Bi-cameral brains in depth

[Paul Mackin]

One of a number of favorable reviews, this one glowing. However a couple of
reviewers according to Wikipedia cautioned against culture and psychology
conclusions getting too far ahead of hard brain science.

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/jan/02/1

On Mon, Jan 25, 2016 at 6:39 AM, Mark Kohut <mark.kohut at gmail.com> wrote:

> "You're gonna want your cause and effect, eh?"
> Since his first book is entitled Against Criticism, I hope he isn't IN GR--
>  but I'll mic drop in advance. ......
> Just a little metajoke there, heh, heh.
>
> On Sun, Jan 24, 2016 at 8:10 PM, Joseph Tracy <brook7 at sover.net> wrote:
>
>> I am currently reading Iain McGilchrist’s The Master and his Emissary
>>
>>
>>
>> One of the most scientifically, psychologically and philosophically
>> profound books I have ever read. It really has me reeling with information
>> and insight and makes sense of so much that seems inscrutable in human
>> history and personal behavior. I came across the title and a description
>> with a brief quote while doing research on another book. It seemed the more
>> intriguing book so I got it from the library. Will be looking for a used
>> copy.
>>   The topic is the roles of the 2 hemispheres of the brain and he brings
>> together an unexpected wealth of medical/scientific research, both
>> contemprary and historic to build a very powerful picture of the nature of
>> each hemisphere, as well as the evolutionary logic of their
>> differentiation. Both from the introduction and from some peeks ahead I
>> know he has a philosophic intention that argues for a greater balance  in
>> our cultural biases,  and greater awareness of the brain-structure origins
>> of those biases.
>>   From a Pynchon reader POV McGilchrist takes on the brain structure
>> basis of major themes and historic tendencies that appear throughout the
>> body of P’s work. Essentially it is about the division in the brain between
>> left hemisphere’s tendency to seek and produce control achieved through
>> manipulable units of thought, communication, structure, manufacture  and
>> the right brain’s holistic, individualistic and socially empathic style. (
>> there is no way to adequadetly summarize this or the pages of precise
>> information derived from scientific research). This struggle appers in all
>> P books and with profound starkness in Pynchon’s essay on CP Snow, and the
>> GR theme of mechanistic control vs nature/pursuit of bliss/personal
>> freedom, humane solidarity.
>>
>> The writer’s background for this book is about as good as possible.
>> Professional Psychiatrist specializing in physiological brain issues, a
>> researcher in neuro-imaging and an  Oxford English teacher 3 times elected
>> Fellow at All Souls College. Of equal or greater importance is the
>> originality of his brilliance and the humane depth of his quest to
>> understand how our brain structure fits into our historic development, and
>> his sense that understanding these things might free us to find a better
>> way forward.
>>
>> Has anyone else read it?
>>
>> 462 pgs of text and over 100 of end notes etc.-
>> Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?listpynchon-l
>>
>
>
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