There are many routes to mental well-being. In this groundbreaking book, neuroscientist Camilla Nord offers a fascinating tour of the scientific developments that are revolutionising the way we think about mental health, showing why and how events—and treatments—can affect people in such different ways.
In The Balanced Brain, Nord explains how our brain constructs our sense of mental health—actively striving to maintain balance in response to our changing circumstances. While a mentally healthy brain deals well with life’s turbulence, poor mental health results when the brain struggles with disruption. But just what is the brain trying to balance? Nord describes the foundations of mental health in the brain—from the neurobiology of pleasure, pain and desire to the role of mood-mediating chemicals like dopamine, serotonin and opioids. She then pivots to interventions, revealing how antidepressants, placebos and even recreational drugs work; how psychotherapy changes brain chemistry; and how the brain and body interact to make us feel physically (as well as mentally) healthy. Along the way, Nord explains how the seemingly small things we use to lift our moods—a piece of chocolate, a walk, a chat with a friend—work on the same pathways in our brains as the latest treatments for mental health disorders.
Understanding the cause of poor mental health is one of the crucial questions of our time. But the answer is unique to each of us, and it requires finding what helps our brains rebalance and thrive. With so many factors at play, there are more possibilities for recovery and resilience than we might think.
Awards and Recognition
- A Times Best Science and Environment Book
"Masterfully nuanced."—David Robson, The Guardian
"A fascinating read, one that is able to make sense of unexpected connections. . . . Nord makes a compelling case for rejecting any clear distinction between mental and physical illness."—Sophie McBain, Sunday Times
"A great deal of uncertainty remains in both neuroscience and mental health—messiness that Ms. Nord conveys exquisitely."—Matthew Hutson, Wall Street Journal
"Invigorating. . . . The research fascinates. . . . A superior volume on the biological underpinnings of mental health."—Publishers Weekly
"Optimistic. . . . Her writing is masterfully nuanced in its treatment of depression, without sacrificing the clarity of her argument."—David Robson, The Observer
"An enlightening round-up of what scientists know about the workings of the brain, and how they know it."—The Economist
"Delightfully sinful. A whole chapter devoted to 'natural highs' is a refreshing departure from popular recommendations for lives devoid of cake, alcohol, fats and screen time. . . . In the realm of both pain and pleasure, Nord offers a plethora of interesting facts. . . . what quickly emerges as a central theme [is] the importance of honouring natural variation."—Irish Times
"Fascinating. . . . [A] refreshing counterblast to many popular ideas about wellbeing."—Sarah Collins, Prospect
"Rigorous—but also engagingly personal. . . . The Balanced Brain provides an exciting snapshot of what we know so far about this vital organ’s importance for maintaining our mental health."—Peter Carty, inews.co.uk
"[Nord] weaves stories from her personal and professional life skilfully into a scientific analysis of the huge range of treatments available."—Clive Cookson, Financial Times
“Simply brilliant. This is science writing at its best. If you want to understand mental health—really understand it—read this book.”—Nichola Raihani, author of The Social Instinct
“This excellent book is a breath of fresh air . . . anyone reading it will come away with a kinder, better understanding of themselves. A clear-thinking tour of the latest research from a leading mental health scientist and an accessible exploration of how our bodies and minds make us feel the way we do—or better or worse.”—Lucy Foulkes, author of What Mental Illness Really Is . . . (and what it isn’t)
“This is a wonderful, living history of how scientists have gained insights into and currently think about the dynamic health of the brain. Nord’s narrative style is intimate and engaging, making you feel almost as though you were there when breakthroughs were made. The denouement is a deeply compelling message. To navigate the fleeting joys and transient displeasures of life, there is one sustaining imperative—namely, balance.”—Karl Friston, University College London
“Extremely relevant . . . a highly readable synthesis of the neuroscience underpinning mental health and its treatment."—Simon Baron-Cohen, author of The Pattern Seekers
“Fascinating . . . Camilla Nord, one of our most original thinkers, writes compellingly about the complexities of the brain and mental health. She presents new insights from neuroscience about how the brain generates our mental state, thoughts, moods and feelings, and what happens when things go wrong. This thought-provoking book is an essential resource.”—Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, author of Inventing Ourselves
