I'll admit it. I'm a sucker for brain science. I love learning new things about how our brains work and how to get the most out of this amazing organ. That means I'm always scanning for my next book on the topic. And, when I find it, I'm usually placing an order before I've made it through the table of contents.

With this week's guest, I barely glanced at her book's title before I clicked "buy." That's because the author is the incredible neuroscientist, Lisa Feldman Barrett. Last time she was on the show, we talked about her mind-blowing book, How Emotions are Made. I learned how her research has led to a complete rethinking of, well, how emotions are made.

In this conversation, we talk about her newest book, Seven and a Half Lessons about the Brain.

At first glance, you might think, what does this have to do with my work? The short answer is . . . everything. What you'll learn about your brain will change how you structure your day and, on an even bigger scale, how you interact with other people.

This is a book to savor. It's enlightening. Insightful. And it's downright enjoyable. In fact, you may want to read it in bite-size chunks, like one chapter at a time, because it's a book you may not want to finish too quickly. It's just too good.

Lisa Feldman Barrett is an award-winning Professor of Neuroscience at Northeastern University. She has appointments at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital.

I'm thrilled to have her back on the show.

One quick ask before the interview - if you enjoy the podcast, I'd be grateful if you'd take a moment to rate and review the show on iTunes or wherever you subscribe. The team works hard to produce the podcast - and to keep it commercial free -- and it means a lot for us to know that you enjoy it. Speaking of brain science - a positive rating or review gives us the dopamine hits we need to keep on going.

Episode Links

Lisa Feldman Barrett's Extended Notes for Seven and a Half Lessons about the Brain

The Accidental Species by Henry Gee

The Rationality of Decisions Depends on Behavioural Context

Tuning and Pruning

Cultural Inheritance

Reverse inference problem

The Remembered Presence by Gerald Edelman

Himba people

Hadza people

Why We Want to Squeeze Cute, Little Things

Wired to Wonder by Todd Kashdan

Gray Malin

Curious Minds at Work Team

Learn more about creator and host, Gayle Allen, and producer and editor, Rob Mancabelli, here.

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