Author: Gad Saad
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 162157993X
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 165
Book Description
"Read this book, strengthen your resolve, and help us all return to reason." —JORDAN PETERSON The West’s commitment to freedom, reason, and true liberalism have become endangered by a series of viral forces in our society today. Renowned host of the popular YouTube show “The SAAD Truth”, Dr. Gad Saad exposes how an epidemic of idea pathogens are spreading like a virus and killing common sense in the West. Serving as a powerful follow-up to Jordan Peterson’s book 12 Rules for Life Dr. Saad unpacks what is really happening in progressive safe zones, why we need to be paying more attention to these trends, and what we must do to stop the spread of dangerous thinking. A professor at Concordia University who has witnessed this troubling epidemic first-hand, Dr. Saad dissects a multitude of these concerning forces (corrupt thought patterns, belief systems, attitudes, etc.) that have given rise to a stifling political correctness in our society and how these have created serious consequences that must be remedied–before it’s too late.
Your Brain Is Playing Tricks on You
Author: Albert Moukheiber
Publisher: Hero
ISBN: 9781915054708
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 192
Book Description
Why are we often convinced that we're right even when we're wrong? Why are we jealous, or paranoid, even when we have absolutely no reason to be? Why is it so easy for fake news to spread around the globe and fool us? It's because we don't see the world as it is, rather we reconstruct it in our mind. Reality is way too complex and multiple to be apprehended by our capacities of attention, which are quite limited, as well as our brain abilities. That is why our perception of the world is subjective and various elements influence the way we acquire knowledge and form opinions. Our brain is recreating the world in its own way - most of the time for our own good: how hard would it be if, before making a choice, we had to know about all the options available in a given situation? It would take us forever to choose an item of clothing in a store, or a meal in a restaurant! Luckily, our brain can estimate: even if it makes us imperfect and subject to illusion, delusion and error, it allows us to reconstruct the world as we know it, and live in it. However, these very useful mechanisms can sometimes mislead us and have a rather negative impact on our actions, beliefs and opinions: when our brain behaves that way, we say it is biased. Albert Moukheiber gives us tips and tricks to fight against these cognitive biases - the first one being not to trust ourselves too much and to always doubt our thinking processes, especially in this era where social networks spread information like an epidemic. In this book, filled with multiple examples from our daily lives and psychosocial experiments, Moukheiber explores the building blocks of our perception, cognition and behaviour, which are involved in acquiring knowledge or forming opinions.
Publisher: Hero
ISBN: 9781915054708
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 192
Book Description
Why are we often convinced that we're right even when we're wrong? Why are we jealous, or paranoid, even when we have absolutely no reason to be? Why is it so easy for fake news to spread around the globe and fool us? It's because we don't see the world as it is, rather we reconstruct it in our mind. Reality is way too complex and multiple to be apprehended by our capacities of attention, which are quite limited, as well as our brain abilities. That is why our perception of the world is subjective and various elements influence the way we acquire knowledge and form opinions. Our brain is recreating the world in its own way - most of the time for our own good: how hard would it be if, before making a choice, we had to know about all the options available in a given situation? It would take us forever to choose an item of clothing in a store, or a meal in a restaurant! Luckily, our brain can estimate: even if it makes us imperfect and subject to illusion, delusion and error, it allows us to reconstruct the world as we know it, and live in it. However, these very useful mechanisms can sometimes mislead us and have a rather negative impact on our actions, beliefs and opinions: when our brain behaves that way, we say it is biased. Albert Moukheiber gives us tips and tricks to fight against these cognitive biases - the first one being not to trust ourselves too much and to always doubt our thinking processes, especially in this era where social networks spread information like an epidemic. In this book, filled with multiple examples from our daily lives and psychosocial experiments, Moukheiber explores the building blocks of our perception, cognition and behaviour, which are involved in acquiring knowledge or forming opinions.
