The Runaway Species: How Human Creativity Remakes the World

What is creativity? How does it work? Why do we have it? And where is it taking us?In a time when the old ways of living are being torn up and remodelled, human civilisation is facing challenges that require all our ingenuity to address. In The Runaway Species, neuroscientist David Eagleman and composer Anthony Brandt unravel the threads of the arts, neuroscience, evolution and technology which make up the tapestry of human creativity, leading us on a tour through the history of innovation from the moon landings to Picasso’s ‘Les Demoiselles d’Avignon’.In doing so, Brandt and Eagleman offer a powerful examination of creativity, the strategies which stimulate it, and how it can be a driving force to propel us into the future. Through understanding our ability to innovate – our most profound, mysterious and deeply human capacity – we can rise to meet the challenge of remaking our constantly shifting world.

Reviews of The Runaway Species: How Human Creativity Remakes the World

The unaccountable, jaw-dropping quality of genius — GEOFF DYER * * Observer * * Mind-blowing revelations abound * * Financial Times * * Entertaining and profound: page-turning neuroscience from a bit of a genius * * Guardian * * A shining example of lucid and easy-to-grasp science writing * * Independent * * A fun read by a smart person for smart people . . . It will attract a new generation to ponder their inner workings * * New Scientist * * Popular science at its best * * Boston Globe * * Appealing and persuasive * * Wall Street Journal * * Essential and timely . . . a smart, captivating book that will give you a prefrontal workout * * Nature * * David Eagleman is a brilliant neuroscientist, a bestselling author and a man of enormous discernment * * The Sunday Times * * The posterboy of neuroscience with ideas that will stretch your mind * * Observer * * The rock star of neuroscience * * Telegraph * * Eagleman has a talent for testing the untestable, for taking seemingly sophomoric notions and using them to nail down the slippery stuff of consciousness * * New Yorker * * David Eagleman may be the best combination of scientist and fiction-writer alive — STEWART BRAND David Eagleman is the kind of guy who really does make being a neuroscientist look like fun * * New York Times * * Eagleman provides an excellent overview of the workings of our most vital organ * * Sunday Times * * Bringing a storyteller's articulate and fluid narrative to a scientist's quest, Eagleman dances across an incredible spectrum of issues * * Brainpickings * *