Book Catalog

Incognito : the secret lives of the brain

David Eagleman

Human behaviorCognitive biases

14 pages31 min

The text discusses how the conscious mind is only a small part of the brain's activity, operating largely in secret. Most thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are unconscious, driven by complex neural networks and evolutionary programs. Physical changes to the brain profoundly alter personality and actions, challenging notions of free will and personal responsibility. Perception is an active, constructive process, and the brain functions as a "team of rivals" with competing subagents. This understanding suggests a shift from traditional blame to a more biological, evidence-based approach for legal and social policies, emphasizing that identity is an emergent property of intricate biological machinery, with consciousness acting as a CEO overseeing automated systems and setting long-term goals. The brain's redundancy and plasticity allow for adaptation and resilience, further complicating the concept of a unified self.

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in The Healing of Trauma

Bessel van der Kolk MD

Human behaviorMemory and learning

59 pages126 min

This book profoundly explores the pervasive impact of trauma, particularly developmental and complex trauma, on the brain, body, and sense of self. It reveals how early-life abuse and neglect induce physiological changes, disrupt brain function, and lead to persistent emotional dysregulation, dissociation, and relational difficulties. Critiquing inadequate diagnostic systems and over-reliance on pharmacology, the author advocates for holistic, body-oriented, and relational therapies such as EMDR, yoga, neurofeedback, Internal Family Systems, and therapeutic theater. The core message emphasizes self-awareness, communal rhythms, and the restoration of agency as crucial for survivors to integrate their past and live fully in the present.