Book Description
In this provocative book, Paul Glimcher argues that economic theory may provide an alternative to the classical Cartesian model of the brain and behavior. Glimcher argues that Cartesian dualism operates from the false premise that the reflex is able to describe behavior in the real world that animals inhabit. A mathematically rich cognitive theory, he claims, could solve the most difficult problems that any environment could present, eliminating the need for dualism by eliminating the need for a reflex theory. Such a mathematically rigorous description of the neural processes that connect sensation and action, he explains, will have its roots in microeconomic theory. Economic theory allows physiologists to define both the optimal course of action that an animal might select and a mathematical route by which that optimal solution can be derived. Glimcher outlines what an economics-based cognitive model might look like and how one would begin to test it empirically. Along the way, he presents a fascinating history of neuroscience. He also discusses related questions about determinism, free will, and the stochastic nature of complex behavior.
Customer Reviews:
book on history of neurscoence from a neuroscientist.......2007-06-04
Great book about history of neuroscience from Descartes to the present and where it moves next. Ideas are clearly expressed and convincing evidence is presented. Somewhat populist, though, but interesting to read. Good for beginners in neuroscience like myself.
Groundbreaking thesis.......2007-02-03
This book is much more than its title. It provides a fascinating history of neurobiology and probability/game theory, leading up to the thesis that the brain is a Bayesian probability calculator and game-theoretic randomizer.
The Bayesian part refers to the ability of the brain to combine current incoming sensory data with current priors to estimate probabilities relevant to current decision-making. The game-theoretic randomizer part refers to the fact that to succeed in the evolutionary game, an animal, say a caveman, needs to act somewhat unpredictably so as not to be eaten by a predator. If the caveman were totally predicable in his/her actions, then an evolutionary adversary could predict what he/she was going to do, and use that information to defeat him or her. This is consistent with optimal strategies which are derived through game theory a la von Neumann.
The science is not certain how the brain accomplishes this (yet); however, it appears to be through parts of the brain continually estimating likelihoods, with thresholds that, when exceeded, result in actions on the part of the individual.
I am very happy that I saw this book in the MIT Press display at the ASSA conferences this January, and that it had a cool-looking illustration on the cover, or I probably wouldn't have bought it. I highly recommend it.
In the interest of completness, I should mention some of the things I didn't like so much. First of all, I wish that Glimcher had mentioned the research of DaMasio, who wrote a fascinating book named "DeCarte's Error". In that book DeMasio presents a thesis that emotions pay a key role in decision-making. As pointed out by other reviewers, Glimcher doesn't even mention this line of research. Secondly, the book was a bit dry and academic in tone from time to time, but that is a small complaint given how interesting the content was.
A good start.......2006-12-26
Neuroeconomics is a relatively new field but one that shows great promise in providing insight into how the human brain makes financial decisions and to what degree human behavior is determined by the environment. It could give answers as to what motivates people to acquire wealth in spite of not having enough time to enjoy this wealth and shed light on why some people are risk adverse while others are not. If neuroeconomics is to be a successful theory it must of course deal with what is real and observable, and not engage in fanciful, philosophical speculation. This is another way of saying that it must be scientific in its methodologies, however difficult this might become. To perform real-time experiments in economics is extremely difficult, and this difficulty is exacerbated by the need to integrate what is observed in the everyday life with what is observed in laboratory experiments on the brain that are performed with the assistance of fMRI and other brain-scanning techniques. This book is an effort to introduce the field of neuroeconomics as a counter to what the author calls the `classical Cartesian paradigm' and its arbitrary classification of behaviors into `simple' and `complex'. The simple behaviors are essentially deterministic and are now called `reflexes.' Complex behaviors, on the other hand, are the result of processes that occur in the `soul', and have no discernable relation between cause and effect. These processes are called `cognitive mechanisms" by some and their scientific viability has been cast in doubt.
The book should not be considered one that attempts to establish the field of neuroeconomics as a scientific one. Instead, the author wants to define cognitive mechanisms in the same way as that done in the field of economics. Only then can they be referred to as scientific, argues the author, and he further asserts that the use of reflexes itself is not scientifically viable. It is therefore the Cartesian paradigm of dualism that the author argues against, and neuroeconomics plays on a minor role in his case. Readers may therefore be disappointed if they are expecting a more thorough discussion of neuroeconomics. Indeed, it is only in the last two chapters of the book that the author gets down to analyzing the neural correlates of economic decision-making.
