Jim Davies has spent his professional life--as a writer and professor of cognitive science--examining how humans can better understand their minds and unlock their full power and potential. He's written about myriad feelings and emotion centers of the mind (Riveted), and he's explored facets of creative human thought, for better and for worse (Imagination).
In Being the Person Your Dog Thinks You Are, Davies once again generously shares his technical expertise to show--and also deconstruct--how the science of the mind can help people focus on things that matter and, thus, lead to more fulfilling lives. He frames his optimistic narrative very loosely around the idea that our dogs look up to us with awe and love, and everyone has the power to live up to that perceived potential, improving themselves and world around them.
Davies explores three key areas: personal productivity, happiness and moral goodness. He shares concrete stories and examples of how to live more mindfully by strategizing ways to overcome distraction and self-sabotage; the benefits of setting up reward systems; and how to cultivate happiness from within. He blends the personal with the universal, addressing larger issues of morality, charity, partnering and parenting, and the role of activism.
As in his other books, neuroscience is the cornerstone of Davies's material, which is deeply rooted in psychological literature on human cognition. However, his lively, accessible presentation demonstrates how the science of the mind and its operating systems can be richly entertaining and utterly inspiring. --Kathleen Gerard, blogger at Reading Between the Lines