BOOK BRIEF

The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World

Iain McGilchrist
Guide cover placeholder

The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2009

Book Brief

Sparkles iconBeta
Iain McGilchrist

The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2009
Book Details
Pages

608

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Genre
Philosophy

Psychology
Topic
Philosophy

Arts & Culture

Psychology
Publication Year

2009

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

In The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World, Iain McGilchrist explores how different hemispheric functions of the brain have influenced Western culture. The author examines the balance and conflict between the brain's right and left hemispheres, proposing that this division impacts individual experiences and societal developments.

Informative

Contemplative

Challenging

Mysterious

Reviews & Readership

4.5

5,616 ratings

86%

Loved it

9%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Iain McGilchrist's The Master and His Emissary presents an intriguing analysis of the brain's hemispheres and their impact on Western culture. Praised for its scholarly depth and interdisciplinary approach, critics highlight its complexity and sometimes dense prose as potential drawbacks, but its insightful perspective makes it a valuable read for those interested in neuroscience and philosophy.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World?

Readers who enjoy Oliver Sacks' The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat or Daniel Kahneman's Thinking, Fast and Slow will appreciate The Master and His Emissary. This book appeals to those interested in neuroscience's impact on culture, exploring the brain's duality and its influence on Western civilization.

4.5

5,616 ratings

86%

Loved it

9%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

608

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Genre
Philosophy

Psychology
Topic
Philosophy

Arts & Culture

Psychology
Publication Year

2009

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Buy This Book

We’re just getting started

Add this title to our list of requested Study Guides!