March 13: Books On Sale Today

Soon: An Overdue History of Procrastination, from Leonardo and Darwin to You and Me by Andrew Santella

 

 An eclectic look at the nature of procrastination that includes firsthand interviews with psychologists, philosophers, priests; as well as a rundown of historical procrastinators, including Leonardo da Vinci, Frank Lloyd Wright, Old Testament prophets, and Civil War generals. Jennifer Egan calls it, “Catnip, in book form, for procrastinators and non-procrastinators alike.” Also available on audio.

My Plastic Brain: One Woman’s Yearlong Journey to Discover If Science Can Improve Her Mind by Caroline Williams

 

Science journalist Caroline Williams spends a year exploring neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections) to find out whether she can make meaningful, lasting changes to the way her brain works. The approach is akin to The Happiness Project, Sold Out, No Impact Man, The Year of Yes, or GoatMan, in that we’re seeing the results of a personal experiment.

The Fears of the Rich, The Needs of the Poor: My Years at the CDC by William H. Foege

 

Dr. Foege is the former director of the Center for Disease Control. This first hand account tells the stories of  the eradication of smallpox; the discovery of Legionnaires’ disease, Reye syndrome, toxic shock syndrome, and HIV/AIDS; and threats of terrorist attacks.

 

 

The Biological Mind: How Brain, Body, and Environment Collaborate to Make Us Who We Are by Alan Jasanoff

 

Another brain book, this one taking a neuroscientist’s view that the brain is given too much credit for equating to the self. Brain is neither a soul nor an electrical network. Our selves aren’t just inside our heads–they’re spread throughout our bodies and beyond. Only once we come to terms with this can we grasp the true nature of our humanity.

Library Journal says, “Appropriate for both neuroscientists as well as general readers interested in gaining a better understanding of this vital organ.”

 

When Likes Aren’t Enough: A Crash Course in the Science of Happiness by Tim Bono

 

Aimed at today’s young adults dealing with social media envy, high-stakes testing, college rejections, and helicopter parents, psychology professor Dr. Tim Bono distills his popular college course on the science of happiness into this creative, often counter-intuitive, masterclass for young adults to lead happier, more fulfilling lives. Also available on audio.