Kludge. The Random Device of the Human Brain, and How It Made Us Who We Are

Humans have come to see themselves as the pinnacle of creation, their strengths as the norm, and weaknesses as deviations. The author's approach is fundamentally different: we are inherently imperfect; our brains, like our bodies, have evolved quite randomly from 'available materials' provided by nature, and represent what is known as a kludge - a ridiculous, clumsy, but surprisingly effective solution to a problem. The concept of kludge sheds light on important aspects of our lives and explains many issues we face. The author's conclusions are optimistic: with a proper understanding of the interplay between the strengths and weaknesses of the human mind, we gain the opportunity to help not only ourselves but also society.