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The Master and His Emissary

 19.00

by Iain McGilchrist

‘One of the few contemporary works deserving classic status.’–Nicholas Shakespeare, The Times

‘Persuasively argues that our society is suffering from the consequences of an over-dominant left hemisphere losing touch with its natural regulative ‘master’ the right. Brilliant and disturbing.’–Salley Vickers, a Guardian ‘Best Book of the Year’

‘A landmark. . . It tells a story you need to hear, of where we live now.’–Bryan Appleyard, Sunday Times

 

SKU: 9780300245929 Categories: , Tags: ,

The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World

Why is the brain divided? The difference between right and left hemispheres has been puzzled over for centuries. Drawing upon a vast body of brain research, the renowned psychiatrist, author, and thinker Iain McGilchrist reveals that the difference between the two sides is profound-two whole, coherent, but incompatible ways of experiencing the world. The detail-oriented left hemisphere prefers mechanisms to living things and is inclined to self-interest, while the right hemisphere has greater breadth, flexibility, and generosity.

In the second part of his book, McGilchrist takes the reader 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 the ancient to the modern, from Aeschylus to Magritte. He ultimately argues that, despite its inferior grasp of reality, the left hemisphere is increasingly taking precedence in today’s world-with potentially disastrous consequences.

About the Author

Iain McGilchrist is a former fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, where he taught literature before training in medicine. He now lives on the Isle of Skye, where he continues to write, and lectures worldwide.

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Weight 0.3 kg
Dimensions 12.8 × 3.5 × 19.7 cm