Your Brain Is Playing Tricks On You
Author: Albert Moukheiber
Publisher: Lindhardt og Ringhof
ISBN: 8727171728
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 145
Book Description
Why are we often convinced that we’re right even when we’re wrong? Why are we jealous, or paranoid, even when we have absolutely no reason to be? Why is it so easy for fake news to spread around the globe and fool us? It’s because we don’t see the world as it is, rather we reconstruct it in our mind. Reality is way too complex and multiple to be apprehended by our capacities of attention, which are quite limited, as well as our brain abilities. That is why our perception of the world is subjective and various elements influence the way we acquire knowledge and form opinions. Our brain is recreating the world in its own way – most of the time for our own good: how hard would it be if, before making a choice, we had to know about all the options available in a given situation? It would take us forever to choose an item of clothing in a store, or a meal in a restaurant! Luckily, our brain can estimate: even if it makes us imperfect and subject to illusion, delusion and error, it allows us to reconstruct the world as we know it, and live in it. However, these very useful mechanisms can sometimes mislead us and have a rather negative impact on our actions, beliefs and opinions: when our brain behaves that way, we say it is biased. Albert Moukheiber gives us tips and tricks to fight against these cognitive biases – the first one being not to trust ourselves too much and to always doubt our thinking processes, especially in this era where social networks spread information like an epidemic. In this book, filled with multiple examples from our daily lives and psychosocial experiments, Moukheiber explores the building blocks of our perception, cognition and behaviour, which are involved in acquiring knowledge or forming opinions. Dr. Albert Moukheiber is a neuroscientist and clinical psychologist. He has worked for 10 years in the psychiatry department at the Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, focusing mainly on anxiety disorders and resilience. He now works as a clinician at his practice and teaches at the University Paris 8 in the clinical psychology department. He has also founded Chiasma, a structure that is interested in how our brain reconstructs reality to confirm our prior beliefs and how to promote mental flexibility. Chiasma focuses on how we form opinions and the impact of these mechanisms on our decision making. Albert is also a lecturer and a lead workshop developer for businesses and shares the latest scientific discoveries on behaviour and cognition and how they impact our daily lives.
Publisher: Lindhardt og Ringhof
ISBN: 8727171728
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 145
Book Description
Why are we often convinced that we’re right even when we’re wrong? Why are we jealous, or paranoid, even when we have absolutely no reason to be? Why is it so easy for fake news to spread around the globe and fool us? It’s because we don’t see the world as it is, rather we reconstruct it in our mind. Reality is way too complex and multiple to be apprehended by our capacities of attention, which are quite limited, as well as our brain abilities. That is why our perception of the world is subjective and various elements influence the way we acquire knowledge and form opinions. Our brain is recreating the world in its own way – most of the time for our own good: how hard would it be if, before making a choice, we had to know about all the options available in a given situation? It would take us forever to choose an item of clothing in a store, or a meal in a restaurant! Luckily, our brain can estimate: even if it makes us imperfect and subject to illusion, delusion and error, it allows us to reconstruct the world as we know it, and live in it. However, these very useful mechanisms can sometimes mislead us and have a rather negative impact on our actions, beliefs and opinions: when our brain behaves that way, we say it is biased. Albert Moukheiber gives us tips and tricks to fight against these cognitive biases – the first one being not to trust ourselves too much and to always doubt our thinking processes, especially in this era where social networks spread information like an epidemic. In this book, filled with multiple examples from our daily lives and psychosocial experiments, Moukheiber explores the building blocks of our perception, cognition and behaviour, which are involved in acquiring knowledge or forming opinions. Dr. Albert Moukheiber is a neuroscientist and clinical psychologist. He has worked for 10 years in the psychiatry department at the Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, focusing mainly on anxiety disorders and resilience. He now works as a clinician at his practice and teaches at the University Paris 8 in the clinical psychology department. He has also founded Chiasma, a structure that is interested in how our brain reconstructs reality to confirm our prior beliefs and how to promote mental flexibility. Chiasma focuses on how we form opinions and the impact of these mechanisms on our decision making. Albert is also a lecturer and a lead workshop developer for businesses and shares the latest scientific discoveries on behaviour and cognition and how they impact our daily lives.
