience books

Switch examines why it is often difficult for people to switch their behavior, and how, by understanding the mind, it is possible to find shortcuts that make change easier. Through scientific studies and anecdotes, Switch provides simple yet effective tools for implementing changes.

• Anyone who wants to change parts of their own behavior
• Anyone who wants to implement a change in a group or organization
• Anyone who wants to understand why changing behavior is often so difficult

Stumbling on Happiness (2007) explains how our brains make us think about the future. It employs accessible language and everyday examples to help us understand complex theories from psychology, neuroscience and philosophy.

Stumbling on Happiness helps answer the question: why do we make decisions that leave us unhappy? By showing how our brains work, it aims to help us imagine our futures in new ways, ways that could leave us happier.

• Students of psychology
• Anyone interested in how our imagination works
• Anyone interested in knowing how we predict the future

The Willpower Instinct introduces the latest insights into willpower from different scientific fields, such as psychology, neuroscience, economics and medicine. While considering the limits of self-control, it also gives practical advice on how we can overcome bad habits, avoid procrastination, stay focused and become more resilient to stress.

• Anyone who wants to achieve their goals more effectively
• Anyone who struggles with temptation, addiction, procrastination or lack of motivation
• Anyone who wants to make real and lasting changes in their life

The Rise of Superman examines the top performers in extreme sports in order to gain insight into how they use flow, i.e., the transcendental experience of being in “the zone,” to accomplish their amazing feats and connects the dots between the experience of flow and the neurology behind it.

• Anyone interested in achieving optimal performance
• Anyone involved in extreme sports
• Anyone interested in neuroscience and the mind

Buddha’s Brain is a practical guide to attaining more happiness, love and wisdom in life. It aims to empower readers by providing them with practical skills and tools to help unlock their brains’ potential and achieve greater peace of mind. Specific attention is paid to the contemplative technique “mindfulness” and the latest neurological findings that support it.

• Psychology students who are interested in meditation but still want information grounded in scientific fact
• Anyone who wants to learn how to live a stress-free and happy life
• Anyone who wants to know both the theory behind meditation and its practical application in their everyday lives.

The Art Of Thinking Clearly aims to illuminate our day-to-day thinking “hiccups” so that we can better avoid them and start making improved choices. Using both psychological studies and everyday examples, the author provides us with an entertaining collection of all of our most common fallacies.

• Anyone interested in learning about our psychology
• Anyone who wants to improve her ability to make decisions
• Anyone who wants to learn how not to fall into the same mind-trap again and again

Moonwalking with Einstein takes us on the author’s journey towards becoming the USA Memory Champion. Along the way he explains why an extraordinary memory isn’t just available to a select few people but to all of us. The book explores how memory works, why we’re worse at remembering than our ancestors, and explains specific techniques for improving your own memory.

• Anyone who can’t remember their spouse’s or best friend’s phone number   
• Anyone who wants to impress others with their broad knowledge at a cocktail party
• Anyone who has trouble remembering names

How We Learn explains the fascinating mechanisms in our minds that form and hold memories, and shows how with this information, we can better absorb and retain information. You’ll explore the many functions of the brain and gain practical advice on how to better study and learn.

• Anyone who wants to get better grades in school or be a more productive learner
• Anyone interested in how the brain works
• Anyone interested in psychology

In This is Your Brain on Music (2006), musician and neuroscientist Dr. Daniel J. Levitin illuminates exactly what happens in the brain when people listen to rhythms, timbres and pitches, helping us understand why we’re so profoundly affected by music.

• People curious about what happens in their brain when they listen to music
• Anyone who wants to learn more about the relationship between psychology and music

In an attempt to reveal the source of humanity’s capacity for evil, The Lucifer Effect (2007) delves deep into the dark corners of the human mind. It shows how we walk a fine line between monstrosity and heroism daily – yet it isn’t our nature that determines on which side of the line we fall, but the numerous situational forces that permeate our lives.

• People interested in psychology and understanding human nature
• Anyone who wants to know why good people sometimes turn evil

How can stroke victims who become paralyzed start using a fork or buttoning their shirts again? Well, contrary to what was believed for so long, the brain is not hardwired. It can change, regenerate and grow. Drawing on real-life cases of scientists, doctors and patients, The Brain that Changes Itself (2007) shows us how, rather than relying on surgery and medicine, we can alter our brains through thought and behavior.

• Anyone who wants to change their habits
• Psychology students
• Anyone seeking inspiration while recovering from an injury

Despite all the scientific breakthroughs made in recent decades, we still don’t fully understand the human brain. However, we have discovered some important neuroscientific facts. Backed by research, helpful examples and exercises, Activate Your Brain (2015) shows you how you can use this knowledge to make the best use of your brain and live a more fulfilled and mindful life.

• Anyone who is interested in how their brain works
• Anyone who wants to regain some control over their life
• Students and professionals who want to increase their mental stamina

Use Your Memory (1986) reveals how to develop, train and employ a stellar memory. In a series of guided step-by-step mental exercises, this book will give you all the tools you need to memorize everything from short grocery lists to complex subject matter.

