The Wandering Mind: What the Brain Does When You're Not Looking

University of Auckland professor emeritus of psychology Corballis (A Very Short Tour of the Mind) tackles an unusual and ephemeral subject in this study of what he calls "mind-wandering," stating that "for at least half of our lives, our minds are wandering away from the chores of life." Touching on daydreaming (where he invokes the classic "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty"), remembering ("mind-wandering into the past"), and subconsciously planning for the future, Corballis suggests that the brain is designed for unfocused functionality. His topics can seem like a random grab bag of mental traits. Thinking about the past and imagining the future, for instance, are described as a form of time travel. Storytelling, meanwhile, emerges as a way to share mind-wanderings. Psychic powers, if they exist, would be evidence of wandering minds connecting. Corballis also addresses dreams and hallucinations and how they fit into the functioning of healthy and unhealthy minds. The subject matter is fascinating, but the exploration, though often engaging, meanders; Corballis acknowledges that "I have occasionally allowed myself to wander a bit, but the topic itself seems to permit this." (Apr.)