The Biological Mind: How Brain, Body, and Environment Collaborate to Make Us Who We Are Hardcover – Illustrated, March 13, 2018

The biological mind is an examination of the brain and how to think about it contextually. Almost all of us, especially those not studying the brain as a career, default to thinking about our uniqueness as a consequence of our brains. The Biological Mind takes a more balanced approach to the subject and describes how the brain is but a component of a biological system that one cannot easily disentangle. If one wants a better context of the brain as a component of a biological system rather than a view of the brain as a computational structure, this has good content.The book starts rather oddly with a discussion of culinary dishes involving brain and their relatively low frequency. I was concerned I had started reading the wrong book, but the author used it as a starting point on how we think about the brain differently than other organs. The author starts with describing neurons and their density and network structures and then poses the question of what makes the brain different. Most of us assume our complexity comes from our neurons but the author throws out the idea that perhaps some of our cognitive excellence comes from glial cells. He then goes on to discuss how mice injected with other biological matter (not neurons) have 30% improved cognitive abilities for many tasks. The point of all of this is not to give an answer to what has led to human differentiated cognition but rather that the brain is part of a biological system and should be views in that context. The author goes on to question many assumptions in mental health diagnosis. Issues of nature vs nurture are discussed and the idea that our mind is our brain is prodded at continually, reminding the reader that we haven't figured out exactly where our "mind" is. It quite hard in such a self-referential topic to get to the bottom of anything but one comes to the more well rounded conclusion that our biological system is complicated and the idea that the brain is the center of everything and the origin of our complete humanness is likely untrue. That being said the author over-emphasizes the point. It is an over-estimation to put the brain on the pedestal we often do, but it is not disputed that if the brain were removed, our "mind" would be most damaged over any other organ so to a certain extent this is all just about matter of degree. The author ends with a discussion of futurists who's goal is to enhance the brain and extend its life and the risks of such ambitions. There are some ideas which are similar to Homo Deus and the book brings up questions of fairness and humanness as well. The book ends with an interesting chapter of what the experience of a brain in a vat might be, he describes it in the first person and its fairly dystopian. Nonetheless the author leaves the reader with the impression that the mind cannot exist in isolation to the body and this is projected through his brain in a vat story.All in all the biological mind gives the reader a good context of how the brain is a component of a biological system for which we cannot easily disentangle. Furthermore who we are is more than just our brains and we shouldn't forget that as there are many other essential aspects of our biology that are a function of our environment, both social and relating to stimulus, so assuming an independent mind is plain wrong. Entertaining and understandable, worthwhile reading for those interested in the mind and brain and more.

The Biological Mind is at first an interesting read, replete with cultural and scientific references while discussing how the brain, body, and mind coalesce to make us who we are. The writing style is smart and engaging. But I did find it difficult to move through the chapters as I progressed, not because the writing is bad (the writing is very good, in fact!), but rather due to the fact that the subject of embedded cognition and all it entrails seems a bit obvious, when you break away from the scientific parlance and speak in clear, direct terms. Throughout discussion about the conflicting causes of behavior among various figures in science and popular culture, what Mr. Jasanoff points, while well written, humorous, and witty, are also a fair bit obvious to me. Over and over again in the book he reminds us of the brain's connection to the body, and the body to the environment. Jassanoff describes it in very solid, clear ways, but I come away from this book wondering if it's necessary. Are we really putting the brain on a pedestal vis-à-vis the latest trends in neuroscience or in the halls of psychology? How large is the supposed delusion he's railing against? I don't mean to sound dismissive of the text, for it's quite informative and does make a point, but is there an overwhelming trend of thinking regarding the brain, the body, and the self that needs this sort of broad, erudite correction? This isn't just a book that explains the connections between brain, body, and the world around it; it's a body of work that seems intent on correcting an apparent misconception regarding how we divide the brain from the physicality of the body in our thinking.Of course, it is likely a fool's errand to attempt distilling a human being into a singular essence, for we are the sum of many distinct components. This is understood and accepted easily enough. But there are times in the book where Jasanoff seems a bit too intent on downplaying the central system that is the brain, and I'm not certain if this is an entirely correct direction, either. I can't quote specific passages at the moment, but I know that, now and then, some commentary seemed a little too slanted in service of freeing us of our assumed ignorances about the brain and how "special" we've made it. But the reality is that the brain is special. It's a deeply complex arrangement of morphologically distinct systems that come together to make us who and what we are. Indeed, the body is not just a body; it's part of the vast neural net making up our experience—the brain being it's foremost concentration. And yes, I do believe it is quite the critical part in containing us. No, we are not just "our brains," but an overwhelming part of us—our memories, our learned behaviors, and higher executive functions—are located precisely in that neurological locus.So I come away from this book entertained somewhat, and certainly enjoying Jasanoff's writing. There are plenty of facts, stats, and curiosities in this book, and it's without doubt worthy of a read. I'm just not sure I entirely agree with the intensity of this its premise. If there is an essence, if there is a soul, surely it finds itself in the brain, where memories and personality traits are stored. it's not merely a "transit point" for sensations and incoming data from the world. I sense that idea is an over-correction in fighting another misleading premise.

Jasonoff makes clear that fetishizing the brain in isolation from the body and world is a dangerous distortion. The book is not political but it provides plenty of evidence for critiques of neoliberalism, while remaining focused on distorted feedback loops between scientists and the social world that produces and consumes their work. Charming commitment to rejecting the split between science and the humanities is made patent by the author's use of literature for illustration of his point, including a fictional coda. Really useful work.

Excellent book with thorough scientific background and credentials. Debunks at length the myth of the brain as the center of life and the originator of everything. The author shows quite graphically how the brain is another ORGAN, composed of flesh, blood and water. No complexity at all. Integrates very wise the body and the brain working together. Is a must to understand how the surroundings and environment determine the brain action and production of thoughts and consciousness.

Just when you thought it was all about the brain, then this masterful book comes along to remind us that all of the body is communicating with the mind and there are neurons in our stomach that are doing their work too and we are complex beings. So worth the read. Well done Alan, well done.

Interesting information

Certain chapters were intresting on embodied cognition but to much speculation!

Meine Einstufung: Smart BookEin direkter, klarer Schreibstil plus aktuelles Wissen zu dem Thema. Ein realistisch erklärtes Gehirn, seine Arbeitund das Wirken der Umwelt. Aktuelle medizinische Projekte, aber auch die Grenzen der Erkenntnis.Das Beste mir bekannte Buch.Östliche Weisheiten können noch vertiefende Einblicke geben - Beispiel : Emptiness.

Must read for a Neuroscientist.Gives good insights to the history of brain science and instigate a holistic approach.