• Anyone in the midst of their studies at college or university
• Anyone who thinks they might be suffering from memory problems
• People who want to unlock the power of a remarkable memory

How to Create a Mind (2012) offers an intimate examination of the nuts and bolts behind how the brain works. Once we understand exactly how people think, perceive the world and decide to take action, the creation of true artificial intelligence seems a possibility that’s just around the corner.

• Anyone interested in artificial intelligence (AI)
• People who’d like to learn more about neuroscience
• Students considering a career in advanced computing

The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons (2014) is a trip into the fascinating world of the human brain via some of the strangest psychological case studies in history. Until quite recently, neuroscientists could only study the brain by analyzing the thoughts and behaviors of people with aberrant brains. Sam Kean uses these historic case studies to paint a picture of the organ that creates our emotions, personality and consciousness.

• Psychology and neuroscience students
• Anyone who wants to understand their own mind
• Anyone interested in unusual medical conditions

The Brain’s Way of Healing (2015) highlights the human brain’s amazing ability to change its structure and develop new ways of coping with disorders. The brain, whether by being “rewired” to process information in new ways or by being “trained” through repetitive exercises, can overcome debilitating diseases and heal itself.

• People suffering from a neurological disorder such as Parkinson’s or multiple sclerosis
• Physicians and therapists who work with people trying to recover from brain damage
• Students of neurology looking for new ways to cure old problems

Rethinking Narcissism (2015) provides fresh perspectives on what we typically understand as arrogance or vanity. These blinks situate narcissism both historically and culturally, explaining the spectrum of narcissism and its different forms; they also provide helpful strategies for recognizing and dealing with the narcissists you might know.

• Anyone interested in psychology
• People with narcissistic partners and friends
• Potential narcissists

The Seven Sins of Memory (2002) offers a close look at the seven ways our memory can let us down: from why we always lose our car keys to why some people are haunted by recurring negative thoughts. The book also discusses how to mitigate these shortcomings and why they’re actually trade-offs for massive memory benefits. By examining how our memory works and its faults, we see that these weaknesses are actually just side effects of a very clever system.

• Anyone interested in how memory works and how to make it more reliable
• People hoping to curb recurring negative thoughts
• Anyone wondering why trying not to think of a white bear just won’t work

Born Liars (2011) uncovers the truth about lying and the important role it plays in our lives. Far from being some undesirable glitch in the human system, lying has not only made us smarter but saved many lives and become an essential ingredient to our overall well-being. In these blinks, you’ll learn all about the history and neuroscience of fibbing, why it might be impossible to detect every lie and how central mendacity truly is to being human.

• Anyone working with advertising
• Armchair psychologists and philosophers
• Cultural anthropologists

The Inner Game of Tennis (1972) explains the tension between your conscious and unconscious minds, and how this conflict relates to performance, specifically through the lens of tennis. These blinks offer concrete advice on how to harness your natural ability and excel both on the court and off.

• Athletes who want to improve their game
• Entrepreneurs seeking a performance boost
• All readers who want to live a more fulfilling life

Sigmund Freud’s cornerstone work, The Interpretation of Dreams (1900), was one of the most influential books of the twentieth century and continues to shape the way we think and create. These blinks offer a fascinating insight into Freud’s understanding of dreams: what they mean, where they come from, how they are formed and how we can understand them.

• Students of psychology, neuroscience or history
• Dreamers who want to understand what their minds are trying to tell them

The Aesthetic Brain (2014) explains how and why the human brain responds to beauty and art. These blinks break down the reasons why we instinctively prefer some faces to others, what art does to our brains and how we started making art in the first place.

• Artists and art lovers
• Students of psychology and anthropology
• Curious readers interested in how beauty takes shape in the eye of the beholder

The Influential Mind (2017) is about the often surprising and sometimes inflexible ways in which the human brain operates. As the esteemed neuroscientist and author Tali Sharot points out, having a better understanding of how the brain works can provide us with better control over our day-to-day lives and a deeper appreciation of the human experience.

• Students of neuroscience and psychology
• Managers and HR personnel
• Those who want more control over their lives

Humans are complex beings, and human behavior doubly so. Every human act is a result of a myriad of factors, from brain chemistry to social conditioning, that have developed over millennia. In Behave (2017), renowned professor Robert Sapolsky takes a journey into the depths of the human condition, demonstrating the reasons behind the best – and worst – of human behavior.

• Anyone interested in behavioral psychology
• Students of neurology or biology
• Curious readers looking to gain a better understanding of their own minds

A Really Good Day (2018) is the true story of one writer’s attempt to tackle her struggles with depression and mood disorder through a novel – and illegal – remedy: microdoses of LSD. Charting her experiment with the drug over 30 days, Ayelet Waldman explores her reactions and discovers a newfound sense of serenity in her everyday life. At the same time, A Really Good Day is a broader exploration of the history of LSD, the myths that surround it and society’s attitudes toward legal and illegal drugs.

• People interested in new ways to treat depression and mood-disorder
• Readers skeptical about traditional medication for depression
• Those interested in drug policy and legalization

The Brain (2015) unpacks the latest neuroscientific research and sheds light on questions that have perplexed philosophers for millennia. What defines a personality? Why does it keep changing? Is reality really “out there” or are we merely hallucinating? By turns fascinating and unsettling, this is a book that will redefine your idea of the strange and uncanny life of the mind.

