PSYCHOLOGY

The Self Delusion: The New Neuroscience of How We Invent—and Reinvent—Our Identities

by Gregory Berns
Basic. Oct. 2022. 304p. ISBN 9781541602298. $30. PSYCH
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Neuroscience researcher Berns (psychology, Emory Univ.; How Dogs Love Us) explores the overlap between neurology, neuroimaging, and personality. The book is divided into three sections. The first part describes ways people make meaning from narratives in their lives. To do that, he looks at different aspects of the mind and its influence. He also explains why stories are temporary, forever changing. The second section examines the ways in which personal narratives can be shaped (or not) by others. The last part suggests ways of using personal stories and experiences to set or shape one’s future. The author has a clear, frank style that is especially helpful when he describes neuroimaging studies he has conducted and relating them to the greater topic at hand.
VERDICT This book offers much to ponder for readers interested in the relationship between epistemology, personality, and neurology.
Reviewed by A. Gray , Sep 01, 2022
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