The Extended Mind - by Annie Murphy Paul (Paperback)

About the Book

"A bold new book that proves our bodies and surroundings know more than our brains do"--

Book Synopsis

A bold new book reveals how we can tap the intelligence that exists beyond our brains--in our bodies, our surroundings, and our relationships.

Use your head.

That's what we tell ourselves when facing a tricky problem or a difficult project. But a growing body of research indicates that we've got it exactly backwards. What we need to do, says acclaimed science writer Annie Murphy Paul, is think outside the brain. A host of "extra-neural" resources--the feelings and movements of our bodies, the physical spaces in which we learn and work, and the minds of those around us--can help us focus more intently, comprehend more deeply, and create more imaginatively.

The Extended Mind outlines the research behind this exciting new vision of human ability, exploring the findings of neuroscientists, cognitive scientists, and psychologists, and examining the practices of educators, managers, and leaders who are already reaping the benefits of thinking outside the brain. She excavates the untold history of how artists, scientists, and authors--from Jackson Pollock to Jonas Salk to Robert Caro--have used mental extensions to solve problems, make discoveries, and create new works. In the tradition of Howard Gardner's Frames of Mind or Daniel Goleman's Emotional Intelligence, The Extended Mind offers a dramatic new view of how our minds work, with practical advice on how we can all think better.

Review Quotes

​"An acclaimed science journalist demystifies how our most important thinking often happens outside our heads."--Adam Grant, author of Think Again and Originals, on LinkedIn as "The 12 New Leadership Books to Read This Summer" "In The Extended Mind, author Annie Murphy Paul explains why the key to thinking better sometimes lies in using our brains less. By extending our minds through our bodies, physical surroundings, and relationships, we can work more productively and solve problems more creatively. The Extended Mind uses stories and science to show us how it's done."--Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit and Smarter Faster Better "Fascinating, sure-footed and wide-ranging"--The Wall Street Journal "In The Extended Mind, science writer Annie Murphy Paul shows us how we can 'think outside the brain'--that is, draw the stuff of the world into our trains of thought. We limit ourselves when we think only with our heads. Extending our minds opens up a host of new possibilities, allowing us to become more focused, more productive, more creative--in a word, smarter."--Susan Cain, author of Quiet "The Extended Mind argues that our creativity, our intelligence, and even our memories are embodied not just in the wet matter of our brains, but in the world all around us. This is a profoundly interesting book that invites us to radically change how we think about thinking."--Joshua Foer, author of Moonwalking with Einstein "Packed with cutting-edge research, compelling real-world examples, and deep insight, The Extended Mind provides a revolutionary framework to help us understand how our brains work. It's one of those rare books that I found so interesting that I couldn't put it down, and the minute I finished, I started making changes in my life."--Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project "Just when I thought I was stuck with the brain I have, Annie Murphy Paul reveals that I can do better! Much better! This fascinating tour of the latest science reveals all the ways we can get smarter by changing our physical spaces, moving our hands and bodies and thinking together, with other humans. An inspiring guide to living fuller lives by getting outside our own heads."--Amanda Ripley, author of High Conflict and The Smartest Kids in the World "Powerful, actionable, and whip-smart, this book is proof that when you rethink how thinking works, you open the door to a world of new possibilities. I guarantee that Annie Murphy Paul's concepts, case studies, and research-based tips will help you and your group connect, create, and perform in new ways."--Daniel Coyle, author of The Talent Code and The Culture Code "When it comes to your identity, there is no clear line where your brain ends and your body, your environment, and your culture begin. In this tour de force, Annie Murphy Paul unmasks the larger story of who we are."--David Eagleman, Stanford University neuroscientist and author of Incognito and Livewired "The very smartest people know how to draw upon the wisdom of their entire world, including their environment and also their whole body, not just their brain. The Extended Mind is the very best guide on how to do this and an entertaining read as well."--Tyler Cowen, George Mason University economist and co-author of the "Marginal Revolution" blog "Anyone who wants to think better, more creatively, or more collaboratively--and who doesn't?--must read this book. It has the potential to revolutionize classroom design, office practices, parenting techniques, and even exercise habits. Annie Murphy Paul has done the hard work of distilling and synthesizing twenty years of research in multiple fields, all so that we can apply brain science to getting outside our brains. A fascinating read!"--Anne-Marie Slaughter, CEO of New America and author of Unfinished Business "Annie Murphy Paul has written a very illuminating book; it made me think more capaciously about the mind and brain."--Howard Gardner, Harvard University professor of education and author of Frames of Mind "What if we don't just think with our heads? In this delightful book--clear and provocative and filled with vivid examples and wise advice--Annie Murphy Paul explores the radical idea that our mental processes extend outward from our brains and into our bodies and our physical spaces and the people around us. This ambitious work by one of the best science writers alive will change how you think about thinking."--Paul Bloom, Yale University psychologist and author of How Pleasure Works "Annie Murphy Paul has written a book that will help teachers and parents to get the most out of school. The Extended Mind is not just a fascinating read, firmly grounded in science--it will help you, and your students and your children, to think better."--Daniel Willingham, University of Virginia psychologist and author of Why Don't Students Like School? "Genuine revolutions in thought are few and far between, but this is the real deal. Minds reside in bodies, and our bodies do things in a surrounding world, making use of implements that extend and transform our natural capacities. How do we grasp reality? Not, it turns out, according to the story we have been telling about the mind for about 400 years. In The Extended Mind, we learn that modern society is built on some premises that simply don't hold up, and are making us miserable. With grace, clarity and a humane eye for the truly significant, Annie Murphy Paul brings this revolution to bear on the challenge of living well. This is stuff you can use."--Matthew B. Crawford, author of Shop Class as Soulcraft "Annie Murphy Paul expands our notion of where thinking takes place, and even what thinking means. She moves thinking out of our individual brains, and into a relationship with outside spaces and other people. The Extended Mind is a truly revolutionary book."--Scott Barry Kaufman, host of The Psychology Podcast and author of Transcend "Our minds shape our perception of the world and our position in it. This is almost too obvious to mention. The idea that the converse is true takes some getting used to, however, but that's where Annie Murphy Paul comes in. Her investigation of this unexpected idea brings it suddenly to life, first connecting you to the secret constellation of beliefs you already hold on the topic--that a walk will clear your head; that a spot at the table by the window will bring your thinking to life; that writing it out by hand and physically shaping the words will alter what you write and your memory of it. Then it will take you on a jou

About the Author

ANNIE MURPHY PAUL is an acclaimed science writer whose work has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, Scientific American, and The Best American Science Writing, among many other publications. She is the author of Origins, selected as a New York Times Notable Book, and The Cult of Personality, hailed by Malcolm Gladwell in TheNew Yorker as a "fascinating new book." Her TED Talk has been viewed more than 2.6 million times. Paul is a recipient of the Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Journalism Fellowship, the Spencer Education Journalism Fellowship, and the Bernard L. Schwartz Fellowship at New America. A graduate of Yale University and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, she is currently a Learning Sciences Exchange Fellow at New America.