TOP BRAIN, BOTTOM BRAIN

In this groundbreaking contribution to the literature of human personality, a celebrated psychologist debunks the left-brain/right-brain theory and offers an exciting new way of thinking about our minds—and ourselves.

For the past fifty years, popular culture has led us to believe in a left brain vs. right brain theory of personality types. Right-brain people, we’ve been told, are artistic, intuitive, and thoughtful, while left-brain people tend to be more analytical, logical, and objective. It would be an illuminating theory if it did not have one major drawback: It is simply not supported by science.

In Top Brain/Bottom Brain, Dr. Stephen M. Kosslyn, a celebrated psychologist and leader in the field of cognitive neuroscience, explains an exciting new theory of the brain for the first time, putting the right-left debate to rest at last. Explaining his extensive research in an inviting and accessible way, Kosslyn describes how the human brain uses patterns of thought that can be identified and understood through four cognitive styles—Mover, Adaptor, Stimulator, and Perceiver. These ways of thinking and behaving shape your personality, and with the scientifically developed test provided in the book, you’ll quickly be able to determine which role best defines you. Once you’ve identified your cognitive style, the practical applications are limitless, from how you conduct business, to your romantic relationships, to your voyage of personal discovery. Stephen M. Kosslyn, Ph.D., is director of the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, where he is also a professor of psychology. G. Wayne Miller is a staff writer at The Providence Journal, a documentary filmmaker, and the author of seven books of nonfiction, three novels, and two short story collections.