The Worry Trick
Author: David A. Carbonell
Publisher: New Harbinger Publications
ISBN: 162625320X
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 267
Book Description
Are you truly in danger or has your brain simply "tricked" you into thinking you are? In The Worry Trick, psychologist and anxiety expert David Carbonell shows how anxiety hijacks the brain and offers effective techniques to help you break the cycle of worry, once and for all. Anxiety is a powerful force. It makes us question ourselves and our decisions, causes us to worry about the future, and fills our days with dread and emotional turbulence. Based in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), this book is designed to help you break the cycle of worry. Worry convinces us there's danger, and then tricks us into getting into fight, flight, or freeze mode—even when there is no danger. The techniques in this book, rather than encouraging you to avoid or try to resist anxiety, shows you how to see the trick that underlies your anxious thoughts, and how avoidance can backfire and make anxiety worse. If you’re ready to start observing your anxious feelings with distance and clarity—rather than getting tricked once again—this book will show you how.
Publisher: New Harbinger Publications
ISBN: 162625320X
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 267
Book Description
Are you truly in danger or has your brain simply "tricked" you into thinking you are? In The Worry Trick, psychologist and anxiety expert David Carbonell shows how anxiety hijacks the brain and offers effective techniques to help you break the cycle of worry, once and for all. Anxiety is a powerful force. It makes us question ourselves and our decisions, causes us to worry about the future, and fills our days with dread and emotional turbulence. Based in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), this book is designed to help you break the cycle of worry. Worry convinces us there's danger, and then tricks us into getting into fight, flight, or freeze mode—even when there is no danger. The techniques in this book, rather than encouraging you to avoid or try to resist anxiety, shows you how to see the trick that underlies your anxious thoughts, and how avoidance can backfire and make anxiety worse. If you’re ready to start observing your anxious feelings with distance and clarity—rather than getting tricked once again—this book will show you how.
Staying Sharp
Author: Henry Emmons, MD
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1476758948
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 288
Book Description
A practical guidebook for maintaining a sharp and healthy mind combines the latest neuroscience research with Eastern holistic mindfulness practices to outline a drug-free program for resilient mental aging.
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1476758948
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 288
Book Description
A practical guidebook for maintaining a sharp and healthy mind combines the latest neuroscience research with Eastern holistic mindfulness practices to outline a drug-free program for resilient mental aging.
Flicker
Author: Jeffrey M. Zacks
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 0199982872
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 361
Book Description
How is it that a patch of flickering light on a wall can produce experiences that engage our imaginations and can feel totally real? From the vertigo of a skydive to the emotional charge of an unexpected victory or defeat, movies give us some of our most vivid experiences and most lasting memories. They reshape our emotions and worldviews--but why? In Flicker, Jeff Zacks delves into the history of cinema and the latest research to explain what happens between your ears when you sit down in the theatre and the lights go out. Some of the questions Flicker answers: Why do we flinch when Rocky takes a punch in Sylvester Stallone's movies, duck when the jet careens towards the tower in Airplane, and tap our toes to the dance numbers in Chicago or Moulin Rouge? Why do so many of us cry at the movies? What's the difference between remembering what happened in a movie and what happened in real life--and can we always tell the difference? To answer these questions and more, Flicker gives us an engaging, fast-paced look at what happens in your head when you watch a movie.
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 0199982872
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 361
Book Description
How is it that a patch of flickering light on a wall can produce experiences that engage our imaginations and can feel totally real? From the vertigo of a skydive to the emotional charge of an unexpected victory or defeat, movies give us some of our most vivid experiences and most lasting memories. They reshape our emotions and worldviews--but why? In Flicker, Jeff Zacks delves into the history of cinema and the latest research to explain what happens between your ears when you sit down in the theatre and the lights go out. Some of the questions Flicker answers: Why do we flinch when Rocky takes a punch in Sylvester Stallone's movies, duck when the jet careens towards the tower in Airplane, and tap our toes to the dance numbers in Chicago or Moulin Rouge? Why do so many of us cry at the movies? What's the difference between remembering what happened in a movie and what happened in real life--and can we always tell the difference? To answer these questions and more, Flicker gives us an engaging, fast-paced look at what happens in your head when you watch a movie.
