The Private Life of the Brain

Greenfield takes on some of the most difficult questions of philosophy and neuroscience in her latest book, in particular the fundamental issue of what is consciousness. The problem with consciousness is the more you try to think about it, the more you feel you have lost touch with it, but this book deftly and helpfully sets out the main problems.

Consciousness has partly remained an elusive concept for so long because you almost feel you have to try and catch yourself out by lunging at it unexpectedly to finally capture it, but Greenfield amasses a huge array of fascinating data from all branches of contemporary science to provide a useful signpost on how to solve the problem. While she advances her own personal theories - that consciousness has something to do with the extensiveness of the associations in memory and experience that any sensation prompts - she does not try to ram her own ideas down your throat, but instead presents enough useful information to help you make your own mind up.

An unexpected bonus of the book is it devotes an extensive amount of analysis to the problem of pleasure, and comes up with some intriguing answers to why happiness will always be only temporary. However the book is a serious one, and in its quest for precision and accuracy does sacrifice some readability. It would not be suitable for anyone who was not already interested in the brain and had no prior background knowledge on the subject. But if you seriously want to understand yourself, or at least your brain, better, this is essential reading. Review by RAJ PERSAUD (Kirkus UK)