Mind Hacks: Tips & Tricks for Using Your Brain

by Tom Stafford, Matt Webb

Hacks

On This Page

Description

The brain is a fearsomely complex information-processing environment--one that often eludes our ability to understand it. At any given time, the brain is collecting, filtering, and analyzing information and, in response, performing countless intricate processes, some of which are automatic, some voluntary, some conscious, and some unconscious. Cognitive neuroscience is one of the ways we have to understand the workings of our minds. It's the study of the brain biology behind our mental show more functions: a collection of methods--like brain scanning and computational modeling--combined show less

Tags

Recommendations

Member Reviews

5 reviews
The title of this book is misleading. It should be called 'An Owner's Manual for Your Senses'. But since it's part of O'Reilly's 'Hacks' series, I guess the title was a given.
'Mind Hacks' tells you how and why sensory illusions work, and how your senses can be fooled. It cites recent research, and provides dozens of examples, as well as web links to many, many more. It's worth the price for the optical illusions alone.
I'm really into the brain and how it functions, and I think this is the best popular introduction to the workings of the human senses that I have ever seen. It's one of my favorite books.
Be sure to check out this book's companion web site at: http://www.mindhacks.com/
A collection of illusions, perceptual paradoxes and logical failings that humans are burdened with. Interesting and well researched and cross referenced. Don't expect a how to book for self improvement. These are more interesting tricks for conversation, persuasion perhaps in advertising or web design. Artist and other performers may benefit from these.
I guess I thought this would be more practical? You know, something like Tips & Tools for Using Your Brain. But it was more just a re-hashing of a lot of recent neuro/cognitive scientific studies, which I guess would be interesting for some people. Some people who aren't me or my friends.
A great collection of mind tricks and games. These demonstrate and lead to a better understanding of the mind.

Members

Recently Added By

Lists

Books Read in 2014
2,344 works; 86 members

Author Information

4 Works 973 Members
3+ Works 970 Members

Series

Common Knowledge

Canonical title
Mind Hacks: Tips & Tricks for Using Your Brain
First words
"What to do with too much information is the great riddle of our time." - Theodore Zeldin - An Intimate History Of Humanity

Classifications

Genres
Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, Science & Nature
DDC/MDS
612.82Applied science & technologyMedicine & healthHuman Body SystemsNervous systemCentral nervous system
LCC
QP376 .S7615SciencePhysiologyPhysiologyNeurophysiology and neuropsychology
BISAC

Statistics

Members
968
Popularity
27,426
Reviews
5
Rating
½ (3.65)
Languages
5 — English, Finnish, German, Italian, Japanese
Media
Paper, Ebook
ISBNs
8
UPCs
1
ASINs
2