The Matter With Things: Our Brains, Our Delusions, and the Unmaking of the World, Iain McGilChrist

The Matter With Things is an ambitious, thought-provoking work that challenges readers to reconsider not only how their brains are organized, but how societies can (and must) recalibrate to survive interconnected crises. McGilchrist’s interdisciplinary breadth is at once its greatest asset—his ability to link split-brain experiments to global environmental collapse—and, at times, a source of overload, as the sheer volume of examples and quotations can feel daunting.

Yet, if one is willing to engage deeply, the payoff is a compelling vision: a world in which rational analysis and holistic empathy are realigned, creating pathways toward more humane, sustainable, and meaningful futures. For those interested in the intersection of neuroscience, philosophy, and cultural critique—and who seek actionable ideas for education, policy, and personal practice—McGilchrist’s volume remains a crucial, forward-thinking manifesto.