Book Review: ‘The Brain’ by Alison George

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Updated 13 May 2025
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Book Review: ‘The Brain’ by Alison George

Imagine having a manual for the brain, the remarkable, mysterious machine that powers thoughts, dreams, and creativity, and stands as the force behind human civilization, setting our species apart from all others on Earth.

“The Brain: Everything You Need to Know” by Alison George, published by New Scientist, breaks down consciousness, memory, intelligence, and even why we dream, in a way that is light and easy to follow. It avoids scientific jargon, making it a good choice for readers who are curious about the brain but don’t want to get lost in technical details. 

Along the way, the book asks a fundamental question: How can we understand, and even improve, the way our minds function? 

The book argues that the brain is far more complex than we tend to assume. Many of its processes happen outside of conscious awareness, and even the ways we make decisions, form memories, or dream are shaped by forces we barely notice.

Understanding the brain, the book suggests, requires accepting that much of what drives us happens invisibly. 

One chapter that stands out takes a closer look at the unconscious mind, described as the brain’s “unsung hero.” It’s where habits live and decisions form long before they reach awareness. Everyday actions like walking, typing, or even choosing what to eat are often driven by this autopilot system. The book explores how deeply the unconscious shapes behavior, challenging the idea that we are always fully in control of our actions. 

Some of the chapters are short and punchy, which keeps the pace moving, but this also means the book doesn’t spend enough time exploring some of the topics. It can feel more like an introduction to neuroscience than a true exploration of it. For readers seeking a light, engaging overview of the mind’s mysteries, this approach may work well. Those hoping for deeper engagement, however, might be left wanting more.


What We Are Reading Today: ‘The Data Economy’

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Updated 22 July 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘The Data Economy’

  • In this book, Isaac Baley and Laura Veldkamp draw on a range of theoretical frameworks at the research frontier in macroeconomics and finance to model and measure data economies

Authors: ISAAC BALEY AND LAURA L. VELDKAMP 

The most valuable firms in the global economy are valued largely for their data. Amazon, Apple, Google, and others have proven the competitive advantage of a good data set.

And yet despite the growing importance of data as a strategic asset, modern economic theory neglects its role.

In this book, Isaac Baley and Laura Veldkamp draw on a range of theoretical frameworks at the research frontier in macroeconomics and finance to model and measure data economies.

 


What We Are Reading Today: The History of Money

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Updated 21 July 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: The History of Money

  • In this book, McWilliams takes the readers across the world, from the birthplace of money in ancient Babylon to the beginning of trade along the Silk Road

Author: David McWilliams

In this eye-opening global history, economist David McWilliams charts the relationship between humans and money — from clay tablets in Mesopotamia to cryptocurrency in Silicon Valley.

McWilliams shows that money is central to every aspect of our civilization, and from the political to the artistic. According to this book, money defines the relationship between worker and employer, buyer and seller, merchant and producer. It also defines the bond between the governed and the governor, and the state and the citizen.

In this book, McWilliams takes the readers across the world, from the birthplace of money in ancient Babylon to the beginning of trade along the Silk Road.

 


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Beepedia’

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Updated 20 July 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Beepedia’

  • Explore the many wonders of bee morphology, behavior, and ecology, and learn about the role of bees in agriculture, art, literature, and religion

Author: LAURENCE PACKER

“Beepedia” is a one-of-a-kind celebration of bees, from A to Z. Featuring dozens of alphabetical entries on topics ranging from pollination and beekeeping to the peculiar lifestyles of cuckoo bees and carrion-eating vulture bees, this enticing, pocket-sized compendium takes you on an unforgettable journey into the remarkable world of bees.

Explore the many wonders of bee morphology, behavior, and ecology, and learn about the role of bees in agriculture, art, literature, and religion.

 


What We Are Reading Today: ‘A Beautiful Mind’

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Updated 21 July 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘A Beautiful Mind’

  • The 2001 movie starring Russell Crowe is certainly gripping and brought Nash’s story to a huge audience

Author: Sylvia Nasar

Sylvia Nasar’s “A Beautiful Mind” from 1998 chronicles the extraordinary life of John Nash, the mathematician who shared the 1994 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences with John Harsanyi and Reinhard Selten for groundbreaking work in game theory. 

Nasar explores Nash’s genius, his battle with schizophrenia, and his unexpected recovery, crafting a rich portrait of one of the 20th century’s most complex minds. 

Born in Bluefield, West Virginia, Nash’s exceptional intellect distinguished him from an early age.

Nasar carefully traces his academic journey, spotlighting revolutionary concepts like the Nash equilibrium, transformative for economics and strategic thought.

Nasar also unflinchingly details his paranoia and delusions, and the heavy toll they took on his career and family. Most compelling is Nash’s eventual recovery — a slow, medically unusual journey central to his story.

Nasar’s writing blends insight with precision. She weaves personal history, scientific context, and accessible explanations, making the mathematician graspable while honoring his resilience. This balance ensures value for scholars and casual readers alike. 

The 2001 movie starring Russell Crowe is certainly gripping and brought Nash’s story to a huge audience. I remember being moved by it myself, but it takes massive creative liberties, simplifying the science and dramatizing his relationships for the screen. 

I would suggest reading Nasar’s book by way of contrast as it feels like it uncovers the real, layered truth behind the headlines.

After reading it I appreciated so much more deeply the messy, complex reality of his life as opposed to the cinematic hero arc.

It is not just more accurate; it offers a richer, more profound understanding of who Nash truly was — honoring both his towering intellect and the quiet, enduring strength he and his wife Alicia showed. 

This elegant mathematical insight, a result of his turbulent genius, transcends economics to illuminate everything, from nuclear standoffs to everyday competition.

That such a universal principle emerged amid his personal struggle with mental illness makes “A Beautiful Mind” not just a biography, but a testament to the fragile duality of brilliance.

 


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Birds of India’

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Updated 19 July 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Birds of India’

  • Comprehensive and definitive, this is an indispensable guide for anyone birding in this part of the world

Authors: RICHARD GRIMMETT, CAROL INSKIPP, AND TIM INSKIPP 

The best field guide to the birds of the Indian subcontinent is now even better.

Thoroughly updated and substantially expanded, this third edition of “Birds of India” features revised color plates, text, and distribution maps, and 64 more pages than the previous edition.

Comprehensive and definitive, this is an indispensable guide for anyone birding in this part of the world.