Jane on the Brain: Exploring the Science of Social Intelligence with Jane Austen Paperback – February 12, 2019

There are many reasons to read this wonderful book: a passion for Jane Austen, a passion for the human brain, questions about how we work and why we work so well, or fail to work so well, together, as people...or curiosity about life, love, empathy, resilience...Wendy Jones presents an elegant, efficient, nuanced, and rigorous account of what current science knows about (and what it doesn't know about) the human brain as a social tool and social product. She also presents an efficient, efficient, nuanced, and rigorous account of Austen's artistry and imaginative world. And she does the one so well because she does the other so well; she does both well because neither is a vehicle for the other and both are served by her deep care and engagement.The books of pop. science I know tend to repel me slightly by their sloppy metaphors, grotesque analogies. Often (not always of course) the scientists or journalists who write them care so much about the science that they care too little about whatever it is they need in order to make the science come alive. But Jones cares about Austen as much as she cares about the science, so when she tells us about neuroscience through careful description of the characters and language of Austen's novels, she does justice all around.The books about character and literature can repel me slightly because they pretend to a level of analytical rigor that divests them of humane engagement, or they reduce analysis to the level of second-rate gossip. Here again, Jones triumphs: the neuroscience affords a rigor that is humane, subtle and surprising, and the characters emerge with greater depth. What is best is that she can reconcile Austen's moral universe to the best neuroscience accounts; the virtuous among Austen's characters are destined for happiness on account of their virtue, because that virtue, Jones persuades, owes something to a happy course of neurological functioning. The jump is not from our scientific "is" to Austen's moral "ought," but rather from Austen's moral "ought" to our scientific "is."This book is deeply intelligent, lucid, and personable--there's no nonsense about it and modesty in its most insightful claims. Jane, one thinks, would have approved.

A wonderful book, entertaining to read and highly illuminating on the interface between two interesting subjects, contemporary neuro-science and the novels of Jane Austen. The author is a former English Professor, who has already written well on Austen. Retraining as a psychotherapist, she became fascinated by the relatively new discipline of neuro-science, which all modern therapies need to take into account. In the first place then, this book is a subtle but clear introduction to this new science, which is having a huge impact in so many different ways. As the theologian Oliver Davies has pointed out, neuro-science is at the heart of a revolution that is replacing mechanistic reductionism in attitudes to evolution, the brain and determinism. It is providing evidence for the crucial importance of empathy and attachment in human life and development and for the possibility of modifying neural patterns once regarded as fixed. I must say that I found the book rather therapeutic myself in that neuro-science seems to encourage us to understand ourselves and those around us better and through the empathetic styles both of the author herself and Jane Austen. Of course Jones does not claim any originality in her exposition of the science, but she is a popularizer in the best sense here. What is groundbreaking, however, is her full-length study of Austen's novels from this new perspective. Jones validates her approach through her own text, since the novels illuminate topics such as attachment and the failures and successes in empathy at the same time as the science deepens the understanding of the fiction. This is a book that has all the qualities of a fine academic text. It is also, however, fun, moving and humane. Readers will find that it points a way forward in a whole variety of respects.

What grabs me most about this book is its accessibility. Dr. Jones is a shrewd and witty explainer. She explains mind-brain science to Jane Austen fans and Austen’s novels to scientists – and everything, excitingly, to general readers. There is no lit. crit. jargon here and a minimum of hard scientific terminology, although there’s plenty to be learned about how specialists think the mind and brain work -- neurologically, cognitively, affectively, and (above all) socially. For “social intelligence” is what Austen’s novels are all about, on this showing, and Jones is a learned and humane advocate for using it to understand literature and other people. And if “empathy” is the keyword for what people show when they’re understanding, loving, healing, and teaching each other, then intelligent empathy is what Jones shows for Austen’s most memorable characters and for her own readers alike. Brilliantly written, and a delight to read!

Very good. I skipped some of the densest psychology passages but the Austen connection kept me reading and it was very perceptive about the characterization. Could have done with more on the effect of an abusive childhoods of the Tilneys and the possibility of Fanny being on the autistic spectrum but I learnt a lot about psychological ideas.

Reminded me a little at first of my old English teacher who could always make connections in literature where I could see none. But this book takes a fascinating premise - that Jane Austin’s inherent understanding of human nature is why we love her characters, and why her books are so enduring - and applies modern understanding of personalities and the brain to explain it all. An interesting idea which really works and makes an enjoyable and informative read - also making me want to re-read some of Austin's works. Well written, highly thought provoking and enjoyable.

Well, too much brain and too little Jane for my personal taste. :DFrankly, I get a bit bored.