Publisher's Synopsis
When faced with complexity, we become impatient. Our "hare brains" are unprepared for ambiguity, paradox, and "sleeping on it". We usually assume that the "hare brain" will beat out the intuition of the "tortoise mind". However, research in cognitive science is changing our understanding of thought. It suggests that patience and confusion, rather than rigour and certainty, are the vital precursors to wisdom.;In this volume, psychologist Guy Claxton describes the mind's three processing speeds. The first speed is instinctive and faster-than-thought; this mode could be called our "wits". The middle speed is used for logical thought and involves weighing the pros and cons and solving problems; this mode could be called "intellect". The third mode of thinking is the undermind, the slowest, most contemplative - and the most undervalued.;According to Claxton, whether we're considering the origin of the universe or marital mishaps, we must learn the patience not to force the issues, the readiness to mull things over, and the humility to allow our unconscious mind to do the thinking. The tortoise cannot fail to win when it has intuition and inspiration on its side.