• Amateur and professional philosophers interested in the nature of reality
• Anyone keen to keep up with the latest scientific developments
• Futurologists fascinated by the possibility of a new, transhuman era

No-Drama Discipline (2014) provides a fresh approach to disciplining children by emphasizing the importance of teaching over punishment. Based on neuroscience, this method reduces drama and guides parents on how to build a deeper relationship with their children.

• Parents who are tired of yelling at their misbehaving kids
• Therapists, educators, counselors or coaches working with children
• People interested in mind development

How to Change Your Mind (2018) is a fascinating account of one man’s exploration of the psychedelic drug world. Author Michael Pollan takes readers along for the ride as he learns first-hand about the positive aspects of psychedelic drugs, including the healing and restorative effects they can have on people suffering from depression and addiction. Readers will also hear from neuroscientists to learn exactly what is happening in the brain during a psychedelic trip.

• Psychologists and therapists
• Depressive people and addicts
• Spiritual seekers

The Strange Order of Things (2018) takes us through the history of human cultural development while focusing on a motivating factor that often gets overlooked: our feelings. When accounting for the major innovations and developments of the past, we often credit human intelligence more than emotions and feelings. But as author Antonio Damasio argues, it’s our feelings that push us forward, inspire our creative accomplishments and define who we are.

• Neuroscientists, evolutionary biologists, physicians and psychologists
• Curious minds interested in the emergence of human culture
• Anyone interested in the power of emotions

Descartes’ Error (1995) turns conventional wisdom about the human mind on its head. Combining sophisticated neuroscience with fascinating case studies about patients with brain damage, it shows how the traditional dualisms of Western thought do not stand up to scrutiny. Reason depends on emotion, and the brain is intimately connected with the body.

• Rationalists skeptical of emotions
• Emotional people sick of being called irrational
• Anyone interested in the intersections between neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy

Never Enough (2019) is about drugs and addiction. The author explores the science behind drugs ranging from alcohol to cocaine and explains why certain people are more prone to addiction than others.

• Drug addicts, including alcoholics and smokers
• Psychologists and health professionals
• Relatives and friends of addicts

Brain Wash (2020) is a no-nonsense handbook for living a calm and content life in a world that’s designed to deliver the opposite. Medical doctors David and Austin Perlmutter unpack how our modern society manipulates our brains. Then they lay out a powerful 10-day bootcamp for breaking these bad patterns and building healthier habits.

• Harried workers seeking a calmer life
• Dieters looking for medically sound advice
• Anyone aspiring to make big changes one day at a time

Phantoms in the Brain (1998) is an enduring classic of popular science that has transformed how we think about the brain and its relationship to the human experience. Drawing on the author’s clinical practice, it presents a series of patients with rare and astonishing neurological conditions. These case studies illuminate the architecture of our brains and, in the process, cast fresh light on timeless philosophical questions regarding the nature of consciousness, identity, and reality itself.

• Aficionados of strange and extraordinary tales
• Perennial learners looking for an accessible introduction to neurology
• Anyone who wants insight into how the mind works

Deviate (2017) is a primer on the sometimes-tricky neuroscience behind human perception. It details all the illusions, distortions, and shortcuts our brains take when making sense of the world around us. 

• Curious minds interested in the science of human perception
• Designers seeking novel approaches to problems
• Anyone who wants to see the world from a new perspective

The Disordered Mind (2018) explores what disorders and diseases of the brain can tell us about the inner workings of our minds. Acclaimed neuroscientist Eric R. Kandel draws on a lifetime of research to explain what depression, schizophrenia, addiction, and more reveal about how our brains affect our thoughts, feelings, and behavior – and explains how new scientific methods could help solve the big puzzle of consciousness.

• Armchair philosophers, hobby psychologists, and aspiring neuroscientists
• People affected by Alzheimer’s, depression, schizophrenia, or other neurological disorders
• Anyone puzzled by the mystery of consciousness

Subtract (2021) explores subtraction as a way to make positive change. It examines the human love affair with adding and having “more” – and it explains how our brains and environments work against subtraction. 

• Design professionals looking for a fresh perspective
• Psychology buffs wanting new insights
• Anthropology enthusiasts

The Extended Mind (2021) is an exploration of the power of thinking outside the confines of your brain. It shows that the path to greater intelligence is not locked within your skull. Rather, it's a path through your body, your environment and your relationships with others. 

• People interested in the interaction of the body, brain and environment
• Anyone interested in designing better spaces for creativity and teamwork
• Anyone who’d like to optimize their working and learning relationships

Frames of Mind (1983) is a landmark text that first proposed the psychological theory of multiple intelligences. Upending the long-held conception that intelligence is just one general, monolithic trait, it argues instead that there are several intelligences that everyone possesses in different quantities. By studying them, educators and policymakers can reshape the educational system to benefit a much greater number of students than the current programs do.

• Psychology fans interested in one of the field’s significant texts
• Educators, teachers, and tutors who want to better understand their students
• Anyone fascinated by the human mind

Wired for Love (2012) is a guide to maintaining closeness and emotional security within romantic partnerships. It uses research from neurobiology and psychology to show why long-term couples come into conflict, and it offers practical tips on how to use knowledge about brain functions to promote peace and mutual security in your relationship.

