In 2016, neuroscientist Dr Dean Burnett published his international bestselling debut book, The Idiot Brain, all about the things our brains do wrong, and what people get wrong about it. Looking back 10 years on, he’d like to report that society’s understanding of the brain has only improved, and brain-based misunderstandings are a thing of the past.

He’d like to say that, but he can’t. Because that’s absolutely not true.

After a decade on the frontline of neuroscience communication and media, Dr Burnett has seen the rise of many brand-new examples of neurological nonsense, that have quickly become widespread, and distorted our understanding of our most complex organ. Is the rise in neurodiversity really a modern phenomenon? Is dopamine really ‘addictive’? Can you really boost your IQ with an app, or supplement? Will we all end up with a chip in our head that gives us superpowers? Can AI really cause ‘brain rot’, or read our minds?

In honour of the publication of the 10-year anniversary edition of The Idiot Brain, Dean will be providing science-based answers to all these and much more, in what is guaranteed to be a very entertaining (and informative) evening!

The Idiot Brain is the international bestseller that changed the way millions of readers understand the human mind. Written by Welsh neuroscientist and author Dr Dean Burnett, the book became an unexpected worldwide hit when it was first released in 2016, introducing a new generation to the strange, brilliant and often baffling ways our brains behave. Since its publication, The Idiot Brain has sold more than a million copies, been translated into over thirty languages, and found readers everywhere from classrooms and universities to health services, charities and creative industries. It helped define a new kind of science writing. One rooted in evidence, honesty, and humour, and unafraid to admit that our brains often make very little sense at all.

The anniversary edition includes a newly written introduction and updated material, reflecting the extraordinary decade in neuroscience and in culture. The past ten years have brought social media acceleration, rising anxiety rates, global uncertainty, and a world increasingly shaped by technology. Burnett revisits these themes with fresh insight, making this edition timelier than ever.

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Saturday 20 June | 7.00 pm
Belle Vue Pavilion, Belle Vue Park, Albert Crescent, Penarth CF64 1DA
Tickets: £16.00 – Event Ticket with a copy of The Idiot Brain (RRP: £10.99) / £10.00 – Event Only / £5.00 – Inclusive Ticket / £5.00 – Student Ticket

Buy a Festival Weekend Pass and get free entry to all festival events, plus some brilliant bookish perks.

The Penarth Literary Festival is organised by Griffin Books and runs from Friday 19 – Sunday 21 June. The festival coincides with Independent Bookshop Week and includes a packed programme of author events, workshops, and lots of other bookish fun for all ages and interests.