SCIENCE

Faulty Powers

The human brain is a less-than-perfect device. A new book explains how our minds work … and sometimes don't.

By Raina Kelley | Newsweek Web Exclusive

May 8, 2008 | Updated: 4:41 p.m. ET May 8, 2008

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Discuss

Posted By: sunrize @ 05/11/2008 6:23:51 PM

Comment: I conclude this book is a must after reading a sampling of user comments regarding such topics as Up Cose With a Collassal Squid, Extinction Trade (hot topic to cold-shame, the way people form their arguments/opinions/discussion/egos, ) then the extreme, as in no comments for Deadly Embrace and India's Missing Tigers (inconsistent) People need to start somewhere regarding their own brain function. Look at it, if you will, as the first step into insight or a challenge not necessarily dogma and hopefully other books of its kind will follow. Too bad smith4st missed it or could have suggested a better read -his quote of a quote "by the authors own admission, we're not bright enough to figure something out like the human brain". I am inclined to believe the human brain/condition is indeed complex and any insight is better than none.Too bad the ones who would benefit most will not read.
Posted By: smith4st @ 05/10/2008 11:12:08 AM

Comment: Sounds like a dud!! By the authors own admission, we're not bright enough to figure something out like the human brain. Thats what you get from an evolutionary psychologist. Lets see evolutionary psychology, a farce married to voodoo pseudo-science. Presuppositions that make this book worthless!
Posted By: smith4st @ 05/10/2008 11:10:30 AM

Comment: Sounds like a dud!! By the authors own admission, we're not bright enough to figure something out like the human brain. Thats what you get from an evolutionary psychologist. Lets see evolutionary psychology, a farce married to voodoo pseudo-science. Presuppositions that make this book worthless!
Posted By: bsmith_newsweek @ 05/09/2008 8:54:45 PM

Comment: There are a number of other good brain books recently published. I'd take a look at BRAIN RULES, SPARK, and NUDGE.
Posted By: bsmith_newsweek @ 05/09/2008 8:53:39 PM

Comment: There are a number of good brain books out right now. I'd take a look at BRAIN RULES , SPARK, and NUDGE.
Posted By: NewsWkDickG @ 05/09/2008 6:00:29 PM

Comment: The really astounding proof of our faulty thinking is found in our politics. Talk about being gullible and naive. How can anyone explain enough voters to elect him, not just once but twice, being conned and manipulated into thinking that GWBush had their best interests at heart. I understand that the sociopathic personality is quite persuasive and able to convincingly fake most anything but it also has been obvious that he is totally self-focused and without a conscience, freely dishonest. Martha Stout, in her book The Sociopath Next Door, explains that one in twenty five are sociopaths and that most of the rest of us are followers, which simply doesn't create a good status. And now we have another one trying to become president with her strong, arrogant and self-absorbed sociopathic personality. Should be interesting how that works out.
Posted By: dogrun81 @ 05/09/2008 5:04:19 PM

Comment: Marcus obviously comes at the issue from an Evolutionary worldview, apparently completely ruling out the possibility of anything that is not widely accepted by the majority of the scientific community. He wonders why people believe in ghosts. If there is a real spiritual realm, as the majority of people in the world believe, why should this be treated as something wrong with our brains?

Even though our brains are nowhere near perfect, I think the subject could be treated with more respect than it is here. The human brain is an incredible wonder of creation.
- Posted By: Joe_newsweek @ 05/09/2008 18:21:48
  
  Comment: Provide some evidence of existence of something from this "spiritual realm" other than "I want to believe" and "I swear I saw it!!!", and people will listen.
Posted By: Raj_000 @ 05/09/2008 3:41:55 PM

Comment: There is a term in India called "jugaad" - which is very similar to kluge. Do not underestimate the power of KLUGE. It is simply an incremental solution with the resources at hand. The invention of radio, computer, internet and airplane were all based on a series of kluge-work. Incidentally, the housing sub-prime crisis is also a work of financial kluge-work.
Posted By: jourdan @ 05/09/2008 3:31:36 PM

Comment: "Marcus explains that "evolution has left us distinctly gullible ??? the systems that underlie our capacity for belief are powerful, they are also subject to superstition, manipulation and fallacy. Beliefs, and the imperfect neural tools we use to evaluate them, can lead to family conflicts, religious disputes and even war." Again, he argues our brains didn't evolve in a way that allowed us to thoroughly evaluate how well our beliefs represent reality. "

At last!!! Now we know what is wrong with Georgie Porgie... His brain has NEVER evolved. I am so glad someone solved that mystery...

And off topic.. isn't it interesting that 2 years ago when oil prices were heading to $90 a barrel Good ole Georgie said we are going to go to Opec and get them to halt the rise in oil prices and we will tap the federal reserve... Yet now it is over $120 a barrel and not one word.. I am so glad I could contribute to Georgie and Dickweeds off shore accounts.. aren't you?
Posted By: jourdan @ 05/09/2008 3:26:31 PM

Comment: "Marcus explains that "evolution has left us distinctly gullible ??? the systems that underlie our capacity for belief are powerful, they are also subject to superstition, manipulation and fallacy. Beliefs, and the imperfect neural tools we use to evaluate them, can lead to family conflicts, religious disputes and even war." Again, he argues our brains didn't evolve in a way that allowed us to thoroughly evaluate how well our beliefs represent reality. "

At last!!!! now we know what is wrong with Georgie Porgie.. His brain never evolved. Glad someone solved that mystery.
Posted By: AApple @ 05/09/2008 3:21:11 PM

Comment: Does my forgetfulness mean I may have the ability to be a little more creative? I sure hope so. Good to know I'm not the only one with these faulty powers. Sometimes, I just make stuff up!
Posted By: sachidanand @ 05/09/2008 1:13:58 AM

Comment: the book appears to be brilliant. but it ignores the line along which th e human brain has evolved. Our mind is not a computer. It stores through a complex net work of association fibres. This networking allows creativity. It is an algorithm which can also move back ward. Being credulous or forgetful is inbuilt in this system of creativity. Anyway this opinion is based on the review. S.N.Joshi. email joshisachi3@gmail.com