The "father of cognitive neuroscience" makes a powerful and provocative argument against today's common wisdom that our lives are wholly determined...
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Jan 20, 2012
Caren
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This is not light reading (or, not for me anyway), but it is extremely interesting and profitable. Just last year, in "Incognito", David Eagleman indicated that some changes in legal procedures may need to take into account new findings in neuroscience. Toward the end of this book, Mr. Gazzaniga is more specific about the ways in which the unfolding findings of neuroscience are changing proceedings in the courtroom. By studying patients who have had the two hemispheres of the brain sev
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Jan 01, 2012
Jorge
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Who's in Charge: Free Will and the Science of the Brain by Michael S. Gazzaniga
"Who's in Charge: Free Will and the Science of the Brain" is the thought-provoking book about the fascinating topic of free will and neuroscience. Neuroscientist and gifted author Michael S. Gazzaniga provides the latest insights into the science of the brain and offers unique perspectives. This 272-page book is composed of seven chapters: 1. The Way We Are, 2. The Parallel and Distributing Brai More...
"Who's in Charge: Free Will and the Science of the Brain" is the thought-provoking book about the fascinating topic of free will and neuroscience. Neuroscientist and gifted author Michael S. Gazzaniga provides the latest insights into the science of the brain and offers unique perspectives. This 272-page book is composed of seven chapters: 1. The Way We Are, 2. The Parallel and Distributing Brai More...
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Nov 23, 2011
Frank
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This book covers a number of issues. The author's work on split brain individuals is covered, including his reaction to the first data to be gathered which spoke directly to what was going on. There is a lot of information about the ideas of modules in the brain, and the way in which they work and solve problems. Consciousness is seen as constructed from theses modules, with an interpreter which fills in what needs to be filled in to make sense of what has happened. A lot of information is pr
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Dec 21, 2011
Ed
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My advice for anyone who reads this book is to be sure and read the entire book carefully. In the first few chapters, Gazzaniga presents neurological determinism so convincingly that a careless reader might mistake it for the author's final position. Gazzaniga may also invite misunderstanding by titling Ch. 4 "Abandoning the Concept of Free Will," when a careful reading of the chapter shows that he really wants to "reframe the question about what it means to have free will."
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Dec 25, 2011
Mythili
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I was really charmed by the anecdotes Michael Gazzaniga shared in a recent New York Times profile (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/01/scienc...)-- especially the story about how "Yellow Submarine" disrupted a particularly important experiment. I was also intrigued a piece he wrote in TIME magazine about Jared Loughner's case. (http://ideas.time.com/2011/11/22/was-jar...) This book was a disappointment, though. Gazzaniga's impressive career includes some key research on the left and rig
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Nov 02, 2011
From HarperCollins: http://bit.ly/tMHcNp
"Who’s in Charge? proposes that the mind, which is somehow generated by the physical processes of the brain, “constrains” the brain just as cars are constrained by the traffic they create. Writing with what Steven Pinker has called “his trademark wit and lack of pretension,” Gazzaniga shows how determinism immeasurably weakens our views of human responsibility; it allows a murderer to argue, in effect, “It wasn’t me who did it——it was my More...
"Who’s in Charge? proposes that the mind, which is somehow generated by the physical processes of the brain, “constrains” the brain just as cars are constrained by the traffic they create. Writing with what Steven Pinker has called “his trademark wit and lack of pretension,” Gazzaniga shows how determinism immeasurably weakens our views of human responsibility; it allows a murderer to argue, in effect, “It wasn’t me who did it——it was my More...
Jan 03, 2012
H
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Gazzaniga provides a succinct enough summary of current research into the brain. However, its when he addresses the notion of free will that the book falls flat. In attempt to find room for free will, he takes a detour into quantum physics and probability theory. Even if one accepts his argument, this only grants free will within a limited range offer by a list of probabilities. To contend that free will on this basis is rather difficulty so he also provides the common sense idea that we do emp
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Dec 19, 2011
Aaron
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Despite the author's initial claim that some vestige of free will could be salvaged from the jaws of determinism, he does a pretty good job demolishing that claim. All the while, he mucks around in the many very interesting weeds. In fact, the interesting weeds were what propped up this rating to three stars.
The author's premise seems to be a form similar to "god of the gaps," wherein the uncertainty of not knowing something or not being able to measure something leaves roo More...
The author's premise seems to be a form similar to "god of the gaps," wherein the uncertainty of not knowing something or not being able to measure something leaves roo More...
Jan 28, 2012
Clay
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This book is filled with interesting neurological and psychological experiments, yet, I found the overall message underdeveloped and poorly asserted. Gassaniga tries to make an argument against determinism, but I feel like the real conclusion of the book is, "things are deterministic, but it does us no good to think of the world in those terms, and the brain is so complex that we do not yet understand how they are determined." I may have misunderstood the author, but that is the over
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Dec 13, 2011
Added to my list with some trepidation. For one thing, Tom Wolfe blurbed it, and Wolfe is a reactionary assberet, so that's hardly a glowing recommendation. And then the snippet says "counters the common wisdom that our lives are wholly determined by physical processes we cannot control. " And I think, "Oh, really?" That "wholly determined" looks like a strawman to me, thrown up to give the author a very low standard of proof. Not to mention that "free will"
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Nov 11, 2011
James
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Unlike the fantastic philosopher Daniel C. Dennett who carved out a bit of elbow room for free will in a deterministic world, Gazzaniga blows past the idea as miscast and arcane. So while the title does say "Free Will" it's a bit misleading. This is a good neuroscience book that plays upon the notion of emergence to talk about personal responsibility and crime and punishment. In other words, minds interacting with minds through the social contract > the false notion of dualism or fr
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Feb 22, 2012
Fr. Ted
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Although pretty heavy on science I thought it a good read in exploring the notion of the brain, the mind, the self and free will. Gazzaniga resists the claims of the new scientific determinists that everything can be known and understood simply by studying cause and effect and that the world is solely based in materialism. Though he sticks pretty strictly to science he acknowledges there still are pieces of the puzzle that we don't understand at this time. Pure determinism may be overstating
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Jan 12, 2012
Duff
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Amazing clarifications of a many principles of physics by illustrating them brain functions and human interactions that a non-scientist (me) can readily grasp. I agree with another reviewer...it is essential to read it thoroughly from the beginning, so that when he posits wonderful ideas of emergence as a function of brain > mind that it simply all comes together. Difficult concepts, but a very good read. It is that fine connection of science and philosophy.
Jan 30, 2012
Kevin
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A great book. Just the introduction to neuroscience was amazing. If you want an accessible overview of our modern understanding of the brain, this is the place to start. The author's discussion of how we consider guilt and innocence in the context of our evolving understanding of the brain is also fascinating. Highly recommended. A fun and enlightening read.
Jan 01, 2012
Pamela
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Interesting. Focuses on determinants of human behavior with lots of material on brain functioning and social context. Informative but not a fun read.
Jan 23, 2012
Chris
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Great book. He has an irreverent, accessible style for a tough subject. A middle ground between determinism and free will.
Jan 27, 2012
Steve
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Wonderful book by a brilliant yet humble scientist. A great conjunction of brain science and philosophy.
Dec 26, 2011
Sarah
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Interesting look at the philosophy of determinism from the perspective of a neuroscientist, taking into account recent and past developments in research. A little scientific for a lay reader, such as myself, but fascinating nonetheless.
Jan 03, 2012
Bob
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It prompted much thought and taught me a few things too. Excellent review of the state of the science relevant to free will. Glad I freely chose to read this gem of a book.
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