• Partners in committed relationships
• Couples seeking to manage conflict 
• Those interested in social psychology

Smarter Tomorrow (2021) shows you how to upgrade your brain using a technique called neurohacking. You’ll learn how to improve your memory, creativity, emotional regulation, and what’s known as “executive functioning” through self-testing and experimentation – all backed up with insights from neuroscience.

• Thinkers looking to improve their cognitive skills
• Budding neuroscientists and brain nerds
• Anyone looking to keep up with modern science

The Female Brain (2006) is a classic of popular neuroscience which argues that hormone-driven neural development shapes many of women’s drives and behaviors. Just a few hormones chart a course through the cycle of changes that mark life with a female brain.

• Anyone with a female brain wondering how it all works
• Biology buffs curious about the intersections of nature and behavior
• Those who interact with female brains looking for insight

Being You (2021) offers a new theory of consciousness. What does it mean to be you? Why do your experiences of the world, your selfhood, and your body feel the way they do? Combining neuroscience, philosophy, and a pinch of speculation, these blinks argue that consciousness is not as mysterious as it seems – it is deeply entwined with our living, breathing bodies.

• Science enthusiasts interested in the mystery of consciousness
• The philosophically inclined
• Fans and critics of Artificial Intelligence

Dopamine Nation (2021) explores the connection between pleasure and pain. Our modern world is filled with more dopamine-inducing stimuli than ever – including everything from drugs and sex to smartphones and shopping. Citing years of clinical experience and patients’ stories, this book helps to understand addiction and explains how to achieve a healthy balance in our lives. 

• People struggling to break bad habits
• Family members of loved ones struggling with addiction
• Anyone who can’t seem to put down their phone

Evolve Your Brain (2007) dives deep into the human brain and its structures. It demonstrates the power of neuroplasticity to change thinking, behavior, and biology.

• Curious minds who are, well, curious about their minds
• Self-help fans seeking brain-based advice on achieving their goals
• Anyone with a brain wondering why it didn’t come with an owner’s manual

The Male Brain (2010) is a neuroscientist’s account of the interplay between hormones and brain development that shapes the formation and growth of male brains and behavior. Based on decades of research, it argues that the roots of many masculine stereotypes can be seen in neurobiology, and that hormones shape the male brain and outlook for a lifetime.

• Anyone with a male brain wondering about how it works
• Minds curious about biology’s effect on culture
• Those who interact with male brains looking for insights

Rewire Your Anxious Brain (2015) is a powerful guide to overcoming anxiety. Based on the latest research in neuroscience, it explains how two separate regions of the brain are responsible for producing anxiety – and how each requires different strategies and approaches.

• Anxiety sufferers
• Therapists looking for new strategies
• Brain science enthusiasts

The Mind-Gut Connection (2016) explores the complex relationship between the gut and brain, highlighting the crucial role this connection plays in both physical and mental health. The book delves into key insights, such as the brain-gut axis, the impact of stress on gut health, and the connection between food and mental well-being, emphasizing the need for holistic care to improve overall health.

• Anyone interested in dietary lifestyles
• People struggling with emotional and mental health issues
• Those curious about how the body works

The Explosive Child (2021) is a groundbreaking and scientific guide to dealing with children who react extremely to routine situations. Drawing on neuroscience and child psychology, Greene lays out a conceptual framework focused on the cause of the behavior, rather than the behavior itself. This framework can serve as a guide for frustrated parents who want to understand and address their child’s severe outbursts.

• Frustrated parents who feel like they've tried it all
• Caregivers and teachers who are concerned by a child's violent outbursts
• Anyone looking for a fresh and compassionate perspective on children's problematic behavior

A Thousand Brains (2021) explores the fundamental nature of intelligence. It poses the theory that the brain is a collection of thousands of mini-brains, each generating and refining their own predictions. It also delves into the implications of this theory for artificial intelligence and our understanding of consciousness.

• Fans of neuroscience who are interested in the latest research
• Anyone curious about how humans think and learn
• Those ready for an in-depth guide to one of life’s great mysteries

Divergent Mind (2020) is a groundbreaking look at neurodiversity in women and girls, with a particular focus on the impacts of late diagnosis and the overall lack of clinical research.

• Those seeking more information on neurodiversity and the ways it can manifest 
• Anyone who gets overwhelmed by external stimuli from smells to sounds to surroundings – and wonders why
• Synesthetes and sensitives looking for practical ways to make their world more accommodating

The Teenage Brain (2014) delves into the labyrinth of teenage neuroscience, offering a captivating exploration of why teens think and act the way they do. With a blend of science and real-world anecdotes, it illuminates the complexities and wonders of a brain in flux.

• Concerned, proactive parents of teenagers
• Educators seeking insight into students
• Advocates of teenage mental health

Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain (2020) is an engaging exploration of the human brain that debunks numerous misconceptions along the way. It explains what brains are actually for, how they develop, what makes them unique, and why they’re often one step ahead of everything you do.

• Neuroscience enthusiasts
• People interested in the field of psychology
• Anyone curious about human evolution

The Power of Neurodiversity (2011) explores how reframing neurological differences as diversity rather than disorder can empower those with atypical minds. It covers the strengths of neurodivergent thinking, finding one's niche, positive adaptations, and envisioning a more inclusive world. It invites us to celebrate the brilliance found in all human brains.

