Brain & Belief: An Exploration of the Human Soul

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Summary: Fascinating book and a great read...
Review: Anyone with a somewhat philosophical bent, at some point has wrestled with questions such as: why are we here or what is the Soul? It is the latter of these questions that McGraw addresses in Brain & Belief. Sampling from a variety of disciplines ranging from neuroscience to theology, the author skillfully weaves the historical tale of humanity's conception of the soul and synthesizes it with the findings of modern science. While the analysis is detailed and the research exhaustive, it is McGraw's fluid writing that truly separates this book from other texts. His use of personal experiences -- at times griping and at times humerous -- to clarify his arguments results in a book as entertaining as it is educational. Whether or not you agree with all of McGraw's conclusions, I feel safe in saying that you will find yourself more enlightened after the journey.

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Summary: Educational and entertaining.
Review: BRAIN & BELIEF amply provides that rare combination of education and entertainment. The writing is so graceful that complicated issues are presented with a clarity that sometimes astonishes, always gratifies. Although the information presented is encyclopedic, the book is never stuffy, or dull. The conclusions are often surprising, yet, as with all good literary surprises, so well founded as to be beyond dispute.

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Summary: Thoughtful and wide-ranging
Review: Having always been a reader of philosophy and psychology, I found this book an excellent conjunction of the two. The first section on the history of the soul awoke me to some of the history behind this important idea. The second and third parts which serve to induct the reader into present ideas surrounding the soul and the consequences of accepting or rejecting the basic idea of the immortal soul always kept me challenged--though I very much enjoyed the writing throughout. Highly recommended for people with a philosophical interests.

Rating:
Summary: Thoughtful and wide-ranging
Review: Having always been a reader of philosophy and psychology, I found this book an excellent conjunction of the two. The first section on the history of the soul awoke me to some of the history behind this important idea. The second and third parts which serve to induct the reader into present ideas surrounding the soul and the consequences of accepting or rejecting the basic idea of the immortal soul always kept me challenged--though I very much enjoyed the writing throughout. Highly recommended for people with a philosophical interests.

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Summary: Really Interesting!
Review: I've always found various religious ideas to be really interesting. This author focuses on the human soul and does a good job of trying to describe where it came from (both historically and psychologically) and then tries to use different fields of study to investigate what our modern sciences can tell us about these ancient ideas. Highly recommended to anyone who has pondered life after death.

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Summary: gee.. another teleologist..
Review: In various places of the book the author jumps to conclusion and entertains baised hypotheses. The author also lacks the thorough understanding of the involved issues. He pretty much never seriously presents the problems of the concept of soul, and thorough evidences and analyses against it (e.g., I would expect a comprehensive analysis of split-brain patients, phantom limbs, etc). The whole book is pretty much about beating a strawman that the author builds. Any of Ramachandran, Damasio, Flanagan, Ledoux, Wegner, Pinker, Dennett, Edelman, to name a few, would give much better information that this author. The book itself is very disappointing in this particular subject. I would not recommend anyone to waste money on it unless one wants to endorse another teleologist's ideal for serving for the unfulfilled goals and defending the useless moats.

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Summary: A Necessary and Approachable Book
Review: McGraw is a breath of fresh air at a time when theology continues to attempt to escape the world of (brain) matter and postulate Being with little regard for the phenomenal world of which we are a part. While it is understood that our knowledge of the brain's functions is limited, McGraw's book brings us a few steps closer to understanding the presence of awareness in the cosmos and simultaneously opens us up to questions about our beliefs that we may not have thought to ask. Brain & Belief is a hearty dose of demystification.

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Summary: A fascinating look at the mind-brain paradox
Review: This book confronts one of life's most personal and fascinating paradoxes. Science shows us that the brain is a heap of very fancy chemistry. Yet through consciousness and feelings we experience something more.

The book starts with an exhaustive inventory of traditional and religious thought on the subject over thousands of years. You may want to skim this section.

McGraw then summarizes in 150 pages what modern science has discovered about the workings of the brain.

The third section shows how and why we naturally cling to spiritual beliefs and offers a conclusion.

A great read for anyone interested in science vs. religion or the mind-brain conundrum.


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Summary: Takes on the big questions
Review: This book synthesizes two completely different fields - philosophy and cognitive psychology - to extract some intriguing insights into the origin and definition of the soul.
Few modern writers try to tackle such fundamental philosophical and religious territory and fewer still actually contribute new ideas to the dialogue. McGraw does - with wit and style to boot.