The Ideological Brain

£12.99

The human brain faces a set of dilemmas every day: how to achieve coherence from fragmented sensory inputs and how to attain connection with other people in an increasingly atomized and isolating world. Ideologies offer a shortcut, providing easy answers, scripts to follow, and a sense of shared identity. Whether our ideologies are far-right, far-left, nationalist, religious, or even progressive, they simplify our understanding and give us organizing frameworks through which to act and interact with others. But ideologies come at a cost: demanding conformity and suppressing individuality through rigid rules, repetitive rituals, and intolerance. Once ideologies grip our minds, they fundamentally transform us, making us less sensitive and adaptable. Drawing on her groundbreaking research, Dr Leor Zmigrod uncovers the hidden mechanisms driving our beliefs and behaviours.

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SKU: 9781405975148 Category: Tag: Publisher/imprint : Penguin Books
Page count : 336
Published on 5th February, 2026

Description

THE TELEGRAPH BEST BOOKS OF 2025 | THE GUARDIAN BRILLIANT BOOKS TO READ IN 2025

‘Massively important…Zmigrod is a joyful and compelling writer’ THE SUNDAY TIMES

‘Fascinating, insightful, lucidly and entertainingly written’ A. C. GRAYLING

‘Filled with insightful findings, this book shows that ideological extremism and polarization are not just problems to fret about but puzzles that can be studied and understood’ STEVEN PINKER

‘Extraordinary, eye-opening and startlingly original’ CASS R. SUNSTEIN

Why are some people radicalised?
Who is most susceptible to ideological thinking?
Can we unchain our minds from toxic dogmas?

In today’s polarised world, The Ideological Brain is essential reading to foster a more informed, resilient and freer society. Packed with Dr Leor Zmigrod’s groundbreaking new research, it uncovers the hidden mechanisms driving our beliefs and behaviours, and zooms into the processes happening inside each of us to shows how to spot – and stop – rigid thinking in ourselves and others.

With captivating real-world examples, like how a simple card sorting game can reveal your entire approach to life, Dr Leor Zmigrod reveals how cognitive rigidity – struggling to adapt to new rules – mirrors the rigidity with which you cling to social and political ideologies. While some individuals are more susceptible to dogmatic thinking than others, all of us can strive to be more flexible.

Regardless of your political stance, this book will challenge you to reassess your convictions – and what they are doing to your brain.

Additional information

Weight 0.238 kg
Dimensions 19.7 × 12.9 × 2.3 cm
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