Anxious

Using the Brain to Understand and Treat Fear and Anxiety

By: Joseph LeDoux

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis

A comprehensive and accessible exploration of anxiety from a leading neuroscientist and the author of Synaptic Self.

Collectively, anxiety disorders are our most prevalent psychiatric problem, affecting about 40 million adults in the United States. In Anxious, Joseph LeDoux, whose NYU lab has been at the forefront of research efforts to understand and treat fear and anxiety, explains the range of these disorders, their origins, and discoveries that can restore sufferers to normalcy. LeDoux's groundbreaking premise is that we've been thinking about fear and anxiety in the wrong way. These are not innate states waiting to be unleashed from the brain but experiences that we assemble cognitively. Treatment of these problems must address both their conscious manifestations and underlying nonconscious processes. While knowledge about how the brain works will help us discover new drugs, LeDoux argues that the greatest breakthroughs may come from using brain research to help reshape psychotherapy. A major work on our most pressing mental health issue, Anxious explains the science behind fear and anxiety disorders.

©2015 Joseph LeDoux (P)2015 Recorded Books

It’s the Brain folks

I had no idea the depth this book would take such a deep dive into the brain. Memories and feelings may be different from the truth and what we believe. Every recall consolidate memories. Anxiousness is just the tip of the response paradigm in which we live.

Enthralling yet dry

I really enjoyed this book, but it was not the easiest to digest. it almost felt like an information overload- it was simply written in a very textbook-like tone. The subject matter was super fascinating and his explanations of really complicated processes were very concise and clear. I would recommend this book to anyone who values science- but if you are a science fan, this book may be a little too dry for you.

My favorite brain book since The Synaptic Self

As always, LeDoux brings deep insights into his masterful and thorough explanations, while maintaining an intellectually honest and critical counterbalance. The narrator is one of my all time favorites - but do be warned that the book gets very technical and following some of the brain circuit descriptions will certainly tax your own working memory. I found myself rewinding specific chapters very frequently in order to follow along. If the intricate neurobiology is a primary concern, as it is with me, then consider reading the physical book. Either way I'm very happy.

Bonus: the book gives a very up-to-date and encompassing overview of existing theories of consciousness. Do yourself a favor and stick to the book when near the beginning he seems to dismiss animal qualitative experience. This seems at first to be a self-deceiving justification for his research methodologies over the years, but it does actually go somewhere reasonable in later chapters.

Old bible analogy

I was surprised when the author reverted to old bible verse to support his theory's
-not what I expected

Truly an insightful breakdown

extremely in depth and thorough analysis of anxiety, from behavioral, neuro-chemical, physical, and emotional perspectives.