Book Nook - The Little Book of Big Stuff About the Brain

First published in 2008 to huge acclaim, Dr Andrew Curran’s The Little Book of Big Stuff About the Brain: The true story of your amazing brain is returning with a fully revised edition. This bestselling title from Independent Thinking’s ‘Little Book’ series takes readers on an accessible, light-hearted and engaging journey through the science of the brain: what it is, how it works, what it looks like, and where it came from.

At a time when our attention spans are eroding, social media is rewiring how we think, and AI is reshaping how we learn, there’s never been a more urgent need to understand the science behind how our brains function.

One of the most powerful ideas in this book is that your brain isn’t fixed – it’s constantly rewiring and adapting. Andrew explores the extent to which we can ‘grow our own brains’ through the choices we make and the experiences we engage with. This fundamentally optimistic view asserts that by understanding how our brains work, we can work with it more deliberately.

There is nothing about ourselves that we can’t fundamentally change if we are prepared to do the work that is required. This means that no matter how deep the damage runs, there is still hope that it can (eventually) be unlearned – or at least diluted to a level where it no longer governs our lives.

Andrew says: 'Neurobiology has exploded with knowledge that allows us to understand the most basic principle of a successful life - successful learning and, when necessary, unlearning.

I have worked to write the story of this process and the many things that impact how we learn what we learn. The Little Book of Big Stuff about the Brain (and my show The Little Show of Big Stuff about the Brain) are for anyone who wants to understand why they are who they are - and how to optimise learning in all environments from schools through offices to their own homes.

Once you have read it, you will not be surprised by the punch line - love and loving is the most potent driver of learning in your brain.’

Dr Andrew Curran is a practising paediatric neurologist and neurobiologist who is also committed to using his extraordinary knowledge of the workings of the human brain to make a difference in the educational experience of all young people.

He has been involved with Manchester University's Department of Education, developing research ideas looking at the use of emotional literacy in our classrooms. More recently, he has conducted work exploring the processing of reward in the human brain. He believes passionately in the importance of understanding the individual, connecting with them emotionally and leading them into self-directed learning.

His book, The Little Book of Big Stuff about the Brain, is recognised as one of the leading books about understanding brain-based learning and the importance of emotional literacy in our classrooms and in our lives. His latest book, Get Off the Sofa, is a general health book aimed at anyone from 5 ' 85 who wants to understand their health more. He is a talented and internationally recognised presenter both to live audiences and on television, where he was a main presenter on BBC3's Make My Body Younger. He is an associate of Independent Thinking Ltd.