Mindfield: How Brain Science is Changing Our
World by Lone Frank




the fifth scientific revolution

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Lone
Frank scrutinises the fifth revolution in science, that of neuroscience after
those of Copernicus, Darwin, Freud, and Crick and Watson. She chooses the themes
of religiosity, morality, happiness, social skills, economics, commercial and
the detection of lies to explore aspects of emergent neuroscience. While the
religiosity discussion gets a little full on, albeit enjoyably, Frank reviews
these areas through her trademark refreshing and sceptical interviews with
leaders in the fields of neuroscience. I have followed the experts to whom Frank
has introduced me through her books and found she is always near the mark. I now
regularly check their work as well.

There
is a general disciplinary focus on social neuroscience and an underlying theme
of better exposition of neuroscience breakthroughs to improve society. Specific
studies on areas from mirror neurones to meditation are difficult to tie
together, but Frank achieves this successfully. The discussion of lie-detecting
reveal unexpected future consequences, to me at least, which set the stage well
for Frank's final consideration of neuroethics and our place in the world. The
argument that society and its policy makers are ill prepared for the
ramifications of neuroscience, as these roll out over a decade or so, is
compelling. Frank also amply justifies her earlier foray into
metaphysics.

Half an hour after finishing this book and doing other
things, I found myself sitting back and thinking "Wow". This is my usual
reaction to this exciting and engaging author and I can see her work in print
and other media getting better and better.