The Extended Mind

“Annie Murphy Paul has written one of those rare and revelatory books that will change the way you see—and use—your brain. What a relief to learn you don’t have to be smarter to be smarter. You just have to stop relying so hard on your dumb head and look more to the inspirational spaces and people outside it.” —Florence Williams, author of The Nature Fix
 
*“*The Extended Mind is a thrilling account of the true nature of the human mind. Annie Murphy Paul makes the provocative argument that the mind is more than just a brain trapped inside a skull—and shows how our best thinking occurs outside the brain, in the ways that we interact with the larger world and the larger world interacts with us. Packed with fascinating research in cognitive science and the gripping stories of some of the brightest luminaries of history, The Extended Mind will change the way you understand yourself and may even change how you live your life. I couldn’t put it down.” —Emily Esfahani Smith, author of The Power of Meaning
 
“The Extended Mind argues that our creativity, our intelligence, and even our memories are embodied not just in the wet matter of our brains, but in the world all around us. This is a profoundly interesting book that invites us to radically change how we think about thinking.” —Joshua Foer, author of Moonwalking with Einstein
 
“Just when I thought I was stuck with the brain I have, Annie Murphy Paul reveals that I can do better! Much better! This fascinating tour of the latest science reveals all the ways we can get smarter by changing our physical spaces, moving our hands and bodies, and thinking together, with other humans. An inspiring guide to living fuller lives by getting outside our own heads.” —Amanda Ripley, author of The Smartest Kids in the World
 
“Like Thinking, Fast and Slow, this riveting book both transforms our understanding of thought and shows us how to think better. It is not just fascinating but thrilling and liberating to realize our minds are not trapped in the dark inside our skulls but always reaching outside for tools and movement and other minds to think with.” —Larissa MacFarquhar, author of Strangers Drowning
 
“Genuine revolutions in thought are few and far between, but this is the real deal. Minds reside in bodies, and our bodies do things in a surrounding world, making use of implements that extend and transform our natural capacities. How do we grasp reality? Not, it turns out, according to the story we have been telling about the mind for about four hundred years. In The Extended Mind, we learn that modern society is built on some premises that simply don’t hold up, and are making us miserable. With grace, clarity, and a humane eye for the truly significant, Annie Murphy Paul brings this revolution to bear on the challenge of living well. This is stuff you can use.” —Matthew B. Crawford, author of Shop Class as Soulcraft
 
“In The Extended Mind, author Annie Murphy Paul explains why the key to thinking better sometimes lies in using our brains less. By extending our minds through our bodies, physical surroundings, and relationships, we can work more productively and solve problems more creatively. The Extended Mind uses stories and science to show us how it’s done.” —Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit and Smarter Faster Better
 
“In The Extended Mind, science writer Annie Murphy Paul shows us how we can ‘think outside the brain’—that is, draw the stuff of the world into our trains of thought. We limit ourselves when we think only with our heads. Extending our minds opens up a host of new possibilities, allowing us to become more focused, more productive, more creative—in a word, smarter.” —Susan Cain, author of Quiet
 
“Packed with cutting-edge research, compelling real-world examples, and deep insight, The Extended Mind provides a revolutionary framework to help us understand how our brains work. It’s one of those rare books that I found so interesting that I couldn’t put it down, and the minute I finished, I started making changes in my life.” —Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project
 
“Powerful, actionable, and whip-smart—this book is proof that when you rethink how thinking works, you open the door to a world of new possibilities. I guarantee that Annie Murphy Paul’s concepts, case studies, and research-based tips will help you and your group connect, create, and perform in new ways.” —Daniel Coyle, author of The Talent Code and The Culture Code
 
“Anyone who wants to think better, more creatively, or more collaboratively—and who doesn’t?—must read this book. It has the potential to revolutionize classroom design, office practices, parenting techniques, and even exercise habits. Annie Murphy Paul has done the hard work of distilling and synthesizing twenty years of research in multiple fields, all so that we can apply brain science to getting outside our brains. A fascinating read!” —Anne-Marie Slaughter, CEO of New America and author of Unfinished Business
 
“What if we don’t just think with our heads? In this delightful book—clear and provocative and filled with vivid examples and wise advice—Annie Murphy Paul explores the radical idea that our mental processes extend outward from our brains and into our bodies and our physical spaces and the people around us. This ambitious work by one of the best science writers alive will change how you think about thinking.” —Paul Bloom, Yale University psychologist and author of How Pleasure Works
 
“When it comes to your identity, there is no clear line where your brain ends and your body, your environment, and your culture begin. In this tour de force, Annie Murphy Paul unmasks the larger story of who we are.” —David Eagleman, Stanford University neuroscientist and author of Incognito and Livewired
 
“The very smartest people know how to draw upon the wisdom of their entire world, including their environment and also their whole body, not just their brain. The Extended Mind is the very best guide on how to do this and an entertaining read as well.” —Tyler Cowen, George Mason University economist and coauthor of the Marginal Revolution blog
 
“Annie Murphy Paul has written a very illuminating book; it made me think more capaciously about the mind and brain.” —Howard Gardner, Harvard University professor of education and author of Frames of Mind
 
“Annie Murphy Paul has written a book that will help teachers and parents to get the most out of school. The Extended Mind is not just a fascinating read, firmly grounded in science—it will help you, and your students and your children, to think better.” —Daniel Willingham, University of Virginia psychologist and author of Why Don't Students Like School?
 
“Our minds shape our perception of the world and our position in it. This is almost too obvious to mention. The idea that the converse is true takes some getting used to, however, but that’s where Annie Murphy Paul comes in. Her investigation of this unexpected idea brings it suddenly to life, first connecting you to the secret constellation of beliefs you already hold on the topic—that a walk will clear your head; that a spot at the table by the windo…