Scholarly Must-Reads: Part 4

Psychology is a science which many people find interesting even if they don’t pursue it as a major. It can teach people to understand themselves and others better, and it is usually fun. This issue, we are sharing the top book recommendations by the professors in the Psychology Department at Concord University.

Dr. Adriana Falco, Assistant Professor of Psychology.

    1. Oliver Sacks. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat: and Other Clinical Tales. “I read this book early in college when I was thinking about going into neuroscience and it fascinated me. Our brain can do some amazing things when functionality goes awry. I was awed by how complex of an organ the brain is and how little we know about it.”

    2. Stanley Milgram.  Obedience to Authority: An Experimental View.  “Normally, I’m not particularly interested in social psychology, but this work is fascinating. It was done in a time before many ethical constraints and brings up a larger discussion of how far scientists should push subjects. It also was a really well done study about how obedient people can be. Great work and blew my mind in college.”

    3. Howard Dully. My Lobotomy. “One of the last few patients to have a lobotomy done by the pioneer, Walter Freeman, was a child named Howard Dully. This book is his story about how the lobotomy changed his life. It’s a phenomenal tale of ethics (on top) and neural plasticity (underneath) as well as the human damage of experimental procedures. I really recommend it to see what psychology has left behind and what could be ahead of us again if we’re not careful in planning new techniques.”

Dr. Rodney Klein. Professor of Psychology 

    1. Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner. Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything and Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski. Soccernomics:  Why England Loses, Why Spain, Germany, and Brazil Win … “Both are really easy to read, however, they attempt to provide explanations for why things may be the way they are, such as the declining in crime rate in Freakonomics or why some countries have better national soccer teams than others and what countries will tend to be dominant in the future.  Most conclusions are not what most people expect or predict.  Provides lots of opportunities for critical thinking in regards to research methodology and interpretation.  Clearly the types of questions asked and the topics are very different - but the approaches to answering the questions remain consistent.  So, choose based on your personal preferences.”

    2. Jon Krakauer. Eiger Dreams:  Ventures Among Men and Mountain. “Another book that is easy to read.  It is actually a collection of short stories and magazine articles.  Most stories should be read with perspective of achieving something beyond our expectations.  That people are more amazing than we tend to appreciate on a daily basis and that if we approach our goals from a different perspective or with a slightly different attitude, the “sky is the limit.”

    3. Mark Adams. Turn Right at Machu Pichu:  Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time. “Finally, another easy to read book (have you noticed a theme or trend?).  Mainly because this book is basically a fantasy of mine.  To not only visit Machu Pichu, but to do so in a way (hiking) that seems like one would be left with a much greater appreciation for their accomplishment and civilization.  To understand and appreciate the place, area, and especially the culture rather than treating it like a ‘Disney Theme Park’.”