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The Master and His Emissary

The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World

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The Master and His Emissary

By: Iain McGilchrist
Narrated by: Dennis Kleinman
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About this listen

In a book of unprecedented scope Iain McGilchrist presents a fascinating exploration of the differences between the brain’s left and right hemispheres and how those differences have affected society, history and culture.

McGilchrist draws on a vast body of recent research in neuroscience and psychology to reveal that the difference is profound: the left hemisphere is detail oriented, while the right has greater breadth, flexibility and generosity.

McGilchrist then takes the listener on a journey through the history of Western culture, illustrating the tension between these two worlds as revealed in the thought and belief of thinkers and artists from Aeschylus to Magritte.

©2010 Iain McGilchrist (P)2019 Tantor Neuroscience & Neuropsychology Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Science Thought-Provoking Human Brain
All stars
Most relevant
Despite only understanding ~60% of this book, I ‘grasped’ the main ideas. I think I’ll need to do a write-up of what I got out of it for my own personal development.
Iain writes clearly and links concepts together with ease. Some of the historical art and philosophy sections seemed a bit lost on me, but were overall insightful. The ideas he presents touch on every aspect of human experience. This illuminates many areas of conflict within my our thought-life, society, and nature itself, increasing empathy and understanding along the way. Strap yourself in and get started with this great book!

Took me 6 months to get through, incredible, life changing.

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Exceptional information delivered in an excellent manner. A very dense book though - I would recommend spaced sessions to absorb the information properly.

One of my all time favorites

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you'll have to study the book to get the most out of it. I haven't but I might relisten again.

jam packed with information

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One of my favourites - be warned this book is very dense and very long but some how it didn't feel like a struggle to finish it. I have a good background in the science / medical aspects of which there is a lot in this book. But there is also an extensive discussion on the nature of the hemisphere differences in the history of the artistic and scientific revolutions in Europe. I found this very educational. However, the author has a more sympathetic view to a more traditional theistic world view and seems to overstate the advantages and gloss over the problems associated with more 'traditional' societies.

Though provoking and extremely well researched.

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Loved this. So much to ponder about what we may be missing when seeing the world, and an invitation to get beyond categories into the aliveness, wholeness and contextuality in life.

Brilliant

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