The Evolving Brain: How to Thrive in a World We Weren't Made For

A compassionate, eye-opening guide to using our ancient brains to live happier, healthier modern lives. ----- 'A fascinating exploration of how our ancient brains are mismatched for our modern ecosystem, and what we can do about it.' ANNA LEMBKE, MD, AUTHOR OF DOPAMINE NATION 'Shines a light on the complexity of the human brain and our resulting behaviours in an exciting and accessible way. This is a book to help us to understand ourselves.' KATHRYN MANNIX, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF WITH THE END IN MIND AND LISTEN ----- The modern world can often feel like too much for our brains to handle. Many of us battle loneliness, anxiety and stress. We set unachievable goals for ourselves, becoming miserable when we fall short. We crave validation and compete with those around us, whether through our job titles, social media likes or the size of our homes. In The Evolving Brain, evolutionary neuroscientist Dr Paul Goldsmith explains why: we are trying to navigate the complexities of modern life with a brain shaped for survival in a very different world. The brain processes that once helped our ancestors to persist can leave us overloaded, restless and unhappy when faced with a world which has transformed beyond recognition. But we don't have to struggle. Drawing on cutting-edge neuroscience and case studies from his clinical practice, Dr Goldsmith reveals the hidden logic behind our everyday difficulties. The Evolving Brain is the definitive user's guide to our ancient mind, offering actionable insights for working with, not against, our ancient wiring in order to live happier, healthier and more connected lives.

About the Author :
Dr Paul Goldsmith is an evolutionary neuroscientist and practising neurologist. He has a triple first in natural sciences from the University of Cambridge and a clinical scholarship from the University of Oxford. He undertook postgraduate medical training in Oxford, Cambridge and at the National Hospital for Neurology in London, followed by a Ph.D. in developmental neuroscience at the University of Cambridge, leading to an interest in evolutionary medicine. He is a visiting professor at Imperial College London in the Institute of Global Health Innovation.

Review :
Paul writes beautifully, and his combination of storytelling and scientific exploration shines a light on the complexity of the human brain and our resulting behaviours in an exciting and accessible way. This is a book to help us to understand ourselves. The Evolving Brain is a fascinating exploration of how our ancient brains are mismatched for our modern ecosystem, and what we can do about it. With case studies, rich science, and compelling prose, Goldsmith reminds us we are the strangest of animals. An excellent book, beautifully written. A very enjoyable read. A wide-sweeping, panoramic perspective on how our brains are confronted by - and can adapt to - the formidable challenges of the modern world. The Evolving Brain explores how many of our struggles are not personal shortcomings but the legacy of an ancient brain in a modern world. By tracing the roots of these challenges and offering ways to adapt, Goldsmith provides a fresh and compassionate perspective on what it means to thrive today. Clear, thoughtful, and accessible. The clinical cases bring the science to life, making The Evolving Brain an essential read for anyone interested in not just understanding themselves, but in building a healthier society. We design objects to fit our evolved bodies, yet seldom shape our lives around our evolved minds. This sensational book goes a long way to correcting that painful omission. A rather impressive and beautifully written multidisciplinary tour de force of knowledge of science and culture . . . The author draws on his many-faceted background and clinical practice to provide clinical vignettes and a broad reading of science. We blame ourselves for burnout, envy and endless distraction. But this book shows it is wiring, not weakness: an ancient brain flailing in a modern world. The Evolving Brain explains why stress, distraction and anxiety are evolutionary. It takes in the neuroscience lab and evolutionary human backstory to explain why we're wired not for happiness but for persistence. Why status feels addictive, why copying drives culture - and why the secret to thriving is to understand, not override, the brain we have. This is about why we crave approval, why we mirror others, why we stumble when rewards come too slowly. The Evolving Brain offers a bracing (if sometimes disturbing) new clarity on the allure and snares for humans in the digital world. Goldsmith reveals with striking clarity how the brain's ancient wiring - shaped for survival tens of millennia ago - continues to sculpt our thoughts and feelings today. The Evolving Brain bridges evolution, anatomy and modern life with rare insight.