Hare Brain, Tortoise Mind: How Intelligence Increases When You Think Less“Backs up anecdotal studies of creativity with up-to-date Information about the latest research into brain function . . . a fascinating book.” —Anthony Storr, author of Solitude: A Return to Self In these accelerated times, our decisive and businesslike ways of thinking are unprepared for ambiguity and paradox, and we’ve lost our appreciation for the value of “sleeping on it.” We assume that the quick-thinking hare brain will beat out the slower intuition of the tortoise mind. But new research in cognitive science is changing this understanding of human mental processes. It suggests that patience and confusion—not rigor and certainty—are the essential precursors of wisdom. With a compelling argument that the mind works best when we trust our unconscious, or “undermind,” psychologist Guy Claxton makes an appeal that we be less analytical and let our creativity have free rein. He also encourages reevaluation of society’s obsession with results-oriented thinking and problem-solving under pressure. Packed with interesting anecdotes, a dozen puzzles to test your reasoning, and the latest related research, Hare Brain, Tortoise Mind is an Illuminating, uplifting, stimulating read that focuses on a new kind of well-being and cognition. “The essential guide to creative thinking.” —John Cleese “His multidisciplinary approach is beautifully executed.” —Kirkus Reviews “Counterintuitive . . . provocative . . . While Claxton speaks the language of cognitive science, his ideas resonate with Freud’s description of the unconscious, Buddhist concepts of the divine ground of existence and the great Romantic poets’ notions of the fount of creativity.” —Publishers Weekly |
Contents
Learning by Osmosis | |
Intuition and Creativity | |
the Gentle Art of Mental Gestation | |
Thinking Too Much? Reason and Intuition as Antagonists and Allies | |
Perception without Consciousness | |
SelfConsciousness | |
The Brains behind the Operation | |
Paying Attention | |
The Rudiments of Wisdom | |
Notes | |
the late Professor Kenneth S Bowers for two panels from figure 2 p83 | |
from the appendix p182 to J W Schooler S Ohlsson and K Brooks 1993 | |
Nature of Poetry | |
Index | |
About the Author | |
Other editions - View all
Hare Brain, Tortoise Mind: Why Intelligence Increases when You Think Less Guy Claxton No preview available - 1998 |
Common terms and phrases
A. E. Housman ability able activity articulate asked associated assumption attention become blindsight brain brainscape Cambridge cells Chapter cognitive complex concept conscious awareness consciousness creative culture d-mode D. T. Suzuki decisions deliberate detect develop effect Ellen Langer Emotional Intelligence example experience Experimental Psychology explicit feel focused function going Henri Poincaré human idea implicit incubation intelligence intuition Journal of Experimental judgement kind know-how knowing knowledge learners learning by osmosis learning curriculum less Lewicki London look memory mental modes of mind neural neurons op cit osmosis patients patterns Pittman poem poet possible predict quoted in Ghiselin recognise relationship response Robin Skynner Rubik cube Schooler Science seems sense situation slow solution subjects subliminal subliminal perception task tend things thinking thought turn unconscious perception undermind understanding visual visual perception wisdom words wordscape York