As the mother of a pre-teen with Autism Spectrum Disorder, I found this quite interesting. There is a school of thought that differentiates between right-brained autism versus left-brained autism. I’ve followed the work of Dr. Robert Melillo on this topic for a while. Those with non-speaking autism, such as my son, are considered under this school of thought to be right-brain dominant while those with strong language skills are thought to be left-brain dominant. I haven’t formed a firm opinion on these ideas, but I do find them interesting — and keep them in the back of my mind as I continue mothering and educating my much-loved boy.
What at a joy to read, Jonathan. I have always been fascinated with how the brain works. It started with school, when I found my brain my brain was often a square peg trying to fit in education's round hole. It took me a long time to accept my brain as it is and to start to enjoy the trips it can take me on. the juxtaposition of left and right brains, tools and kinesthetic is something I have to learn more about. Guess I know what my next nonfiction read is.
One of the most fascinating stories I’ve ever heard is when Harvard brain researcher, Jill Bolte Taylor, had a stroke on the left side of her brain. Her book My Stroke of Insight, and her TEDTalk helped me see that our spiritual nature is definitely more right brained, than left. But what’s even more fascinating is her work on the four parts of the brain (see Whole Brain Living )and how they relate to four archetypal patterns that show up as characters. The analytical mind, the self-protecting body, the fun-loving, heart, and the wise, all knowing spiritual guide. Mind, body, heart and spirit all have their energies emanating from our brain/nervous system. What this tells me is that the Heroes Journey is a baked into us, and archetypical pattern that we relive over and over and over again and again. Mind/protagonist, body/villain, heart/angels and demons/helpers and foes. All united and guided by an overarching spirit, showing us the way. A constant grasp and release on many levels.
Jonathan, I'd gotten this book and started it awhile back. I was fascinated by the idea that we were created, or so I understood him to say, to operate from our right brain's leading, not left. I find that even Curt Thompson's idea to place yourself in path of oncoming beauty works with this idea, to stop doing broken record left brain circles to figure out why I was a thus and so person,, but to widen and make larger our beautiful inner and outer landscape and , as Lewis asks. "Is there any reason your heart should not dance?
In working with all my dyslexic students, I show them a brain to tell them they're so beautiful in their right brain, but reading needs that little snail meticulous guy left brain to tap the sounds out. Not just fling a creative word at a few letters. Have you said more about this anywhere? I've somehow lost the ability to get into the habit as a member as I used to so am out of the loop!
This book sounds amazing and it’s going on my TBR list. Do you think I could assign it to my high school homeschooled son? He loves stuff like this and I was already planning on giving him a brain science related book.
Well, it's over 600 pages long. I wouldn't assign it, though I might offer it. Once I tried to sign my wife up for a silent retreat because I thought she would like it. The spiritual director told me you can't sign another person up for a silent retreat. That's the way I feel about The Master and His Emissary.
I've recently begun this book (there is so much to contemplate, even from the preface and intro!) and I find it fascinating.
I had seen McGilchrist interviewed by Jordan Peterson, as well as the Divided Brain documentary, and had been exposed to the concept (even if inaccurately) from the decades-old Betty Edwards book, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. The concept is so complex, but it kept speaking to part of me that really wants to make thorough sense of it.
There is SO much in the world that seems to be wrongly and arbitrarily mastered by the 'emissary'. This causes many of the issues we face today in the form power struggles and micromanaging tendencies--from family relationships, to churches, to would-be world governments. I believe that understanding how God created our brains is so critical for us in order to protect the poetic nature of ourselves, the side that needs good and true art, in all it's forms, to express what can't (and shouldn't) be succinctly stated in black and white, that which is "not logical, but psychological' as Stephen Covey has phrased.
(By the way, my husband has been reading aloud the Wilderking Trilogy to our 5 children, ages 6 through 15, and it has been so fun to overhear their laughter and the tidbits of profound meaning hidden amongst the Feechie folk as he does.)