In these chapters the author discusses experiments that he and a collaborator performed that point to the parietal cortex as being the part of the brain that is responsible for decision-making. It is interesting that for animals at least, game theory is thought to be the best computational model for indeterminate decision-making. Bayesian probability theory plays a role in these computational models, and work from ecological biologists is quoted as supporting the notion that models based on economics are needed to describe the decision-making processes of animals as they encounter situations where fitness must be maximized. The author gives examples of how neuroeconomic strategies can be employed in practice, but he is also aware of the enormity of the problem of building a complete neuroeconomic theory of the brain, a task requiring large amounts of empirical data and an understanding of how individual behaviors have their origins in computational processes that occur in various neural modules in the brain.
Mind-altering book about the mind.......2005-12-05
This is undoubtedly one of the most important conceptual books on the brain I have read in the past decade. Irrespective of how one feels about the author's ideas, familiarity with them is already a prerequisite for any serious philosophical debate about the structure of the mind and free will. This small book with a somewhat awkward title could have been easily called "New Ideas on the Brain and the Mind". It is not another popular book on the brain. It introduces a radically new approach to the brain, but does it so smoothly that stylistically the book reads like Charles Darwin's "The Origin of Species". After you close the last page and look up, you know something has changed.
As with all great insights, the idea the author proposes is deceptively simple. Here is how I'd state it (my apologies for possible distortions):
The anatomy and physiology of the brain have been designed by evolution to look for optimal solutions. The brain appears sloppy, but it is a remarkably precise machine specifically designed to deal with an environment whose true state can never be known precisely. Some optimal solutions will be deterministic, but many optimal solutions will require a truly random behavior. That's it.
This can be shown mathematically (in probability theory and game theory), by observing actual animal behavior (in behavioral ecology), and by studying the brain (in experiments done by Dr. Glimcher and others). Now the mind-body dualism can survive only if it no longer hinges on nondeterministic vs. deterministic behavior. My decision to work or shirk has no longer anything to do with free will - I'm unconsciously randomizing my actions based on the optimal probabilistic strategy that a mathematician can compute. The soul and free will may well continue to exist (I recommend W. James's "The Varieties of Religious Experience" as a relevant reading), but they certainly have to explain themselves better. Simple unpredictability will no longer do.
The book has a remarkable, perhaps even unique, review of how our ideas about the brain have come to be what they are and how they have been influenced by the development of mathematics. These chapters can be used in many courses virtually independently of the rest of the book.
1. I suspect that the author's explanation of Bayes's theorem (p. 194-197) will be obscure to people who are not already familiar with it. I'd write it in the symmetric form, P(A|B)P(B) = P(B|A)P(A), and would use a simple, more natural example.
2. The book should have mentioned "Spikes: Exploring the Neural Code" (ed. F. Rieke and others), another very important book, after which sensory perception can no longer be viewed the same. While Dr. Glimcher's approach is based on Bayes's theorem and game theory, "Spikes" approaches perception by using Bayes's theorem and information theory. It will be every interesting to watch probability theory, game theory, and information theory mutate and merge into one mathematical theory of the brain (which so far does not exist; see my review of "The Handbook of Brain Theory and Neural Networks").
3. I was left wondering how stochastic differential equations (SDEs), widely used in economics, might be used to understand the brain. It is a little odd that the author has not even mentioned them, especially because they may help us model how a Nash equilibrium is reached by the brain. Without understanding the dynamics of this process and its implementation in the brain, this new approach will fail (as the author is acutely aware).
4. Frankly, I don't find the described experiments to be particularly convincing, but these experiments are very, very difficult to do, and very few people are doing them.
5. The author could have mentioned an interesting biography of Rene Descartes by R.A. Watson ("Cogito, Ergo Sum: The Life of Rene Descartes"). This biography is a bit strange, but still useful.
All in all, Paul Glimcher has written a superb book. This truly new conceptual approach will change our views on why we sometimes sit down and feel compelled to write such long reviews.
Uncertainty is the Law of Probabilities in Perception.......2005-04-19
Glimcher looks carefully at a paper by Shadlen & Newsome on MT neurons in behavioral paradigms. The concept of Neuroeconomics as developed in the book Behavioral Game Theory by Colin Camerer is developed somewhat by Glimcher, but I think he realizes we are at the beginning of the role of uncertainty and probability in brain function. Certainly digital EEGs and brain waves show randomness, even though Llinas and others claim that 40 Hz. is the frequency of binding. I think there are going to be other binding frequencies as well. Multielectrode arrays will allow us to look not only at frequency maps, but spatial, color, and other probability maps through redundancy and repetition of brain symbols in adjacent microanatomical regions of the brain, like in V1 in the primate. Glimcher begins his glorious ride and tour through Neuroscience by describing its History: DesCartes, John Stuart Mill, Sherrington, and so on. This book is written for the specialist and the novice; the writing style is simple and lucid. Paul models probabilistically LIP neurons by looking at receptive field paradigms. Near the end of the book, Glimcher ties everything together in a cohesive theory of Neuroeconomics. This will prove to be a valid and interesting approach to neurophysiological function. Another book to look at exploring similar issues is Probabilistic Models of the Brain by Rao.
