Controlling Mental Chaos: Harnessing the Power of the Creative Mind

Pineda (The Social Impulse), emeritus professor of cognitive science at UC San Diego, urges readers in this unsuccessful guide to cut through anxiety and ego-centrism to access a state of calm creativity. Drawing on his experience as a cognitive scientist and Buddhist “spiritual seeker,” Pineda argues that the human mind is clouded by a “left-brain interpreter” that “produces after-the-fact explanations about behavior” and locks “frenetic” and “self-obsessed” thoughts into place. As a corrective, he suggests readers “self parent” the mind and choose “the relationship you want to have with yourself” through such practices as nonjudgmentally cataloging one’s thought patterns. Chapters include exercises (taking a walk and practicing deep breathing to “calm down the ongoing chatter of your... uncontrolled mind”) and reflection questions (“Are you sensitive to your own needs?”). While there are some insightful moments, they’re undermined by chapter intros that illustrate lessons with unconvincing narratives featuring a fictional person, the prevalence of hard-to-remember initialisms (AAECC, SMM, RUBI), and a tone that’s stuck somewhere between neuroscience textbook and self-help manual but fails to convince as either. Those interested in the intersection of neuroscience and Buddhism would be better served by works from such authors as Richard Davidson and Daniel Goleman. (July)