• Teachers of all levels
• Parents of children with learning or cognitive differences
• Anyone whose brain is wired a little differently

Visual Thinking (2022) offers an authoritative view on different ways of thinking, and how those differences have been crucial to many of our biggest creative advancements. It shows how society tends to be biased toward verbal thinkers – and how visual thinkers, albeit typically underserved in society, bring an array of crucial skills to various domains.

• Anyone curious about autism
• Artists and creative minds
• People interested in team-building

Hidden Potential (2023) challenges the notion that only those born with natural and exceptional talent can excel intellectually, artistically or athletically. Supported by groundbreaking research, it offers a framework that any individual can use to tap into their hidden potential and achieve more than they ever thought possible. 

• Novices wanting to master a challenging skill
• Those who feel they’ve stagnated or plateaued
• Leaders seeking to unlock the potential of others

The Conscious Mind (1996) is a groundbreaking work analyzing why subjective experience has remained so resistant to conventional scientific explanations. It argues that consciousness must be considered a fundamental property woven into reality rather than an illusory emergent product of brain computations.

• Technologists and futurists contemplating machine consciousness
• Curious minds exploring the connections between science and spirit
• Anyone appreciating thought experiments that challenge fundamental assumptions about reality

A Field Guide to Lies (2016) is a survival manual for our information-saturated world. With lessons on how to spot misleading statistics, arguments, and reports, its guidance is organized into two key areas: statistical information and faulty arguments. You’ll learn to recognize when numbers are being manipulated, and to avoid falling for logical fallacies in an age where misinformation spreads rapidly.

• Anyone who scrolls through social media and questions what’s actually true
• People tired of falling for misleading statistics in news stories
• Professionals who need to make data-driven decisions with confidence

Come Together (2024) warmly and compassionately offers practical advice for improving sexual well-being, particularly in long-term relationships where one or more partners may be experiencing low libido. It explores the complexities of human sexuality with a focus on the science of sexual response and the psychology of desire. Notably, it’s highly inclusive and applicable to people in relationships regardless of gender, orientation, or relationship structure.

• Couples seeking to improve their sexual intimacy and understanding 
• Individuals exploring their own sexuality and sexual health
• Sex educators looking for research-based information to share

Mind Magic (2024) reframes manifestation as a daily practice, in which directing attention, cultivating an empowering inner dialogue, and using tools like guided meditations and journaling exercises can manifest positive transformations.

• Anyone feeling directionless and frustrated in life
• Anyone who chases after goals without seeming to accomplish them
• Anyone ready to open up to the mind’s power to manifest

Made You Look (2024) is a guide that draws on the latest neuroscience research to study attention, memory, and what keeps the brain engaged. It presents a four-part framework for creating persuasive content that captures customers’ attention and influences their purchasing decisions.

• Marketers looking to create more compelling campaigns
• Public speakers who want to deliver memorable and impactful presentations
• Content creators striving to produce viral and shareable material

This is Why You Dream (2024) explores the science behind dreaming. It explains why dreams occur, and how they impact our waking lives. It also offers insights into the benefits of dreaming – like improved problem-solving and cognitive performance – and provides advice on harnessing the creative power of dreams based on the latest neuroscientific research.

• Science lovers interested in how the brain works
• Psychology fans with a keen interest in what our dreams say about us
• Anyone intrigued by the enigmatic world of sleep and dreaming

Reversing Alzheimer's (2024) offers a groundbreaking perspective on combating a devastating disease, presenting evidence-based strategies to improve cognition and quality of life for those affected. Drawing from clinical practice and cutting-edge research, it provides actionable steps for patients and caregivers to fortify brain health and potentially reverse cognitive decline – challenging the notion of Alzheimer's as an inevitable fate.

• Family members and caregivers of those with Alzheimer's or dementia
• Healthcare professionals specializing in geriatrics or neurology
• People interested in preventative measures against age-related cognitive issues

Consciousness Explained (1991) offers a revolutionary perspective on the nature of human consciousness. The book challenges traditional notions of a unified self, proposing instead that consciousness emerges from multiple competing processes in the brain, shaped by language and narrative. It invites readers to reconsider fundamental ideas about free will, personal identity, and the nature of subjective experience.

• Philosophy enthusiasts, especially those interested in philosophy of mind
• Spiritual seekers curious about the scientific perspective on consciousness
• All those fascinated by the nature of human experience and self-awareness

Autism (1989) presents pioneering theories on how individuals with autism perceive and process information, revolutionizing our understanding of the autism spectrum and paving the way for more effective support and intervention strategies. 

• Parents, family members, coworkers, or friends of individuals with autism curious to understand more
• Employers or managers interested in neurodiversity in the workplace
• Anyone curious about  psychology or cognitive neuroscience

How We Learn (2020) explores the complex mechanisms by which the human brain processes, adapts, and retains information. Contrasting these natural learning capabilities with the current state of artificial intelligence, it highlights the advantages of human cognition and provides actionable insights for optimizing educational practices to fully harness cognitive potential.