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Decisions, Uncertainty, and the Brain: the Science of Neuroeconomics.(Book Review): An article from: Journal of Economic Issues
William H. Redmond
Manufacturer: Association for Evolutionary Economics
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Release Date: 2005-07-31 |
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Journal of Economic Issues, published by Association for Evolutionary Economics on December 1, 2003. The length of the article is 1270 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Decisions, Uncertainty, and the Brain: the Science of Neuroeconomics.(Book Review)
Author: William H. Redmond
Publication:
Journal of Economic Issues (Refereed)
Date: December 1, 2003
Publisher: Association for Evolutionary Economics
Volume: 37
Issue: 4
Page: 1196(3)
Article Type: Book Review
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
Between dealing with difficult people and navigating through unexpected and complicated situations, the typical day at the office involves making countless choices on how to engage with others. To succeed in the long run, good work relationships must be carefully developed and maintained.
A Survival Guide for Working with Humans presents real-life scenarios of specific work relationship problems, along with interactive quizzes, and answers on how to solve each of the problems. The book shows readers how to:
* Deal with ethical dilemmas in the workplace * Resolve everyday conflicts * Know when to speak up, when not to, and what to say * Make a graceful retreat from an unwinnable confrontation
A snappy, conversational style combines with dozens of practical tools and examples to make a fascinating, essential book.
Customer Reviews:
Applicable.......2007-03-09
If youhave to deal with any of these type people you need to read this book
A Waste of Money.......2007-02-06
This book has very simplistic ideas and lacks the constructive solutions that I hoped to learn. For example, her advice for dealing with people prone to explosive temper is "If you stay around someone and feel you are walking on eggshells, find ways to handle the eggs--and that person--more gently so the shells don't break." Reading her advice made me wonder what kind of education and experience she has that qualifies her to write such a book. Interestingly enough, there's very little information about that in her bio. It looks like her Ph.D is in journalism or English. I would love to send this book back and get my money back. I would probably spend it better on a book written by an educated, credentialed, psychologist who understands the difference between constructively handling people with behavior problems versus enabling them to continue to abuse others and make work life hades.
The Rodney King guide to the Workplace.......2006-09-04
This book is really great; I call it the Rodney King guide to the workplace because it really is about "Can't we all just get along?" And, if we can't....then it gives you the guidelines to follow to see heads roll, or sometimes, how to choose to lose your own head on the chopping block.
I like that it doesn't give a "pat" answer, but provides several best/worse case scenarios & allows you to think the problem out, hopefully BEFORE you encounter it. If you are in the middle of dealing with one of these treasured co-workers, then this guide will be very helpful in giving you strategy for dealing with the problem in a real life way.
Loved it!
Helpful for Anyone who Works with Humans.......2006-09-03
This book provides some very useful information that will assist any manager in helping their staff members to work better with each other. It is clearly and thoughtfully written. I highly recommend this book to anyone who works with Humans!
Definitely good book........2005-05-28
I like the stories in the book. Those are prime examples of people I saw and I'm seeing every day. The book is excellent for understanding different people and different situations in which you might interact with them. Obviously the book is written by someone who understands people's mind.
Book Description
Thank You for Being Such a Pain is a pioneering spiritual self-help book for dealing with difficult co-workers, neighbors, and family members. Its insights, anecdotes, and guidelines will help you to overcome the distractions and energy drain, the minor annoyances and major distress that difficult people can cause. Based on the author's popular workshops, the book includes many instructive, practical, and spiritual exercises for doing inner work, enabling you to transform your difficult encounters and relationships into surprising and powerful sources of spiritual growth.
Mark Rosen shows readers how to go beyond just trying to cope with difficult people. His evocative and penetrating perspectives lead you to the deeper meanings that underlie your encounters, based on four basic premises: (1) life's seemingly random encounters are not so random; (2) pain and suffering are just as important for personal growth as love and joy; (3) learning how to transform enmity is one of life's most important lessons; and (4) healing relationship problems requires one to pay attention to the ongoing spiritual lessons that life presents.
