Warhead

How the Brain Shapes War and War Shapes the Brain

De: Nicholas Wright

From Dr Nicholas Wright, a leading neuroscientist and advisor to the Pentagon, discover a new perspective on the human brain and on war.

Why did France’s defenders lose to the Nazis, despite having more tanks, troops, and guns? How did Ukraine stand firm against Russia? How do you know if you can trust an ally? How can we make clearer decisions under pressure?

In Warhead, Nicholas Wright takes us on a journey through the brain to show us how it shapes human behaviour in conflict and war. Drawing on his neuroscience expertise and over a decade’s work with the Pentagon, Wright also reveals that, whether we like it or not, the brain is not only built for everyday life, but is wired for conflict. Whether that be in the office or on the battlefield.

Warhead brings cutting-edge research to life through battle stories from history: What was it like for a foot soldier at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, or in China’s Red Army as it fought to survive and triumph throughout the 1930s and 40s? How could leaders such as World War Two tank commanders, Shaka Zulu, or Winston Churchill see through the fog of conflict, make better decisions, and communicate with those who must carry those decisions out? How will humans shape war’s technological futures? Warhead examines why global tensions are rising and how we can defuse them.

In an increasingly dangerous world in which our values and success are under threat, it is essential to understand why humans fight, lose, and win wars, and harness this knowledge to protect our way of life.

©2025 Nicholas Wright (P)2025 Macmillan Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“This remarkable book charts the living history of war and conflict, from what unfolds on the evening news to spellbinding examples from military history. Nicholas Wright’s analysis of our capacity for planning, introspection, perspective taking and metacognition lays bare our capacity for deceit, dehumanisation and destruction. However, the books dénouement revisits these fundaments of the human mind, and they point to another path–a path in which the horrors of war can be avoided through our complementary capacities for consciousness, communication, and construction.”–Karl Friston, Professor Neuroscience, University College London

“I learned a great deal from Nicholas Wright’s unique book about how today’s neuroscience can better explain the workings of the brain, and provide understanding of how our brains feed the roots of human conflict. Highly recommended.”–Professor Sir David Omand, War Studies Department King’s College London and former Director of GCHQ

“In a survival scenario, such as war, fundamental questions arise: How do we survive hunger? How can we think when tired? How do we detect deception? How do we choose our collaborators? In war, if we can’t answer these questions, we will doom ourselves and many others as well. In this distinctive and fascinating book, Nick Wright reminds us of the true importance of all the various brain functions, wherever they may be in the brain's hierarchy of function."—Chris Frith, Emeritus Professor of Neuropsychology, University College London, and author of Making up the Mind: How the Brain Creates our Mental World.