• Educators seeking to enhance learning strategies
• Neuroscience enthusiasts exploring brain functionality
• Parents interested in boosting children’s cognitive development

Heal Your Gut, Save Your Brain (2024) delves into the vital connection between gut health and cognitive function, illustrating how a balanced gut microbiome can help prevent mental decline and neurodegenerative diseases. It offers a holistic wellness approach rooted in nutrition, physical activity, and fostering a sense of community.

• Health-conscious individuals seeking to improve gut and brain connection
• Those concerned about preventing mental decline or neurodegenerative diseases
• Readers exploring holistic approaches to nutrition and overall wellness

The Suggestible Brain (2024) explores how the power of suggestion can shape our perceptions, beliefs, and physiology. In a wide ranging analysis that touches on human evolution, the placebo effect, the Salem Witch trials and more, it persuasively makes the case that suggestion is among humankind’s most powerful tools of influence. 

• Psychologists who want to understand how suggestion impacts mental health
• Healthcare professionals fascinated by the mind-body connection
• Anyone who wants to use the power of suggestion to their advantage

What Kind of Creatures Are We? (2015) takes you on an exhilarating journey into the depths of human consciousness, revealing how language shapes thought and defines our species. Through clear, precise explanations of groundbreaking research in linguistics and cognitive science, you'll discover why your mind can effortlessly create infinite meanings from finite elements – a unique capability that emerged suddenly in human history. 

• Linguistics students and professors seeking deeper insights into language evolution
• Philosophy enthusiasts interested in consciousness and human nature
• Fans of science curious about cognitive development and brain function

The Creative Brain (2024) explores the science behind popular beliefs about creativity, finding valuable insights hidden within common misconceptions. Instead of simply debunking myths like right-brain thinking, tortured artists, or creative genius, it reveals how each belief contains elements of truth that deepen our understanding of how creativity actually works in the human brain. 

• Creative minds seeking to better understand their own process or overcome blocks
• Folks interested in the relationship between mental health and creativity
• Anyone who has ever felt "not creative enough"

The Reading Mind (2017) explores the complex cognitive processes that occur when we read, from the initial recognition of letters to the deep comprehension of texts. It examines fundamental processes like sight-reading and phonetic reading, while also addressing higher-level skills such as inferential comprehension, the reading-writing connection, and the role of motivation in developing reading proficiency.

• Teachers seeking to understand the science behind literacy
• Parents who want to nurture their children as readers
• Anyone fascinated by cognitive science and psychology

The End of Alzheimer's Program (2020) provides a step-by-step plan to protect – and even restore – cognitive health. It uncovers hidden drivers of Alzheimer’s, such as inflammation, toxins, and insulin resistance, and offers practical strategies to address them. Through a targeted approach that includes diet, sleep, exercise, and personalized interventions, this program empowers you to take control of your brain health and enhance mental clarity.

• Caregivers and families of patients with Alzheimer’s
• Individuals concerned about brain health and longevity
• Medical professionals and researchers studying cognitive decline

Why We Sleep (2017) examines the essential role sleep plays in nearly every facet of our physical and mental well-being. Drawing on decades of scientific research, it reveals how sleep strengthens memory, supports learning, bolsters the immune system, and regulates emotions. Building on these insights, it offers thoughtful solutions that challenge modern attitudes toward rest, paving the way for a healthier and more productive future.

• Anyone skeptical about the importance of sleep
• People with insomnia
• Dreamers curious about what happens in slumberland

Emotional Ignorance (2023) explores why we have emotions and what purpose they serve in our lives. Written from a neuroscientific perspective, it examines the evolutionary reasons behind our emotional responses and investigates how these powerful feelings shape our behaviors and decisions despite their seemingly irrational nature.

• Neuroscience enthusiasts seeking to better understand human emotion
• People processing grief or major life changes looking for scientific and personal insights
• Anyone navigating emotional connection in our digital age

The Self Delusion (2022) asks a mind-bending question: What if the “you” from yesterday, today, and tomorrow are actually three different people? It explains how our brains create the illusion of a single, continuous self – and how we can rewrite that story to shape our future.

• Science geeks
• Anyone interested in how the brain works
• People looking for a fresh start in life

The Ageless Brain (2025) presents a comprehensive approach to preventing and reversing cognitive decline. Through diet, exercise, and other lifestyle changes, it integrates cutting-edge neuroscience with practical strategies aimed at maintaining and enhancing brain health throughout one's life. 

• People of any age who want to prevent cognitive decline
• Caregivers of those with memory loss or Alzheimer’s
• Anyone who wants to improve their overall brain health and longevity

The Gut-Brain Paradox (2025) explores how the gut microbiome profoundly influences mental clarity, emotional balance, and neurological health. It explains how modern diets and environmental factors disrupt this gut-brain connection – and how restoring microbial balance can reverse symptoms like brain fog, anxiety, and cognitive decline.

• Health-conscious adults seeking natural brain support
• Nutrition-focused biohackers exploring gut microbiome science
• Anyone interested in mind-body connections

Brain (2025) offers a practical, science-backed roadmap for optimizing mental performance and emotional well-being. It blends neuroscience, psychology, and real-world tools to help you understand how your brain works – and how to improve memory, focus, mood, and resilience at any stage of life.

