The Evolving Brain

‘A fascinating exploration of how our ancient brains are mismatched for our modern ecosystem, and what we can do about it.’ ANNA LEMBKE, MD, AUTHOR OF DOPAMINE NATION

‘Shines a light on the complexity of the human brain and our resulting behaviours in an exciting and accessible way. This is a book to help us to understand ourselves.’ KATHRYN MANNIX, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF WITH THE END IN MIND AND LISTEN

The modern world can often feel like too much for our brains to handle. Many of us battle loneliness, anxiety and stress. We set unachievable goals for ourselves, becoming miserable when we fall short. We crave validation and compete with those around us, whether through our job titles, social media likes or the size of our homes.

In The Evolving Brain, evolutionary neuroscientist Dr Paul Goldsmith explains why: we are trying to navigate the complexities of modern life with a brain shaped for survival in a very different world. The brain processes that once helped our ancestors to persist can leave us overloaded, restless and unhappy when faced with a world which has transformed beyond recognition. But we don’t have to struggle.

Drawing on cutting-edge neuroscience and case studies from his clinical practice, Dr Goldsmith reveals the hidden logic behind our everyday difficulties. The Evolving Brain is the definitive user’s guide to our ancient mind, offering actionable insights for working with, not against, our ancient wiring in order to live happier, healthier and more connected lives.

Author Biography

Dr Paul Goldsmith is an evolutionary neuroscientist and practising neurologist. He has a triple first in natural sciences from the University of Cambridge and a clinical scholarship from the University of Oxford. He undertook postgraduate medical training in Oxford, Cambridge and at the National Hospital for Neurology in London, followed by a Ph.D. in developmental neuroscience at the University of Cambridge, leading to an interest in evolutionary medicine. He is a visiting professor at Imperial College London in the Institute of Global Health Innovation.