Origins of the Human Mind

By: Stephen P. Hinshaw, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Stephen P. Hinshaw

For thousands of years, the human mind has been shrouded in mystery. But with the latest advancements in both our understanding of the brain and the technology we use to look inside it, scientists have vastly improved their grasp of the human mind. Now, more than at any other point in human history, we can better explain and describe how the human mind has evolved; how our genes and environments work together to mold the people we become; and the sources, symptoms, and potential treatment methods for debilitating mental disorders like depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, and many others.

The human mind and its complexities lie at the heart of who we are as human beings. And grasping its origins, no matter how mysterious they can sometimes be, is essential to a well-rounded understanding of answers to questions that have fascinated and perplexed humanity throughout history.

This 24-lecture series is your guide to the latest information and viewpoints on what scientists know about this fascinating subject. Taught by an award-winning teacher whose training as a clinical psychologist straddles both the science of the mind and its impact on individual lives, their comprehensive approach reveals how that science applies to the life of our species - and to your own life as well.

The lectures explore theories about how the mind works on both an evolutionary and individual scale. Each offers its own fascinating insights. But by examining them both individually and together, Professor Hinshaw reveals similarities and differences in viewpoints and approaches that wouldn't be apparent from a focus on just one - providing you with the best possible picture about what the mind truly is.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2010 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2010 The Great Courses

The next best thing to being in class.

Very good teacher. I would recommend this book to all people, but especially to young people. These lectures help us to understand ourselves and others better. The brain, genes, and environments. This is in lecture format, so if at first you find them boring, do not stop. You will not know what you missed, but you will miss what you don't know.
Love this series of teaching lectures. Great addition to Audible.

As a MGTOW I must say I greatly enjoyed this

Every person I know would benefit from knowing this. Now I will listen to it again.

Fascinating! Comprehensive! Enthralling!

I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in what makes humans tick. The professor is brilliant /articulate/skilled at describing cognitive processes/evolution of mind/relevant social contexts. I'm looking forward to listening to future courses given by this talented professional.

Stephen Hinshaw delivers an informative lecture

Excellent series for the budding biologist who is interested in studying the brain. Dr. Hinshaw explains the fundamental and more advanced topics of the human brain, its development, and its illnesses. I would highly recommend lectures 8-11 to any young parent who would like to understand the objective ways to raise a child. This series of lectures covers a fascinating range of topics that I hope my fellow humans will seek to understand.

very informative

Excellent lecturer. Truly enjoyed the lecture and learned substantially. The narration is natural by a respected expert.

Wide Range of Topics

Loved it, maybe not every chapter but was well worth it especially the sections on adhd

Top Notch

A terrific & articulate inter-disciplinary description of the the brain and mind incorporating psychology, neurology, evolution and social sciences.

content good but...

I wanted to love this because this is a fav subject but the Prof speaking was anxiety inducing for me. If I was in his class I would probably enjoy and understand the topic more because of his speech pattern, especially if he was drawing or outlining. The lack of non-verbal nuance just makes me tune out his voice. #ADHD

Beam us up Scotty!

Extremely interesting topic, very thourough, well organized and logically presented but Mr. Hinshaw's narration was quite distracting for me. He has a very unusual speech rhythm with frequent pauses at odd intervals. Through the entirety of the course I kept thinking of Captain Kirk in the Star Trek series.

Very enlightening...

reading! Hinshaw's brilliantly constructed course blends biology, psychology, sociology, developmental science and philosophy to pursue the nature and origins of the most complicated known system in the universe: the human mind. Always intellectual and scientific in approach, Hinshaw never floats too far into speculation, and yet he does not commit the sin of the Functionalists in dismissing the mind as a "mere byproduct of the brain." Intelligent, thought-provoking and challenging even for someone who has spent years in this line of study, this course is one of the best Great Courses I have come across.