• Productivity enthusiasts seeking scientifically grounded ways to improve focus
• Students and lifelong learners curious about the brain
• Biohackers and self-optimizers interested in increasing cognitive performance

Diet, Drugs, and Dopamine (2025) methodically deconstructs the harmful ideas that obesity is a personal failing and that weight loss is a matter of willpower. It offers an up-to-date precis of how science understands weight loss, touching on neuroscience and nutrition, and a thorough analysis of how the latest GLP-1 weight loss drugs can be folded into a holistic weight management approach.

• Obese and overweight people who want to understand their body's biology
• Health-care professionals who want a scientific grounding in how weight loss works
• Anyone considering GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic or Mounjaro for weight management

The Complete Guide to Memory (2022) offers a thorough exploration of how memory functions, how different types of memory are formed, and how brain structure and emotional regulation influence what you remember. It presents a practical framework for improving memory at any age, weaving in real-life strategies and insights into the mind-body connection.

• Adults concerned about memory and brain health
• People seeking better learning and recall strategies
• Anyone curious about how memory shapes identity and thought

The Brain at Rest (2025) challenges the conventional wisdom that constant productivity is the key to success, revealing how letting your mind wander can actually make you more creative and less stressed. This science-backed guide offers a refreshing antidote to our culture of overwork, showing how rest activates the brain’s default network and can lead to greater contentment and improved mental performance.

• Overworked professionals who want to develop a better work-life balance
• Creatives looking to sharpen their idea-generation skills
• Anyone interested in the neuroscience of cognition, creativity, and rest

The Headache (2025) is a deep exploration of one of the most common – and most misunderstood – human ailments. It blends personal experience with scientific investigation to reveal why headache disorders are so often dismissed, and how that’s finally beginning to change.

• People living with chronic headaches or migraine
• Friends or partners of someone with head pain
• Medical students and new doctors entering neurology

The Neural Mind (2025) presents a unified theory of human cognition that demonstrates how all abstract thinking emerges from the same neural circuits used for physical movement, perception, and bodily interaction with the world. Integrating decades of research from neuroscience, cognitive linguistics, and computational modeling, it demonstrates that metaphorical thinking is the foundation for how brains construct meaning. 

• Teachers, curriculum developers, and students who want to understand how embodied approaches can facilitate learning
• Curious minds fascinated by groundbreaking discoveries that challenge fundamental paradigms 
• Anyone interested in how physical experiences shape language, logic, and learning capabilities

Biohacking Leadership (2025) explores how neuroscience, biomechanics, and biology can be applied to enhance leadership effectiveness. It presents the concept of leadership biodynamics, using measurable biometric signals to explore the three channels of warmth, competence, and gravitas. Drawing on research and examples from nature, it offers strategies to improve communication, emotional regulation, and influence.

• Science-driven executives seeking to optimize leadership impact
• Forward-thinking managers aiming to enhance team dynamics
• Professionals interested in applying biology to leadership

You Already Know (2025) explores how intuition arises from the natural synthesis of external data and accumulated experience, emerging as a “Eureka” moment, your “Spidey Sense,” or a “Jolt” that reshapes perspective and prompts action. It then provides a science-based, practical model – complete with exercises – for honing, refining, and mastering that intuition to support better decision-making. 

• Anyone wanting to harness their intuition 
• Entrepreneurs and professionals seeking to sharpen decision-making 
• Coaches and mentors guiding clients toward clarity 

Selling to the Old Brain (2003) explains how people make decisions using the oldest part of the brain, which is driven by emotion, survival, and instinct – not logic. It presents a set of tools to craft messages that connect with this primal decision-maker using visual cues, emotional hooks, and simple, high-contrast language. The goal is to help anyone become more persuasive by communicating in a way the brain is wired to respond to.

• Sales professionals who want more impact
• Marketers crafting persuasive campaigns
• Entrepreneurs pitching to investors or clients

How to Make Your Brain Your Best Friend (2025) is a self-help guide from a neuroscience perspective. From exercise to online habits, learn how to work with your brain rather than against it.

• Anyone curious about neuroscience
• Those who are interested in the topics of self and identity
• Anyone who wants to improve their overall health and well-being

A Trick of the Mind (2025) asks a provocative question: what if the world you experience is less reality itself and more a story your brain invents? It makes a strong case for how our minds act like scientists – predicting and testing what we see and believe. It also shows how this process can sometimes lead to brilliant ideas while other times it can trap us in unhealthy distortions.

• Psychology enthusiasts
• People interested in the mechanics of prediction, learning, and decision-making
• Skeptics and critical thinkers

Uncommon Sense Teaching (2021) explores how cognitive science can inform teaching practices to enhance student learning. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the brain’s learning architecture and offers practical strategies for improving instruction, classroom management, and lesson planning.

• Anyone interested in evidence-based learning strategies
• Teachers seeking to enhance student learning outcomes
• Parents wanting to support their child’s education

What is Intelligence? (2025) repositions AI not as a looming alien mind, but as a natural continuation of life’s long, messy story of evolution, cooperation, and prediction. It weaves together bacteria, brains, cities, and neural networks to show how intelligence emerges wherever systems learn to model themselves and their world. It takes us through the past, present, and future of AI, while describing our place in it.

