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Book Summary and Reviews of Mirroring People by Marco Iacoboni

Mirroring People by Marco Iacoboni

Mirroring People

The New Science of How We Connect with Others

by Marco Iacoboni

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  • Published:
  • May 2008, 320 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

What accounts for the remarkable ability to get inside another person’s head—to know what they’re thinking and feeling? "Mind reading" is the very heart of what it means to be human, creating a bridge between self and others that is fundamental to the development of culture and society. But until recently, scientists didn’t understand what in the brain makes it possible.

This has all changed in the last decade. Marco Iacoboni, a leading neuroscientist whose work has been covered in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and The Wall Street Journal, explains the groundbreaking research into mirror neurons, the "smart cells" in our brain that allow us to understand others. From imitation to morality, from learning to addiction, from political affiliations to consumer choices, mirror neurons seem to have properties that are relevant to all these aspects of social cognition. As The New York Times reports: “The discovery is shaking up numerous scientific disciplines, shifting the understanding of culture, empathy, philosophy, language, imitation, autism and psychotherapy.”

Mirroring People is the first book for the general reader on this revolutionary new science.

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Reviews

Media Reviews

"Iacoboni's expansive style and clear descriptions make for a solid introduction to cutting-edge neurobiology." - Publishers Weekly.

"This model of good and useful science is an essential purchase for cutting-edge psychology and philosophy collections." - Library Journal.

"The final chapters veer into random philosophical and cultural musings - the author argues, for example, that the science of mirror neurons should be put to use reducing violence, controlling addiction and introducing Americans to other cultures. Jargon-riddled and dense - not for the uninitiated." - Kirkus Reviews.

This information about Mirroring People was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

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