From explaining why people are difficult and how your own personality causes you to view others that way, Rosen gently leads you to a deeper understanding of the spiritual forces at work in your life. Each chapter contains a section called "Explorations," composed of engaging exercises to strengthen inner knowing and change the nature of the troublesome relationship. For example, Rosen shows how bestowing a silent blessing on the difficult person can benefit you both, and he gives
illustrative scenarios with nasty co-workers and intrusive in-laws that show the principles of the book in action. Drawing on spiritual practices, psychological principles, and entertaining stories for this innovative practical approach and its enlightening exercises,
Thank You for Being Such a Pain will change forever the way you see the difficult people in your life.
Customer Reviews:
If people give you heartburn, READ THIS BOOK.......2007-06-16
I read most of the first section with gritted teeth, since it sounded to me like the author was making excuses for bad behavior and invalidating my feelings. I highlighted sentences here and there that I felt were relevant and took the rest with a large grain of salt. But after I finished reading it the first time, was actively implementing his suggestions and seeing significant results, I started the book again and saw it in a completely different light. What formerly made me grit my teeth now made sense - it's not as much about them as it is about me and my reaction. It's also hugely about my perception.
The annoying people are still annoying and probably always will be. However, the practical suggestions in this book have helped reduce the annoying person's wear and tear on me. When I'm not all churned up over other people's behavior, I enjoy my life a lot more.
Now, I read a few pages every morning before I go to work and I'm on my fourth time through. The pages are wrinkly from highlighting and it's almost time to buy a clean copy and start over. I can't believe how different my days are and how I don't feel totally wrung out when I get home in the evening. I'm also actually starting to get along with people who used to really push my buttons.
I've purchased this book for three of my friends, who also thought it was awesome, but they'll have to write their own reviews. Thank you, Dr. Rosen!!!
Requires emotional maturity.......2007-05-24
It took me several efforts to really start digging into Thank You for Being Such a Pain. Though conversationally written, I had to adjust my scholarly mindset to be open to the author's diligent reiteration that the book is based on his own personal philosophy, which is by no means the voice of authority. Because of this, I suspect I would prefer to attend one of the author's presentations over the book alone. That said, the book is thought-provoking but requires emotional calm and maturity from the reader, and an openness to the idea that the number of difficult people in one's life might simply be all in one's head.
If you are a person in crisis, desperately searching for strategies to deal with a difficult co-worker, spouse, or friend, this might not be the first book you want to pick up; especially if your eyeballs are spinning in their sockets. If you're ready to calmly move beyond the sense frustration that grips your waking moments and you aren't opposed to having some scripture tossed into the mix, Rosen's book might prove helpful.
Beautifully Written.......2007-03-18
Yes challenging people create growth & opportunity for us. They may also drive us crazy or cause great suffering as well. Dr. Rosen's writing style & voice are both engaging & intelligent. It's a far more personal book than I would have at first guessed. I love this book so much I have purchased it twice & eventually friends in need of loving guidance have absconded with those copies. It is a remarkably thoughtful & intelligent book. One which you will find yourself returning to again & again. I only wish that in the 10 years since Rosen published this that he would please write another.
Difficult people force us to think and grow.......2005-04-30
_The central idea of this book is that there is a spiritual reason that we encounter difficult people (and that they encounter us.) As the author states, we are not on this earth just to have fun- we are here to refine our character, develop our talents, and contribute our unique gifts toward the greater good. Often this means that we are provided with the ideal foe- one that pushes all of our buttons. Instead of automatically striking back, we need to try to find out why this is so. That is why this book is so useful, for it not only lists every known way of trying to deal with another person that you have a problem with, but also with how to try to understand their motives.
_Still, to his credit, the author recognizes that there are those that are so unreasonable that we will have no choice but to cut them off- and perhaps warn others. You just don't do this until you have exhausted all other options. Also, it is recognized that it is healthy and normal to have extreme emotional reactions to difficult people (how many authority figures have you encountered that considered your anger a worse sin than the offense that triggered it?)
_I've come to the conclusion that the author is correct in his views. There are no coincidences in this life- not if we are sensitive and introspective enough to recognize and interpret them. Plus, the purpose of this life is to learn and grow- and often that means the pressure of conflict. In and of itself, conflict is not good- it is the effort to understand both your motivations and that of others that is of value.