Your Money and Your Brain
Author: Jason Zweig
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1416539794
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 403
Book Description
Drawing on the latest scientific research, Jason Zweig shows what happens in your brain when you think about money and tells investors how to take practical, simple steps to avoid common mistakes and become more successful. What happens inside our brains when we think about money? Quite a lot, actually, and some of it isn’t good for our financial health. In Your Money and Your Brain, Jason Zweig explains why smart people make stupid financial decisions—and what they can do to avoid these mistakes. Zweig, a veteran financial journalist, draws on the latest research in neuroeconomics, a fascinating new discipline that combines psychology, neuroscience, and economics to better understand financial decision making. He shows why we often misunderstand risk and why we tend to be overconfident about our investment decisions. Your Money and Your Brain offers some radical new insights into investing and shows investors how to take control of the battlefield between reason and emotion. Your Money and Your Brain is as entertaining as it is enlightening. In the course of his research, Zweig visited leading neuroscience laboratories and subjected himself to numerous experiments. He blends anecdotes from these experiences with stories about investing mistakes, including confessions of stupidity from some highly successful people. Then he draws lessons and offers original practical steps that investors can take to make wiser decisions. Anyone who has ever looked back on a financial decision and said, “How could I have been so stupid?” will benefit from reading this book.
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1416539794
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 403
Book Description
Drawing on the latest scientific research, Jason Zweig shows what happens in your brain when you think about money and tells investors how to take practical, simple steps to avoid common mistakes and become more successful. What happens inside our brains when we think about money? Quite a lot, actually, and some of it isn’t good for our financial health. In Your Money and Your Brain, Jason Zweig explains why smart people make stupid financial decisions—and what they can do to avoid these mistakes. Zweig, a veteran financial journalist, draws on the latest research in neuroeconomics, a fascinating new discipline that combines psychology, neuroscience, and economics to better understand financial decision making. He shows why we often misunderstand risk and why we tend to be overconfident about our investment decisions. Your Money and Your Brain offers some radical new insights into investing and shows investors how to take control of the battlefield between reason and emotion. Your Money and Your Brain is as entertaining as it is enlightening. In the course of his research, Zweig visited leading neuroscience laboratories and subjected himself to numerous experiments. He blends anecdotes from these experiences with stories about investing mistakes, including confessions of stupidity from some highly successful people. Then he draws lessons and offers original practical steps that investors can take to make wiser decisions. Anyone who has ever looked back on a financial decision and said, “How could I have been so stupid?” will benefit from reading this book.
Shook One
Author: Charlamagne Tha God
Publisher: Atria Books
ISBN: 1501193260
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 288
Book Description
Charlamagne Tha God, New York Times bestselling author of Black Privilege and always provocative cohost of Power 105.1’s The Breakfast Club, reveals his blueprint for breaking free from your fears and anxieties. Being “shook” is more than a rap lyric for Charlamagne, it’s his mission to overcome. While it may seem like he’s ahead of the game, he is actually plagued by anxieties, such as the fear of losing his roots, the fear of being a bad dad, and the fear of being a terrible husband. In the national bestseller Shook One, Charlamagne chronicles his journey to beat those fears and shows a path that you too can take to overcome the anxieties that may be holding you back. Ironically, Charlamagne’s fear of failure—of falling into the life of stagnation or crime that caught up so many of his friends and family in his hometown of Moncks Corner—has been the fuel that has propelled him to success. However, even after achieving national prominence as a radio personality, Charlamagne still found himself paralyzed by anxiety and distrust. Here, in Shook One, he is working through these problems—many of which he traces back to cultural PTSD—with help from mentors, friends, and therapy. Being anxious doesn’t serve the same purpose anymore. Through therapy, he’s figuring out how to get over the irrational fears that won’t take him anywhere positive. Charlamange hopes Shook One can be a call to action: Getting help is your right. His second book “cements the radio personality’s stance in making sure he’s on the right side of history when it comes to society’s growing focus on mental health, while helping remove the negative stigma” (Billboard).
