“[This] book will convince you that forgetting helps you remember and distractions can make you more creative.” —Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take, and host of TED’s WorkLife podcast “Illuminating, and a joy to read, [Scatterbrain] offers … a refreshingly accessible and relatable take on the brain’s inner workings that should appeal to both science buffs and casual readers.” —Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) In this mind-bending book, an esteemed neuroscientist explains why perfectionism is pointless—and argues that mistakes, missteps, and flaws are the keys to success. Remember that time you screwed up simple math or forgot the name of your favorite song? What if someone told you that such embarrassing “brain farts” are actually secret weapons, proof of your superiority to computers and AI? In Scatterbrain, we learn that boredom awakens the muse, distractions spark creativity, and misjudging time creates valuable memories, among other benefits of our faulty minds. Throughout, award-winning neuroscientist Henning Beck’s hilarious asides and brain-boosting advice make for delightful reading of the most cutting-edge neuroscience our brains will (maybe never) remember.

Another dazzling collection of fact, fiction, and wit from the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning master of hard science fiction! Larry Niven is the New York Times bestselling author of such classic science fiction novels as Ringworld and Destiny's Road. His previous collection, N-Space, was lauded by the Houston Post as "outstanding . . . hours of entertainment," while Publishers Weekly called it "a must for science fiction fans." A follow-up volume, Playgrounds of the Mind, was similarly praised by Kirkus Reviews: "An abundance of Niven's curious yet disciplined inventiveness and his fun-filled knack for turning seemingly absurd notions into credible, absorbing fiction. Grand entertainment." Now, ten years later, Scatterbrain collects an equally engaging assortment of Niven's latest work, all in one captivating volume. Here are choice excerpts from several of his most recent novels, including his upcoming Ringworld's Child and Rainbow Mars, as well as numerous short stories, nonfiction articles, interviews, editorials, collaborations, and correspondence. True to its title, Scatterbrain roams all over a wide variety of fascinating topics, featuring Niven's singular insights into everything from space stations to convention etiquette. So give yourself a treat, and feel free to pick the brain-or Scatterbrain-of one of modern science fiction's most fascinating thinkers.

Scatterbrained, incorrigible and irrepressible - Booky will win you over in this Canadian classic set in Depression-era Toronto. It's almost 1933 and the Great Depression has hit the east end of Toronto. Booky's father can't find work; her mother is expecting another baby; the bailiff keeps threatening to evict the family from their home; and her older brother Arthur is terribly annoying. Yes, life is full of setbacks. But through the eyes of Booky Thomson the world has an energetic, rosy tinge: there are street games to play at night with the neighbourhood kids; butter and white sugar sandwiches; important talks with her Grandpa; riding the streetcar to her Aunt Susan's nut and candy shop; and an oh-so-special afternoon at the talking picture show. And soon, soon, she knows her parents will stop fighting, her hunger pangs will subside, and her family will laugh again. With nostalgic black-and-white photos from the era throughout, this treasure of a book offers an authentic, poignant glimpse into one family's struggle to stay together when the world around them was falling apart.

Little Miss Scatterbrain is always in a muddle! So, when she decides to go on holiday, will everything go to plan?

Here in the wild-n-wacky pages of Scatterbrain is an assembly of comics and children's book talent like no other ever produced. This praised anthology features the monocular adventures of Steve Guarnaccias American Illustration Award-winning Kid Cyclops, along with delightful tales from the honed, silly minds of Jim Woodring, Sergio Aragons, Steve Parkhouse, Kilian Plunkett, Evan Dorkin, Jay 'Jetcat' Stephens, Dave 'Weasel' Cooper, and more. Plus, the whole jolly, head-spinning affair is headlined by ABU Gung from perennial award-winner Mike 'Hellboy' Mignola, and lovingly wrapped in a new cover by Craig Thompson, along with comics and illustrations by this award-winning creator of 'Goodbye, Chunky Rice. Don't miss it!

In the dim light of a forgotten attic, the long-lost diaries of the scatterbrained have been unearthed, their weathered pages a testament to the dark and twisted tales they contain. Each entry is a portal to a world of horror, where reality bends and twists like a serpent coiling in the shadows. Within the pages of "Journal of the Scatterbrain," readers embark on a journey through the depths of terror, where every twist and turn brings forth a new revelation, a new nightmare waiting to unfold. The journey begins with a deadly game of tag, where innocence is shattered against the jagged edges of fear. What starts as a harmless childhood pastime quickly descends into a harrowing struggle for survival, as the rules of the game become twisted and sinister. Next, readers are drawn into a wizard's duel, where magic crackles in the air like electricity and destinies are forged in the fires of conflict. Spells collide with a thunderous roar, casting eerie shadows against the walls as the battle rages on. But the horrors of the scatterbrained are not confined to the realm of fantasy. In a chilling twist, a horror movie date takes a sinister turn, as the screen becomes a window into the abyss and the boundaries of reality blur with each passing scene. What was meant to be a night of popcorn and thrills becomes a descent into madness, as the characters find themselves trapped in a nightmare from which there is no escape. And yet, the horrors do not end there. Indulge in a delicious dinner with the devil, where temptation dances on the edge of damnation and every bite brings one step closer to oblivion. Lose yourself in the pulsating rhythm of a night out at the club, where the beat of the music masks the whispers of darkness lurking in the shadows. But perhaps the most chilling tale of all is that of a teacher pushed to the brink, willing to go to any lengths to impart a lesson. In the halls of academia, a game of survival unfolds, where the boundaries between student and teacher, predator and prey, blur into a maelstrom of madness and despair. These are but a few of the twisted tales ripped from the entries of the scatterbrained, each one a thread in the tapestry of horror that awaits. Join us as the clock ticks down to the witching hour, where every story holds a secret, and every turn of the page brings us closer to the heart of darkness.

A novelist and a neuroscientist uncover the secrets of human memory. What makes us remember? Why do we forget? And what, exactly, is a memory? With playfulness and intelligence, Adventures in Memory answers these questions and more, offering an illuminating look at one of our most fascinating faculties. The authors—two Norwegian sisters, one a neuropsychologist and the other an acclaimed writer—skillfully interweave history, research, and exceptional personal stories, taking readers on a captivating exploration of the evolving understanding of the science of memory from the Renaissance discovery of the hippocampus—named after the seahorse it resembles—up to the present day. Mixing metaphor with meta-analysis, they embark on an incredible journey: “diving for seahorses” for a memory experiment in Oslo fjord, racing taxis through London, and “time-traveling” to the future to reveal thought-provoking insights into remembering and forgetting. Along the way they interview experts of all stripes, from the world’s top neuroscientists to famous novelists, to help explain how memory works, why it sometimes fails, and what we can do to improve it. Filled with cutting-edge research and nimble storytelling, the result is a charming—and memorable—adventure through human memory.

This book has been replaced by Smart but Scattered, Second Edition, ISBN 978-1-4625-5459-1.