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The Age of Insight

The Quest to Understand the Unconscious in Art, Mind, and Brain, from Vienna 1900 to the Present

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The Age of Insight

By: Eric R. Kandel
Narrated by: James Anderson Foster
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About this listen

A brilliant book by Nobel Prize winner Eric R. Kandel, The Age of Insight takes us to Vienna 1900, where leaders in science, medicine, and art began a revolution that changed forever how we think about the human mind - our conscious and unconscious thoughts and emotions - and how mind and brain relate to art.

At the turn of the century, Vienna was the cultural capital of Europe. Artists and scientists met in glittering salons, where they freely exchanged ideas that led to revolutionary breakthroughs in psychology, brain science, literature, and art. Kandel takes us into the world of Vienna to trace, in rich and rewarding detail, the ideas and advances made then, and their enduring influence today.

©2012 Eric R. Kandel (P)2018 Tantor Art Europe Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Human Brain Health Mental Health Consciousness Emotions Medicine
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A book that covers turn of the 20th century Vienna, art history, art theory, the birth of psychology, the evolution of neurology, theory of mind, theory of consciousness, and the nature of creativity? Check, check, check, check, check, check, check, and check.

Yep, I liked this a lot. Ticked many of my boxes.

The narrator had some very odd pronunciation choices at times - maybe an American thing? - which was a shame, but otherwise this was excellent.

Fascinating balance of art and science (and a bit of psychology)

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This is an interesting look at how in 1900's Vienna, there began a dialogue between art and Psychology, which has continued to develop right up to the present day. Austrian expressionist artists and writers were revealing things about themselves and others through their work. Just as scientists like Freud, were discovering similar things through their studies.
The viewers of art can find empathy with the artist through his work and even bring their own experiences to reveal more about the art.
A fascinating book, that calls for more collaboration between the humanities and the sciences. Not always an easy listen, but well narrated and worth the effort.

Vienna 1900. Art And Psychology A Meeting Of Minds

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I've always admired Kandel. His introduction to behavioural biology was instrumental to my own world view. This superbly researched and articulated story weaving together art history, science history, art criticism, and perceptual biology will again for me, shape the way to come.

a richly detailed history of modern art and science

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