Publisher: Atria Books
ISBN: 1501193260
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 288
Book Description
Charlamagne Tha God, New York Times bestselling author of Black Privilege and always provocative cohost of Power 105.1’s The Breakfast Club, reveals his blueprint for breaking free from your fears and anxieties. Being “shook” is more than a rap lyric for Charlamagne, it’s his mission to overcome. While it may seem like he’s ahead of the game, he is actually plagued by anxieties, such as the fear of losing his roots, the fear of being a bad dad, and the fear of being a terrible husband. In the national bestseller Shook One, Charlamagne chronicles his journey to beat those fears and shows a path that you too can take to overcome the anxieties that may be holding you back. Ironically, Charlamagne’s fear of failure—of falling into the life of stagnation or crime that caught up so many of his friends and family in his hometown of Moncks Corner—has been the fuel that has propelled him to success. However, even after achieving national prominence as a radio personality, Charlamagne still found himself paralyzed by anxiety and distrust. Here, in Shook One, he is working through these problems—many of which he traces back to cultural PTSD—with help from mentors, friends, and therapy. Being anxious doesn’t serve the same purpose anymore. Through therapy, he’s figuring out how to get over the irrational fears that won’t take him anywhere positive. Charlamange hopes Shook One can be a call to action: Getting help is your right. His second book “cements the radio personality’s stance in making sure he’s on the right side of history when it comes to society’s growing focus on mental health, while helping remove the negative stigma” (Billboard).
Feeling Good
Author: David D. Burns, M.D.
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 0062136496
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 738
Book Description
National Bestseller – More than five million copies sold worldwide! From renowned psychiatrist Dr. David D. Burns, the revolutionary volume that popularized Dr. Aaron T. Beck’s cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and has helped millions combat feelings of depression and develop greater self-esteem. Anxiety and depression are the most common mental illnesses in the world, affecting 18% of the U.S. population every year. But for many, the path to recovery seems daunting, endless, or completely out of reach. The good news is that anxiety, guilt, pessimism, procrastination, low self-esteem, and other "black holes" of depression can be alleviated. In Feeling Good, eminent psychiatrist, David D. Burns, M.D., outlines the remarkable, scientifically proven techniques that will immediately lift your spirits and help you develop a positive outlook on life, enabling you to: Nip negative feelings in the bud Recognize what causes your mood swings Deal with guilt Handle hostility and criticism Overcome addiction to love and approval Build self-esteem Feel good every day This groundbreaking, life-changing book has helped millions overcome negative thoughts and discover joy in their daily lives. You owe it to yourself to FEEL GOOD! "I would personally evaluate David Burns' Feeling Good as one of the most significant books to come out of the last third of the Twentieth Century."—Dr. David F. Maas, Professor of English, Ambassador University
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 0062136496
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 738
Book Description
National Bestseller – More than five million copies sold worldwide! From renowned psychiatrist Dr. David D. Burns, the revolutionary volume that popularized Dr. Aaron T. Beck’s cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and has helped millions combat feelings of depression and develop greater self-esteem. Anxiety and depression are the most common mental illnesses in the world, affecting 18% of the U.S. population every year. But for many, the path to recovery seems daunting, endless, or completely out of reach. The good news is that anxiety, guilt, pessimism, procrastination, low self-esteem, and other "black holes" of depression can be alleviated. In Feeling Good, eminent psychiatrist, David D. Burns, M.D., outlines the remarkable, scientifically proven techniques that will immediately lift your spirits and help you develop a positive outlook on life, enabling you to: Nip negative feelings in the bud Recognize what causes your mood swings Deal with guilt Handle hostility and criticism Overcome addiction to love and approval Build self-esteem Feel good every day This groundbreaking, life-changing book has helped millions overcome negative thoughts and discover joy in their daily lives. You owe it to yourself to FEEL GOOD! "I would personally evaluate David Burns' Feeling Good as one of the most significant books to come out of the last third of the Twentieth Century."—Dr. David F. Maas, Professor of English, Ambassador University
Dirty Tricks of the Brain
Author: Martin Camilleri
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN: 9781494744809
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 186
Book Description
