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Reviews
Jane on the Brain: Exploring the Science of Social Intelligence with Jane Austen by Wendy Jones
balletbookworm's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty good. I think the book works better for teaching concepts like Theory of Mind, etc, by using Austen’s characters as examples rather than doing textual analysis of the Austen novels using ToM (there’s some areas where things get off-text and that’s a no go for me). There are a lot of very technical sections and it helped to understand the psychological/neuroscience theory via well-known characters. So an interesting read, but I didn’t love it.
I also hope that the copy editors were thorough - the galley I read had a boatload of typos, including a few where Edward from Sense & Sensibility was referred to as Edgar. Whoops.
I also hope that the copy editors were thorough - the galley I read had a boatload of typos, including a few where Edward from Sense & Sensibility was referred to as Edgar. Whoops.
sarahmoroz's review against another edition
2.0
The strength of this book is in the chapters focusing on behavioural science rather than neuroscience. The neuro jargon was dense, and the author was much more capable of finding interesting parallels with Austen's characters with regards to behaviour (which we can observe) rather than brains (which we can only make silly inferences about).
The chapters on behaviour and empathy were much better, but repetitive. This 350-page book could have been pared down to a long-form essay on Austen and empathy without losing any of its key messaging. I probably would have loved that essay!
I really feel like I'm the target audience for this work - I have a PhD in social psychology, I took a lot of neuro classes in undergrad, AND I'm a huge Austen fan. And this book was a slog even for me. I cannot imagine others having a good time with it.
The chapters on behaviour and empathy were much better, but repetitive. This 350-page book could have been pared down to a long-form essay on Austen and empathy without losing any of its key messaging. I probably would have loved that essay!
I really feel like I'm the target audience for this work - I have a PhD in social psychology, I took a lot of neuro classes in undergrad, AND I'm a huge Austen fan. And this book was a slog even for me. I cannot imagine others having a good time with it.
athenany's review against another edition
3.0
For what this book is, it is great. I think I just had a slightly different expectation for what it would be. I thought it would be more psychological and (despite it saying "science" in the title) not quite as science-heavy. It is not dumbed down. It is interesting and worthwhile but I was hoping it would be a little more accessible to those who are not quite interested in brain chemistry and more interested in the psychological side of things.
bookslovejenna's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Five things about Jane on the Brain by Wendy Jones 📚📚📚📚
1. This is kind of a study of human psychological motivations made accessible through the lenses of a variety of Austen’s characters and their interactions - with society, the environment, their self, and their closer relationships.
2. Overall, this was pretty fascinating. Not only for what it says about human psychology but what it says about Austen’s understanding of psychology.
3. While I enjoyed this, I also acknowledge that it’s a bit dry. It’s probably not going to be everyone’s cup of tea.
4. It leads with psychology not Austen. So Austenites, just know that going in.
5. I have much to ponder about people after reading this. Highly recommend for those interested in humans - and why we are how we are.
1. This is kind of a study of human psychological motivations made accessible through the lenses of a variety of Austen’s characters and their interactions - with society, the environment, their self, and their closer relationships.
2. Overall, this was pretty fascinating. Not only for what it says about human psychology but what it says about Austen’s understanding of psychology.
3. While I enjoyed this, I also acknowledge that it’s a bit dry. It’s probably not going to be everyone’s cup of tea.
4. It leads with psychology not Austen. So Austenites, just know that going in.
5. I have much to ponder about people after reading this. Highly recommend for those interested in humans - and why we are how we are.
constancemn's review
4.0
Surprisingly readable but probably has limited appeal. I think you have to be really really interested in Jane Austen and at least somewhat interested in neuroscience, which probably restricts the audience quite a bit. But if that describes you, I think you will come away with a stronger understanding of the connection between brain and behavior, as well as a deepened appreciation for Austen's powers to describe the physical manifestations of emotion.
juliwi's review against another edition
3.0
Jane on the Brain takes a unique approach to Jane Austen's books by bringing Wendy Jones' expertise in neuroscience and psychology to the conversation. Jones doesn't rely too heavily on literary analysis, but rather analyses the keen insight with which Austen crafts her characters. Jones takes an interaction, like, for example, Darcy and Elizabeth meeting unexpectedly at Pemberley, and dissects how Austen describes their responses. Although Austen did not intend to write psychological novels per se, Jones successfully shows how her sharp perceptiveness and interest in human behaviour allowed her to not only make us care for her characters and Austen herself, but to also feel like she cares for us, as if she understands us. This was one of the main lessons I learned from this book, that Austen's power lies in us, the readers, feeling understood and appreciated. And Jones shows us just how she accomplishes that in Jane on the Brain.
Jane on the Brain requires its readers, especially those like me who engage a lot in Jane Austen literary theory, to reset their expectations a little bit. As I said, this is not "normal" Austen commentary or analysis. Wendy Jones blends together different disciplines in this book, introducing her readers to concepts like Theory of the Mind, as well as the anatomy and processes of the brain. If you don't adjust your expectations, it will be difficult to get into the book. Jones does her best to limit the jargon in her book and not overwhelm the reader, but there is still a lot of information and theory to take in. I personally really enjoyed this and it added an extra layer to my appreciation of Austen. I can see Jane on the Brain being an excellent teaching tool as well, both for the neurosciences and English literature. If you're willing to buckle down and learn something new, then Jane on the Brain is definitely for you.
For full review: http://universeinwords.blogspot.com/2018/01/short-review-jane-on-brain-by-wendy.html
Jane on the Brain requires its readers, especially those like me who engage a lot in Jane Austen literary theory, to reset their expectations a little bit. As I said, this is not "normal" Austen commentary or analysis. Wendy Jones blends together different disciplines in this book, introducing her readers to concepts like Theory of the Mind, as well as the anatomy and processes of the brain. If you don't adjust your expectations, it will be difficult to get into the book. Jones does her best to limit the jargon in her book and not overwhelm the reader, but there is still a lot of information and theory to take in. I personally really enjoyed this and it added an extra layer to my appreciation of Austen. I can see Jane on the Brain being an excellent teaching tool as well, both for the neurosciences and English literature. If you're willing to buckle down and learn something new, then Jane on the Brain is definitely for you.
For full review: http://universeinwords.blogspot.com/2018/01/short-review-jane-on-brain-by-wendy.html
queenstheif's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty fun. That's about it, but really: it's pretty fun.