Seriously, Read This Book

So, I just finished Proust Was A Neuroscientist by Jonah Lehrer, and I'm telling you, you have to read this book. It's all about artists who intuited the way the brain worked before science could explain it. And it's fascinating. Lehrer expertly analyzes the work of the writers, poets, painters, musicians, and chefs (yes, even chefs) and then explains fairly complex neuroscience in terms that even I can understand. So you read this book and you learn about art and science and totally get smarter.

Plus, Lehrer also helpfully provides you with all kinds of smart-sounding scientific anecdotes that you can whip out at parties. It'll go something like this: "Of course, the most daring experiment proving the plasticity of the brain was when Dr. Sur successfully rewired the mind of a ferret so that his retina was attached to his auditory cortex. The ferret could totally still see! And his auditory cortex reorganized itself to resemble a viual cortex." Other people at the party:"Oh my gosh, that is the smartest person I've ever met." "I totally dig that hot nerd vibe." "I just fell in love."

See? Read the book. It'll make strangers at parties love you.