The Ideological Brain - by Leor Zmigrod (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Why do some people become radicalized? How do ideologies shape the human brain? And how can we unchain our minds from toxic dogmas? In [this book], Leor Zmigrod reveals the deep connection between political beliefs and the biology of the brain. Drawing on her own pioneering research, she uncovers the complex interplay between biology and environment that predisposes some individuals to rigid ways of thinking, and explains how ideologies take hold of our brains, fundamentally changing the way we think, act, and interact with others. She shows how ideologues of all types struggle to change their thought patterns when faced with new information, culminating in the radical message that our politics are not superficial but are woven into the fabric of our minds"--

Book Synopsis

Named a best book of the year by The Guardian and The Telegraph

Why do some people become radicalized?
How do ideologies shape the human brain?
And how can we unchain our minds from toxic dogmas?

In The Ideological Brain, Leor Zmigrod reveals the deep connection between political beliefs and the biology of the brain. Drawing on her own pioneering research, she uncovers the complex interplay between biology and environment that predisposes some individuals to rigid ways of thinking, and explains how ideologies take hold of our brains, fundamentally changing the way we think, act and interact with others. She shows how ideologues of all types struggle to change their thought patterns when faced with new information, culminating in the radical message that our politics are not superficial but are woven into the fabric of our minds.

This authoritative, accessible and playful blend of psychology, politics and philosophy explores the cutting-edge of the emerging field of political neuroscience. Zmigrod examines its historical roots before she looks to the future, considering the broader social and political implications of her groundbreaking research. Guiding readers through her experiments, she eventually describes what a free, authentic, and tolerant brain looks like, and explains how anyone can keep their mind open and flexible in the face of extremist ideologies.

Review Quotes

Named a best book of the year by The Guardian and The Telegraph

"A lively new book... Zmigrod is such an appealing writer."
--Jennifer Szalai, New York Times

"Filled with insightful findings, this book shows that ideological extremism and polarization are not just problems to fret about but puzzles that can be studied and understood."
--Steven Pinker, Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology at Harvard University and author of Rationality

"A compelling look at the biological and environmental factors that foster dogma and intolerance.. Zmigrod's thesis is fascinating and likely to form the basis of further enlightenment."
--Financial Times

"The notion that political phenomena would somehow exist in a realm separate from that of human life regulation is pure fiction as Leor Zmigrod demonstrates so clearly. Her book is a must read."
--Antonio Damasio, David Dornsife Chair in Neuroscience at USC, author of Feeling and Knowing

"This remarkable book tells us something fascinating and heartening about the neuroscience of our inflexibilities and our dogmatisms. Lucid and eloquent, The Ideological Brain couldn't be more timely."
--Adam Phillips, author of Missing Out

"Fascinating, insightful, lucidly and entertainingly written, Zmigrod's account illuminates the debate about the nature of ideology and the power it exerts, by bringing cognitive neuroscience-in fact, an intriguing development of it: 'political neuroscience'-to bear on both. An educative, rewarding, troubling, but ultimately hopeful, book."
--A. C. Grayling, author of The History of Philosophy

"An extraordinary, eye-opening, and startlingly original book, showing what ideology does to the human brain, and casting a bright new light on the sources and nature of dogmatism, ideology, and open-mindedness. Packed with insights, this is a remarkable achievement."
--Cass R. Sunstein, Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard University and author of Decisions About Decisions

"If I had to pick one, Zmigrod's would be my book to watch out for in 2025."
--Simon Ings, New Scientist

"Leor Zmigrod's hotly awaited debut. . . uses new research to show that polarized thinking isn't something that just floats through the mind: it changes our entire neural architecture."
--The Telegraph

"Zmigrod reveals the science behind dogma and shows us how to nurture cognitive flexibility instead."
--The Guardian

"A fascinating and important exploration of why and how some people are drawn to authoritarian thinking while others are able to question and resist dominant ideologies."
-- Nigel Warburton, author of A Little History of Philosophy

About the Author

Dr. Leor Zmigrod is a prizewinning scientist and pioneer in the field of political neuroscience. She studied at the University of Cambridge as a Gates Scholar and has held visiting fellowships at Stanford, Harvard, and both the Berlin and Paris Institutes for Advanced Study. She was listed on Forbes's 30 Under 30 in Science and has won numerous prizes, including the Women of the Future Science Award and the Glushko Prize. Her research has been featured widely in the media, including in the New York Times, the Guardian, Financial Times, and New Scientist.