Novel Sunday V

[Barrett Dorko]

Let’s read a book together. I found this one soon after arriving at the Cuyahoga Falls public library and now it is my newest favorite book of all time. I want to post about it each Sunday for a while.

The title is New – Understanding our need for novelty and change by Winifred Gallagher.

I’ve found that I like reading about how we came to be the way we are by evoking its evolutionary advantage. This explains that which is often inexplicable otherwise and often highlights the unconscious motivation that is the remnant of our kluge of a brain. After all, most of us have one.

Neurons change when our visual field is altered in some manner. The neurons’ “motivation” in this miniscule drama is the same as yours on a vastly larger scale; to stay on top on important new developments in their domain and tune out the humdrum, so that they’re ready to respond appropriately to whatever happens next.

I’m reminded of this old thread, especially this quote from the first post:

Simplification leads to the unexpected, especially the fact that much more value is delivered than is expected.

I had a patient return to my location last week with continued complaints of pain and she stated that she was frightened by the machinery there. She stated, “I hate therapy.”

I offered her something she didn’t expect; something much simpler and less threatening – and I know her neurons lit up.

[Ken Jakalski]

Hi Barrett!

I just downloaded the book to my Kindle. Its spring break here in Lisle, which means I'm looking forward to catching up on some reading.

[John W]

I've got the audiobook. Not having to rewind nearly as much as Pink's book, Drive so far.

So far, I'm getting the sense that the human brain is by its very nature neophilic. However, environmental circumstances can either exaggerate, suppress or, if once suppressed, unleash it- as seems was the case with Eleanor Roosevelt.

And me.

[byronselorme]

I just finished reading Chapter 11. I have to admit it stirred quite a bit of guilt for how often I look for new posts on SS even. That constant search for the next possibility of a dopamine burst.

The greatest challenge of our age now (I think anyway) is to harness our desire for the new, channel it towards things that have value regularly (but not always), and fight against the cacophony of blinking lights, beeps, ads, and videos that scream for our attention.

[Ken Jakalski]

Hi Barrett!

This passage early on his hit me:

"Almost everything I was tuaght as a grad student thrity years ago is now wrong. We're realizing that mental disorders are relly brain problems, which gives us a lot of insight into ho they must be handled."

[Barrett Dorko]

Ken,

I for one would prefer being described as someone with a "brain lesion" (perhaps reversable) or a "personality varient" rather than being called "a jerk."

Not that I've ever heard that last one or anything.