_This book isn't a cure-all for interpersonal conflicts by any means. However it is a good basis for a "reasonable man's standard" to use with dealing with others. Don't be too upset if you encounter people on which the approach simply will not work. Personally, over the years I've notice that there seem to be more and more people who simply cannot see that they are violating other's rights- or they simply do not care. Maybe that is why we are here- to be a thorn in their side....
And remember- some people are merely different, not difficult.
Thank You book is a restorative gem-my story.......2003-08-23
I am finishing an internship position working under a supervisor whose leadership style was a mix of authoritarian/ laisse faire. Metaphorically, I was in boot camp/ either sinking or teaching myself to swim. I was weak with writing paperwork and it often resulted in my supervisor ridiculing me to the whole department. I sometimes had to stand up to the supervisor without unleashing my wrangling emotions. I had to be very clear, justify my actions and not hold resentment. In other words, discipline myself. This book gives the mentholated rub needed. It is very helpful. It is very instructional, offering lots of techniques, warmth, and beautiful insight into a painful situation. Yes it is a gem of a book. It allowed me to stay in the training and learn to be more effective and efficient. The big bonus is that I grew emotionally. I learned to sit more with difficult emotions.
Book Description
Here is basic psychological advice and a list of do's and don'ts when dealing with difficult colleagues, unreasonable clients, and hard-to-please bosses. New titles in the growing Business Buddies series for career-minded men and women offer tips, checklists, do's and don'ts, and general information for getting ahead in the world of business and management. They are practical, quick-reference fact books, focused to help readers set priorities and goals. They are not lengthy theoretical essays on business and corporate topics. Both beginning job hunters and experienced business professionals will find these quick-read guides filled with practical advice that they can put to immediate use
Book Description
Working with difficult people is always a challenge, but it's possible to defuse tense situations through an understanding of aggressive behavior. Roy Lilley provides practical ways to recognize the different types of difficult people, resolve disputes and handle complaints. This easy-to-follow book is essential for managers looking to improve performance, sales people looking to win more business and anyone who works with the difficult colleagues or the public.
Average customer rating:
- So-So
- A most effective tool book
- Getting Them To See It Your Way: Dealing With Difficult and
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Getting Them To See It Your Way:Dealing With Difficult And Challenging People
Judith, Ph.D. Segal , and
Judith Segal PhD
Manufacturer: Lowell House
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0737303778 |
Customer Reviews:
So-So.......2004-03-06
Dr. Segal gives descriptions of several types of difficult people and some strategies on how to deal with them.
The book was a little superficial in some parts because it did not give enough or clearer information. Dr. Segal could've gotten into more detail on how to handle difficult people.
Overall the book did not rock my world but it did give some good info.
A most effective tool book.......2002-01-26
This book is my "tool book" and mental support on a daily ba sis. The author analyzes and categories difficult people, but does not bore you with psychology details. You won't go through pages of personaly differences. You get effective and useful tips that you can use in many situations. You become calmer and less bothered by difficult people because you know their types, their behavior, and what you can do.
I have read this book 3 - 4 times now. Every time I found something new. You can use it as a reference book - looking up the types you have to deal with, and finding the skills you need.
It's also written in a fun-to-read kind of way, but with simple and clear messages...
Absolutely a best tool book!!
Getting Them To See It Your Way: Dealing With Difficult and.......2001-05-15
After looking over several books on this topic, I have found Judith Segal's book to be the most accessible in its approach. Without over-analyzing, the author stakes out the "territory", loosely categorizing difficult and challenging people into type pools. With humor and believeable anecdotes, Segal deftly offers the reader ways to see a problematic relationship and the skills to handle it. I have definitely seen the benefits of applying some of the techniques outlined in this book. Originally, I took this book out of the library, but I intend to purchase it for my personal library. It is a valuable source of reference.
Book Description
Helpful tools for coping with stressful personal interactions at work are provided in this practical guide for understanding and dealing with the wide range of characters found in the workplace. Dealing with difficult colleagues, bosses, and staff can have far-reaching effects on career, health, and happiness if not addressed and diffused. In a straightforward style, this volume addresses a variety of issues regarding personality clashes in the office from minor tensions to outright war. Applicable to any career stage or type of work, it provides employees with the knowledge they need to cope with a wide variety of difficult people.
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Dealing with Difficult People
Marilyn Wheeler
Manufacturer: Random House Business Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 071265903X |
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- Deflation: What Happens When Prices Fall
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- Dynamic Asset Pricing Theory, Third Edition.
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- Dynamics of the Mixed Economy: Toward a Theory of Interventionism (Foundations of the Market Economy Series)
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- Economics Today: The Micro View plus MyEconLab Student Access Kit (13th Edition)
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