• Anyone curious about AI breakthroughs and what they mean
• People who enjoy big-picture ideas about evolution and human intelligence
• Science geeks interested in the history of computing

Warhead (2025) explores war from a neuroscience perspective. By studying the brain, we can gain a deeper understanding of why people fight each other, how people behave during conflict, and to what extent war is inevitable.

• Anyone who wants to understand why war exists
• People interested in neuroscience
• Anyone who wants a better understanding of their own brain

Nightmare Obscura (2025) explores the science of dreaming and why nightmares happen, drawing on research into how sleep shapes memory, emotion, and learning. It explains emerging approaches to “dream engineering” and lucid dreaming, and shows how understanding your dream life can help you reduce distressing dreams and improve sleep.

• Dream-science enthusiasts exploring nightmares and REM
• Practical lucid-dreaming learners seeking stress-relief tools
• Sleep-troubled people wanting clearer, calmer nights

The Intimate Animal (2026) blends evolutionary biology, psychology, and social science to explain why humans crave deep connection and how our drives for love, sex, and intimacy shape the arc of romantic relationships. It reveals that while we’re wired for social bonds essential to survival, conflicting impulses –⁠ like the tension between social and sexual monogamy –⁠ make modern love complex. Ultimately, it offers insights into navigating attraction, commitment, heartbreak, and connection.

• Singles navigating modern dating
• Couples in long-term relationships
• Anyone curious about the science of love and desire

Why We Click (2026)  reveals the hidden science of interpersonal synchrony – the unconscious process where our bodies align with others through matching heart rates, movements, and neural patterns – explaining why some people energize us while others leave us exhausted. By understanding this powerful phenomenon, we can learn to foster beneficial connections that enhance our wellbeing while protecting ourselves from draining interactions that threaten our sense of self.

• Parents who want to cultivate their child’s capacity for connection
• Romantics who want to understand the invisible forces that shape personal chemistry
• Team leaders who want to deploy interpersonal synchrony to boost morale

The Only Cure (2026), reexamines one of the most controversial figures in the history of science and finds that the case against him was aimed at the wrong target. It argues that while Sigmund Freud's theories were flawed and of their time, the method he built around them remains uniquely equipped to address the kind of suffering that conventional psychiatry fails to cure.

• Those curious about the mind and body connection in health and wellbeing
• Healthcare professionals and therapists who work with treatment-resistant patients
• Anyone who has ever wondered why some struggles refuse to go away no matter how hard you work on them

The Laws of Thought (2026) is a deep dive into the world of cognitive science – the quest to understand the laws that govern our minds. It gives a broad and detailed account of the history of the discipline, starting with the foundations of formal logic before moving through behaviorism, early computational theories, semantic research, artificial neural networks, and finally probability theory. By offering insights into three main approaches to understanding the mind, it offers an intricate picture of the Laws of Thought.

• Anyone who ever thinks about how the mind works
• AI users curious about where the tech came from
• Philosophy buffs grappling with the great questions of life

Every Brain Needs Music (2023) combines neuroscience research with music pedagogy to reveal how brains and music work together. The work demonstrates how musical activities activate the nervous system's cognitive, sensory, and motor functions while reshaping neural architecture.

• Music enthusiasts who want deeper appreciation of what happens when they listen
• Neuroscience enthusiasts interested in how the brain processes creative activities
• Educators and policymakers making decisions about arts programs in schools

The Invincible Brain (2026) reveals how your daily habits play a vital role in shaping your memory, focus, and long-term brain health – right down to the level of your cells. It explains what you can start doing today to help your brain grow stronger, sharper, and more resilient, no matter how old you are.

• People who worry about memory loss or Alzheimer’s disease
• Anyone interested in staying mentally sharp and protecting their brain as they age
• Individuals dealing with brain fog, stress, or attention challenges

Beyond Belief (2026) examines the hidden psychological assumptions that shape what you see, how you feel, and whether you act – and makes the case that most of the limits you accept aren’t fixed realities but beliefs you’ve absorbed without questioning. It introduces three distinct powers of belief – attention, anticipation, and agency – and shows how you can develop them. It’s a practical framework for anyone who has quit too soon, stalled without knowing why, or suspected that the real obstacle was internal.

• People stuck in cycles of self-doubt and quitting
• Leaders and entrepreneurs seeking untapped potential
• Anyone managing health challenges or personal belief systems

The Art Cure (2026) draws on decades of scientific evidence across neuroscience, immunology, psychology, and epidemiology to make the radical argument that engaging with art, in all its forms, is one of the most powerful things humans can do for their health. Drawing on studies that consider the art-health connection, from the way songs shape the developing infant brain to the measurable effects of concert-going on longevity, this is an invitation to rethink art as a prescription and not a luxury.

• People with chronic illness interested in art’s pain-relieving properties
• People with mental health conditions who want to improve cognition through art
• Anyone interested in living better and longer, by engaging with the arts

Smitten (2025) explores limerence, the intense form of romantic obsession that can feel more like addiction than love. Blending neuroscience with practical guidance, it explains why limerence takes hold, how it affects the brain, and how greater self-understanding can help you break free from unhealthy patterns and regain control over your emotional life.

• Self-diagnosed limerents
• Anyone who has ever experienced romantic obsession
• People who want a better understanding of their own brain