Your Brain: The Missing Manual

Introduction

This is a book about that wet mass of crumpled-up cell tissue called the brain, and why it's responsible for everything from true love to getting you out of bed in the morning. It's a book about how we think, how we feel, and why it's so difficult to stay away from that second piece of triple-chocolate cheesecake. It's a book that teaches you how to get a good nap, warns you never to trust a memory, and explains why—as successful as you may be—you'll probably never be much happier than you are right now (see Chapter 6).

There are many excellent books that explore the brain's anatomical inner workings. But in this book, biology takes a back seat to practical advice. In other words, you won't just focus on how the brain works, but on how you can use it more effectively. After all, your brain is easily your most important possession (or arguably a strong second place after that slick iPhone or those hot new shoes). It deserves proper upkeep.

Learning how to use your brain means delving into its quirks—and as you'll see in this book, the brain is full of quirks. Unwritten rules shape how the brain interprets a scene, reconstructs a memory, and solves a problem. Most of the time, these rules work to your advantage. After all, if it took you several minutes of conscious thought to separate a traffic sign from a sanitation truck, you'd have an unhappy time crossing the street. But other times your brain's automatic assumptions can mask reality or encourage exactly the wrong ...