The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World

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Yale University Press, Feb 14, 2019 - Psychology - 616 pages
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A new edition of the bestselling classic—published with a special introduction to mark its 10th anniversary

This pioneering account sets out to understand the structure of the human brain – the place where mind meets matter. Until recently, the left hemisphere of our brain has been seen as the ‘rational’ side, the superior partner to the right. But is this distinction true?

Drawing on a vast body of experimental research, Iain McGilchrist argues while our left brain makes for a wonderful servant, it is a very poor master. As he shows, it is the right side which is the more reliable and insightful. Without it, our world would be mechanistic – stripped of depth, colour and value. 

 

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LibraryThing Review

User Review  - snash - LibraryThing

A very thought provoking view of the workings of the human brain. He uses neuroscience, philosophy, and art to ascribe differing ways of looking at the world to the two hemispheres of the brain and ... Read full review

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - vguy - LibraryThing

Seemed promising: an update on the L/R Brain, including a survey of how it worked out across Western cultural history. Granted he's well-read, but almost every point is made in a binary way, asserted ... Read full review

Contents

INTRODUCTION THE MASTER AND HIS EMISSARY
1
PART ONE THE DIVIDED BRAIN
15
PART TWO HOW THE BRAIN HAS SHAPED OUR WORLD
239
CONCLUSION THE MASTER BETRAYED
428
NOTES
463
BIBLIOGRAPHY
518
INDEX
577
Copyright

Other editions - View all

The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western ...
Iain McGilchrist
Limited preview - 2019
The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western ...
Iain McGilchrist
No preview available - 2010
The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western ...
Iain McGilchrist
No preview available - 2009

Common terms and phrases

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About the author (2019)

Iain McGilchrist is a former fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, where he taught literature before training in medicine. He now lives on the Isle of Skye, where he continues to write, and lectures worldwide.

Bibliographic information

QR code for The Master and His Emissary
TitleThe Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World
AuthorIain McGilchrist
Edition2, unabridged
PublisherYale University Press, 2019
ISBN0300247451, 9780300247459
Length616 pages
Subjects › 

History / Civilization
Psychology / Cognitive Psychology & Cognition
Psychology / Neuropsychology
  
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