The Whole-Brain Path to Peace: The Role of Left- and Right-Brain Dominance in the Polarization and Reunification of America

by James Olson

Are you managing your brain? Or is your brain managing you? If you value self-knowledge, sooner or later you will face the profound role that the radically different perspectives of your left- and right-brain hemispheres play in your daily decisions. This timely book guides you in integrating these contrasting views of the world, and delves into the impact of brain lateralization on political progress, cultural polarization, and even the quest for personal and world peace. A practical field guide to whole-brain, heart-centered living, The Whole-Brain Path to Peace takes you a crucial step beyond the science of brain lateralization; this book invites you into a new way of perceiving your world through whole-brain living. But success on this path also requires the illumination of philosophy and the far-reaching insights of modern revelation. Olson's broader view highlights the distortions that each side of the brain can have when not informed by the other, and points us to more sensible ways of achieving greater balance.

Genres: Science

335 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2011

About the author

James Olson is a management-trained philosopher whose studies have included business, engineering, art, Eastern and Western religion, yoga, qigong, psychology, language, neuro-linguistic programming, philosophy, and brain perspective.

Olson has traveled extensively throughout Europe; lived in Austria, France, and Germany; and attended Oklahoma State University, the University of Vienna, Oklahoma University, the University of Missouri at Kansas City, and the Kansas City Art Institute. He holds a degree in business administration, and is currently studying sacred geometry and the experience of living in the heart.

As a practicing philosopher, Olson has worked most of his life to unify his understanding of material things, ideas, and spiritual energies by embracing concepts that are in harmony with one another, and when justifiable, eliminating those that create conflict.

A former church deacon and farmer, as well as a state and national winner in 4-H, Olson starts with a core of conservative farm and Christian values, and into that integrates the complementary perspective of Eastern religion, the liberal perspective of Europe, the wisdom of ancient Egypt, the facts of science, the discipline of business, and the unique spiritual insights offered by modern revelation.

Following the unifying guidelines of philosophy and drawing on his wide-ranging education, Olson has made it his mission to help bring the planet’s masculine and feminine energies into greater balance, and therefore into a more peaceful state, through his advocacy of whole-brain thinking.

Reviews

[Tom Leonhardt · Rating 1 out of 5]

After reading this book, each chapter worse than the preceding one, I wondered about the editors and the publisher. This is a poorly written work, part political diatribe, part social rant, all according to the theory that the right lobe and the left lobe of the brain are locked in mortal combat and only though a harmonious union can one achieve personal and world peace. The premise, whether sound or not, is based on characteristics of the left and right brain lobes but science is simplified and distorted beyond what is reasonable. As I read the book I kept picturing, in my mind's eye (probably the right lobe), the character in Seinfeld who is trying to cure George through his Naturopathic, spiritual system that uses finger chimes, prisms, and herbal concoctions that caused George to be rushed to the hospital.

[Camila Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thinking With Both Sides of the Mind
Reading this felt like holding up a mirror to my own thought patterns. The book gently but clearly shows how often we let one side of the brain run the show, and what we lose when balance is missing. I appreciated how it blends science, philosophy, and spiritual insight without feeling heavy or preachy. More than theory, it felt practical and grounding, inviting me to slow down, notice how I think, and choose a more whole, heart-centered way of living. Quietly thought-provoking and deeply relevant.

[Ablat · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Whole Brain Path to Peace offers a timely and thought-provoking exploration of one of America’s most pressing challenges: deep political and social polarization. With clarity and insight, the author draws on the concept of left- and right-brain dominance to explain how differing ways of thinking, processing information, and engaging with the world have contributed to division and how those same differences can become tools for healing

[Clarry · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Update - I'm glad I picked up this book again. Mr. Olson really does explore many issues that people should be aware of. I still don't think the left/right brain theory has enough science behind it, but his insights into things like the drug war are very enlightening.
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Despite my determination to give this book a full chance and finish it at a later date, I think I'm going to put my 2-cents in now.

I was really into the concept of this book in the beginning. It contains many fully cited anecdotes to support the author's sobering claims on how to build a better world and be a better person by learning to have balance in one's life. However, I do not, in any way, consider this book science, which is what I was expecting to find. As I said before, I was really into it in the beginning, up until the point where the author makes the claim that (most) straight females are right brain oriented, and therefore lesbians are left brain oriented with gay and straight men being the opposite. What an unsupported and grossly opinionated assumption! There is no scientific studies provided to prove any link between what side of the brain a person uses the most and their gender identity. There are many unsupported generalizations such as this thrown in throughout the book (republicans vs democrats, etc). I respect simplification for the purpose of illustration and teaching, but these are just blatantly not backed by any scientific research of any sort.

As for using the book as a guide to awareness of self and learning balance through examples in today's culture and government, I would greatly recommend this book. Being a liberal, this author supports many opinions I share with startling revelations about congress and how the world functions. In fact, some of the anecdotes are simply shocking, and he does in fact cite his resources, showing his credibility.
If pure science is not an interest of yours, please give it a read! It really does have interesting opinions and cultural theories involving religion, gender identity, politics, and large corporations.

Thanks first-reads!

[Haley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Note: I won a free copy of this book via goodreads giveaways.

When I read the information blurb on this book, I had expectations similar to some other readers. I expected a book that used, as a foundation, neuroscience or psychology to argue its points. I think a less misleading title/blurb would have talked about the application of religious beliefs with the occasional tidbits of neuroscience/psychology woven in. Additionally, as a slight aside, the tidbits were often presented in a somewhat questionable manner. From my perspective (having majored in Neurobiology in undergrad and currently being in the process of acquiring a medical doctorate)there were some issues with the way the author interpreted and utilized the sparse medical facts he decided to incorporate.