As the mother of a pre-teen with Autism Spectrum Disorder, I found this quite interesting. There is a school of thought that differentiates between right-brained autism versus left-brained autism. I’ve followed the work of Dr. Robert Melillo on this topic for a while. Those with non-speaking autism, such as my son, are considered under this school of thought to be right-brain dominant while those with strong language skills are thought to be left-brain dominant. I haven’t formed a firm opinion on these ideas, but I do find them interesting — and keep them in the back of my mind as I continue mothering and educating my much-loved boy.
What at a joy to read, Jonathan. I have always been fascinated with how the brain works. It started with school, when I found my brain my brain was often a square peg trying to fit in education's round hole. It took me a long time to accept my brain as it is and to start to enjoy the trips it can take me on. the juxtaposition of left and right brains, tools and kinesthetic is something I have to learn more about. Guess I know what my next nonfiction read is.
One of the most fascinating stories I’ve ever heard is when Harvard brain researcher, Jill Bolte Taylor, had a stroke on the left side of her brain. Her book My Stroke of Insight, and her TEDTalk helped me see that our spiritual nature is definitely more right brained, than left. But what’s even more fascinating is her work on the four parts of the brain (see Whole Brain Living )and how they relate to four archetypal patterns that show up as characters. The analytical mind, the self-protecting body, the fun-loving, heart, and the wise, all knowing spiritual guide. Mind, body, heart and spirit all have their energies emanating from our brain/nervous system. What this tells me is that the Heroes Journey is a baked into us, and archetypical pattern that we relive over and over and over again and again. Mind/protagonist, body/villain, heart/angels and demons/helpers and foes. All united and guided by an overarching spirit, showing us the way. A constant grasp and release on many levels.
“I have underestimated just how sinister all you writers are.”
Was this an intentional pun? “Sinister” comes from the Latin for “on the left side.”
Would that I were so clever. It was just an accident.
Was that a left-handed compliment? ;)
Jonathan, I'd gotten this book and started it awhile back. I was fascinated by the idea that we were created, or so I understood him to say, to operate from our right brain's leading, not left. I find that even Curt Thompson's idea to place yourself in path of oncoming beauty works with this idea, to stop doing broken record left brain circles to figure out why I was a thus and so person,, but to widen and make larger our beautiful inner and outer landscape and , as Lewis asks. "Is there any reason your heart should not dance?
In working with all my dyslexic students, I show them a brain to tell them they're so beautiful in their right brain, but reading needs that little snail meticulous guy left brain to tap the sounds out. Not just fling a creative word at a few letters. Have you said more about this anywhere? I've somehow lost the ability to get into the habit as a member as I used to so am out of the loop!
This book sounds amazing and it’s going on my TBR list. Do you think I could assign it to my high school homeschooled son? He loves stuff like this and I was already planning on giving him a brain science related book.
Well, it's over 600 pages long. I wouldn't assign it, though I might offer it. Once I tried to sign my wife up for a silent retreat because I thought she would like it. The spiritual director told me you can't sign another person up for a silent retreat. That's the way I feel about The Master and His Emissary.
Gotcha!😂
I've recently begun this book (there is so much to contemplate, even from the preface and intro!) and I find it fascinating.
I had seen McGilchrist interviewed by Jordan Peterson, as well as the Divided Brain documentary, and had been exposed to the concept (even if inaccurately) from the decades-old Betty Edwards book, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. The concept is so complex, but it kept speaking to part of me that really wants to make thorough sense of it.
There is SO much in the world that seems to be wrongly and arbitrarily mastered by the 'emissary'. This causes many of the issues we face today in the form power struggles and micromanaging tendencies--from family relationships, to churches, to would-be world governments. I believe that understanding how God created our brains is so critical for us in order to protect the poetic nature of ourselves, the side that needs good and true art, in all it's forms, to express what can't (and shouldn't) be succinctly stated in black and white, that which is "not logical, but psychological' as Stephen Covey has phrased.
(By the way, my husband has been reading aloud the Wilderking Trilogy to our 5 children, ages 6 through 15, and it has been so fun to overhear their laughter and the tidbits of profound meaning hidden amongst the Feechie folk as he does.)