A politically incorrect journey into the workings of the brain that reveals the reason the mental health profession, religion and new age philosophies can do more harm than good. This book is written for you. It is about you. It is about every human being on this planet. This book is about your brain and the tricks it plays on you. Not cool party tricks of the Chris Angel Mind Freak variety, but rather the fundamental dirty tricks of the brain which represent the Big Bang Level. Their impact on humanity is comparable to the splitting of the atom - both wondrous and horrendous. These tricks underlie and impact all we know - everything that has been written about, claimed, or posted as truth. I am not a new age radical, or some political rat-bag out to undermine or push a political agenda. With thirty years of psychology practice under my belt, I want to expose the flaws in our current system and show how humanity has been duped by the brain. A word of warning - in this book I touch on many 'raw' or 'sacred' issues. Past and present, political, cultural, religious, ideological or social issues are challenged. You will wonder why I appear to take on the world and strip it bare. Why don't I just stick to exploring and explaining the brain? It is impossible to discuss the brain, and the tricks it plays, outside of the world it has allowed us to create. Stripping the world of its layers of man-created belief systems is essential. By getting back to basics we can expose the brain's dirty tricks and reveal a core characteristic we can tap for our benefit. This book will challenge much of what you hold dear. For some it will offend or shock. We will put many cherished beliefs under the microscope to illustrate some of the major tricks of the brain. These tricks are the root cause of man's history of violence towards his fellow man, and have resulted in us taking our fragile planet to the brink. They have kept us ignorant, caught up in the myth of mental illness, divided and dangerous. I feel very passionately that it is time for us to grow up and reject any doctrine that is a product of a brain stuck in neutral gear. Beliefs are a product of the brain. This book demonstrates how evolution has primed us to be seduced by the 'what' (belief) while remaining oblivious to the 'how' of the brain. The poor old brain itself is not only the source of all beliefs in the first place, but also engages us in all the related cognitive processes, including subscription to and appreciation of the products we create. It is hardwired to take action - often mindlessly - to act on our beliefs. Despite its role as the originator of beliefs, this aspect receives scant recognition. The ideas in this book threaten the established order of things. My intention is to help wake you from the nasty cognitive-intellectual coma which blankets humanity. Along the way we will use the demolition hammer on some old structures, including the mental health profession and religion. On the positive side, destruction often gives rise to new growth. I hope this book encourages you to examine in a new light everything you have read, been told or have been led to believe. Martin Camilleri, 20 November, 2013
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN: 9781494744809
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 186
Book Description
A politically incorrect journey into the workings of the brain that reveals the reason the mental health profession, religion and new age philosophies can do more harm than good. This book is written for you. It is about you. It is about every human being on this planet. This book is about your brain and the tricks it plays on you. Not cool party tricks of the Chris Angel Mind Freak variety, but rather the fundamental dirty tricks of the brain which represent the Big Bang Level. Their impact on humanity is comparable to the splitting of the atom - both wondrous and horrendous. These tricks underlie and impact all we know - everything that has been written about, claimed, or posted as truth. I am not a new age radical, or some political rat-bag out to undermine or push a political agenda. With thirty years of psychology practice under my belt, I want to expose the flaws in our current system and show how humanity has been duped by the brain. A word of warning - in this book I touch on many 'raw' or 'sacred' issues. Past and present, political, cultural, religious, ideological or social issues are challenged. You will wonder why I appear to take on the world and strip it bare. Why don't I just stick to exploring and explaining the brain? It is impossible to discuss the brain, and the tricks it plays, outside of the world it has allowed us to create. Stripping the world of its layers of man-created belief systems is essential. By getting back to basics we can expose the brain's dirty tricks and reveal a core characteristic we can tap for our benefit. This book will challenge much of what you hold dear. For some it will offend or shock. We will put many cherished beliefs under the microscope to illustrate some of the major tricks of the brain. These tricks are the root cause of man's history of violence towards his fellow man, and have resulted in us taking our fragile planet to the brink. They have kept us ignorant, caught up in the myth of mental illness, divided and dangerous. I feel very passionately that it is time for us to grow up and reject any doctrine that is a product of a brain stuck in neutral gear. Beliefs are a product of the brain. This book demonstrates how evolution has primed us to be seduced by the 'what' (belief) while remaining oblivious to the 'how' of the brain. The poor old brain itself is not only the source of all beliefs in the first place, but also engages us in all the related cognitive processes, including subscription to and appreciation of the products we create. It is hardwired to take action - often mindlessly - to act on our beliefs. Despite its role as the originator of beliefs, this aspect receives scant recognition. The ideas in this book threaten the established order of things. My intention is to help wake you from the nasty cognitive-intellectual coma which blankets humanity. Along the way we will use the demolition hammer on some old structures, including the mental health profession and religion. On the positive side, destruction often gives rise to new growth. I hope this book encourages you to examine in a new light everything you have read, been told or have been led to believe. Martin Camilleri, 20 November, 2013