Op-Ed

Patt Morrison Asks: Jonah Lehrer, brain teaser

He's put himself at the crossroads of neuroscience and the humanities with books delving into the neuro-mysteries of the way the brain makes decisions.

Science writer Jonah Lehrer is seen at the "You and Your Irrational Brain" panel discussion in Long Island City in 2008. (Thos Robinson/Getty Images / March 30, 2012)

By Patt Morrison

April 1, 2012

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riveragelsinger at 5:04 PM April 01, 2012

My wife, the consummate artist, and I, the foreign language guy, were a bit perplexed by our son's insistent interest during high school in the sciences, especially in the neurosciences. He handed off "Proust Was a Neuroscientist" at the end of his freshman year at university for me to "get it." I was intrigued, that Lehrer, whose German family name means "teacher," is so young and so wise to have demonstrated how artists often demonstrate best what science means. I read "How We Decide" and in the summer of 2010, my son and I packed it in our SMARTcar for a month-long cross-country trip. Imagine what a month-long discussion about neuro-science is like. I can't wait to read "Imagine." Great interview, Ms. Morrison. I hope to hear you in person Tuesday, Master Lehrer.

Papersails at 1:07 PM April 01, 2012

Oh, HOSSANAHS! Thank you Ms. Morrison and Mr. Lehrer for the 'green space' you've offered up amongst the din of these internet gatherings! I felt a dose of a 'salon' experience waft over me while reading your repartee.

I work in a business world, advertising/marketing, that is truly dependent on creativity (mine and others). Yet... I experience a serious and disturbing reluctance, from many, in understanding the 'space' required for these brain pan resources their very endeavors rely upon. This is a mystery unto itself... I sense 'fear' is the prime motivator keeping many people from giving the creative process more recognition... despite the reality of the difference between 'surviving' and 'thriving'... Your discussion had me ruminating on this particualr 'teaser'....

Thank you, again, for your illuminations...

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