Sometimes, a book being different from your expectations ends up being a pleasant surprise. It's rather fun to read a thought provoking book that you otherwise would never have even picked up. Unfortunately, that was not the case with this book. The writing was repetitive and, frankly, uninteresting. I was bored within the first 20-some pages. That did not bode well, as the first section in a book like this has the primary purpose of giving you a preview of what is to come. The most I can say for it is that those 20-some pages definitely gave me an accurate preview- a preview of utter boredom. I had to force myself to finish this book. By the middle, I was getting more excited about studying than I was about my 'pleasure' reading time during which I had to pick this book up. By the end, I was counting down the pages I had left to read before I could complain about it in a review (which I have now inflicted upon you poor souls).

[Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating read! In this work James Olson explores the differences in mental processing using our right and left brain hemispheres and shows the consequences of dominate hemispheric thinking on our individual and collective lives. He develops his highly interdisciplinary ideas in a very thoughtful and easy to understand structure. Each chapter clearly summizes the main points that it features with the cumulative ensemble of ideas being integrated and clearly explained through out the book. Mr. Olson's work is also well documented and he introduces the reader to several fascinating new ideas like Sacred Geometry. A case history using the Drug War in the US is used to illustrate the differences in hemispheric preferences for solution. Mr. Olson also suggests positive actions that can be taken in alleviating the polarization.in the world and creating a more peaceful environment. Some developments I would like to have seen more of in the book was the role of dominate hemispheric in the development of science and also what might be the affects of today's technology on dominate hemispheric thinking. I highly recommend this work to anyone interested in understanding the workings of the brain and how a different approach in our perspective and perception could make all the difference.

[Don · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was not too sure what this book was to be about, but willing to give it a decent reading.

It did give me a solid impression of how the brain distinguishes between right and wrong, and that the Government in general is terribly greedy and disgustingly corrupt, but sadly, I found the rambling and very repetitive text quite boring after the first few chapters.

Instead of multitudes of 'quotes' from all sorts of Brain-Study Professionals (my guess is to assist in filling the pages), simple diagrams and descriptions of the Author's take on the subject written in Point Form would had held my interest more than the book actually did.

Can't say I wasted my time reading The Whole-Brain Path to Peace or that it was a terrible book, yet just plain common sense and possessing rational logic in dealing with problems within your control is the best route to travel. Anything outside your control is just that: outside your control (and living with the acceptance of those facts). Any book that has made the Reader think has accomplished it's task.

Nevertheless, thank you to the Author, the Publisher, and Goodreads for introducing me to this book through a First-Reads opportunity.

[JoAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book through the goodreads free give away program. This book was a very hard book to rate, especially because I am unfamiliar with Wastern spriritual teachings and religions. I thought it was well-written with an scholarly bent. Throughout the book there was fascinating information that made sense, and was very enlightening. Some of it was even backed by research and experience. However, instead of sticking with good scientific information and theory, the author frequently and more often cited the work of authors who claimed to have talked with God. In one instance, he referenced a author who claimed that Thomas the apostle had spoken through him! Maybe God still speaks to us and reveals things to us today, but I still found his references questionable. Also in his quest to promote the legalization of drugs, he fails to present the other side of the story, and makes a big leap from right-brained, left-brained thinking to the war on drugs. The first half of the book was somewhat repetitous, and the second half, too simplistic, and biased. However, just for the newness of the ideas, as food for thought and discussion, I would recommed this book.

[Juli · Rating 2 out of 5]

The worst thing that anyone or anything can do is not live up to your expectations, and rightly or wrongly, The Whole-Brain Path to Peace did not live up to mine. Given the subtitles "The Role of Left-and Right-Brain Dominance in the Polarization and Reunification of America" and "An investigation into the effects of brain perspective on government, corporate life, war and our personal lives," I anticipated a book that started with some kind of brain science (neurology or psychology) and applied that knowledge to sociology. Instead the book starts with mysticism and philosophy and occasionally used studies on brain science, out of context, to justify conclusions.

If you are looking for a book that uses the brain as a starting point from which to talk about religion, symbols, and culture then this book might be for you. If you are interested in a scientific discuss though, you are better off looking elsewhere.

(I received this book for free though Goodreads First Reads.)

[Gretchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I read the book jacket, I thought that this book was a book about the science of the brain and how it works. Once I started reading the book, I realized that while there is some science, it is more a philosophical book about how the brain works and how to use your brain to be more peaceful and to view the world in a more holistic manner. It is very interesting and raises a lot of interesting topics such as the war on drugs. However it is only the last chapter that has more concrete ideas as to what you as the individual can do specifically to be more peaceful. I wish that there had been more of this. But the book is pretty persuasive as to the idea that our brain processes info in two main ways - the right and left brains work differently but together also.

I won this copy in one of the goodread giveaways.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm working on using both sides of my brain simultaneously! Interesting commentary of the uselessness of the drug wars and how prohibition only makes people want things more. There's a lot of information about the polarity of politicians and how their brains get into battles rather than compromising so citizens can benefit. Highly recommend!

[Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book seemed interesting at first. The book did not hold my interest enough to be able to finish it. So I cannot really write much more of a review.

[Kristina Franken · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book for anyone

FTC: I received a free copy of this book and was not reimbursed in any other way.