How Your Brain Works: A User's Guide to Neuropsychology

One of the world's most influential psychologists turns his attention to some of the most important questions of our lives: Who am I? What am I? What might I become? Join Roy Baumeister, celebrated professor and New York Times best-selling author, on a journey inward to discover the origin and meaning of the self. In 15 audio lectures, Dr. Baumeister draws from his renowned laboratory research to demonstrate the urgency of questions of self and identity in the modern world. Dr. Baumeister begins by showing that the self is what separates humans from other animals. The human self—self-aware, enmeshed in meaningful stories, sensitive to morality and reputation, and endlessly self-altering—has no equal anywhere in nature. The lectures explore the general truths and patterns of the self that have been identified by psychologists while recognizing that each self is unique. Individual lectures address the role of self-esteem, as well as self-control, decision making, and free will. Dr. Baumeister also examines the darker side of the self in lectures on self-deception and self-destructive patterns, including bad decision making and suicide. After listening to this series, you'll have a well-rounded understanding of self that is firmly grounded in scientific research. Perhaps most important, you'll grasp the interpersonal role of the self, which took shape to help us relate to other people and, ultimately, to survive.

This insightful 24-lecture audio course offers you a gripping survey of the most important discoveries in psychology. How do we perceive the world around us? What drives us? How can science help us understand our minds and motivations, along with those of others? Answering these essential questions helps you improve your well-being, empathize with others, and unravel the mysteries of human behavior. And perhaps no field has advanced our knowledge of these topics as much as psychology. With the guidance of award-winning psychologist and Carleton College professor Lawrence Wichlinski, you'll gain a sweeping arc of insights into our minds, motivations, and memories, and much more.  You will begin with a tour of the brain, gaining tremendous insights into its remarkable capabilities and intricacies. From there, you'll learn about social psychology and the cognitive forces that guide our fundamental behaviors: sleep, food, and sex. You will also learn to see the common mental disorders you're familiar with—whether you've experienced them yourself or know someone who has—in a new light.  At the end of the course, you'll take away practical applications from the field of psychology. Channeling groundbreaking research into accessible lectures, Prof. Wichlinski equips you with the tools you need to improve your memory, sleep, social interactions, and more.

Stuart Vyse, Ph.D., is the author of "Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition," which received the William James Book Award of the American Psychological Association. A celebrated psychologist and professor as well as a recognized author, he is the perfect guide for this audio series on the power of superstition. This wide-ranging course reveals the method to our madness in everything from finances to Friday the 13th. An expert on irrational behavior, Prof. Vyse discusses what it means to be rational before delving into the many reasoning errors and psychological challenges that lead us astray. In 15 lectures, you will learn to identify the logical fallacies and quirks of our psychology that tempt us to make unwise decisions. While the course is based in theory, it's also teeming with practical advice. You'll examine several popular conspiracy theories before exploring the remarkable staying power of common "bad luck" superstitions: How did these superstitions come to be? Is it always bad to be irrational? At what point do our beliefs veer into the territory of wishful thinking or willful ignorance? Packed with fun examples and everyday pointers, this course leaves you thinking long and hard about how you think. With Prof. Vyse's guidance, you'll learn to better understand your beliefs and make better decisions.

Who was Alexander the Great? Was he a brilliant, ambitious conqueror or a self-obsessed leader who put his men in harm’s way? A divine figure or a god in his own mind? Join award-winning historian Christopher Bellitto to explore this famously complex figure.. Alexander the Great (ca. 356-323 BCE) was a Macedonian general who brought Greek civilization to the edge of modern-day India. After studying the Iliad, he believed himself to be Achilles reincarnated, imitating the hero of the epic poem in his own military campaigns. Even before he died barely into his thirties, the legends surrounding him were larger than life. In this compelling new audio course, you’ll explore the history and lore surrounding this real man and mythic figure, often by consulting the ancient sources themselves. With Prof. Bellitto, you’ll trace Alexander’s conquests from Macedonia to Asia, assessing his military prowess and leadership skills along the way. You’ll also explore questions about his alleged divinity, his ideas for mixing Greek culture with peoples he overwhelmed, and whether or not he planned to build an empire. Analyzing primary sources as well as context from contemporary historians, you’ll discover wildly different accounts of the same events in Alexander’s life.

A gripping and authoritative 24-lecture history course on the Vietnam War from the award-winning professor who cowrote "Argument without End" with Robert McNamara. Using newly available archival and source material from the United States and Vietnam, Vassar College professor Robert K. Brigham helps you grapple with the legacy of the Vietnam War today. Based on more than 100 trips to Vietnam and extensive interviews with key players from all sides, Prof. Brigham weaves vivid biographical sketches and rich anecdotes into recorded history. His masterful storytelling will help you look behind common assumptions about the conflict.  Not since the Civil War had the American national consciousness been as strained as it was by the conflict in Southeast Asia. Indeed, the controversies that the Vietnam War spurred on the home front are more familiar to many Americans than the policies and motives that guided the conflict. "Vietnam: The Definitive History of the War" fills that gap. The provocative questions Prof. Brigham raises will help you reexamine the war from today's vantage.  Throughout, Prof. Brigham sheds light on the United States and its place in the world today. Under his expert guidance, you will gain fresh understanding of this momentous chapter in American history.

How can you keep your brain sharp at any age? Drawing on the explosion of new evidence about brain health, Dr. Richard Isaacson, MD, shows you how to protect, engage, and exercise your brain over time. It's not just about living longer, but about living better. An award-winning professor of neurology at Weill Cornell Medical College and a leading expert on brain health, Dr. Isaacson is also an exceptionally bright Alzheimer's clinical specialist. He earned his medical degree at age 23, and what's more, he has a personal stake in his research. As a preschooler, his uncle rescued him from drowning in a pool—an episode that bonded them for life. Years later, when Dr. Isaacson was in high school and applying to medical programs, his uncle was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. From that moment forward, Dr. Isaacson dedicated himself to advancing brain science and helping people optimize their brain health. Now, in this 12-lecture series, Dr. Isaacson disseminates his findings to thoughtful people like you—who care about enhancing your quality of life and that of your loved ones. You will reap a host of priceless benefits from this series if you follow Dr. Isaacson's advice. A calm, clear, and light-hearted speaker, he highlights the importance of incremental, actionable steps for optimizing brain health. Using science, you can take proactive steps today to keep your brain healthy and sharp.