Hannah Critchlow And Rowan Williams On Joined Up Thinking
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At a time of existential global challenges, we need our best brainpower. How do we create genius environments, help our brains flourish and boost group thinking?

Neuroscientist and bestselling author of The Science of Fate Hannah Critchlow shows how two heads can be better than one in her ground-breaking new book Joined up Thinking. She joins 5x15 for a very special online event with Dr Rowan Williams, Honorary Professor of Contemporary Christian Thought in the University of Cambridge and former Archbishop of Canterbury.

Almost everything we've ever achieved has been done by groups working together, sometimes across time and space. Like a hive of bees, or a flock of birds, our naturally social, interconnected brains are designed to function best collectively.

New technology is helping us share our wisdom and knowledge much more diversely across race, class, gender and borders. And AI is sparking a revolution in our approach to intelligent thinking - linking us into fast-working brain-nets for problem solving.

Hannah Critchlow shows all the tricks to help us work best collectively - how to cope with wildly differing opinions, balance our biases, prevent a corrupting force, and exercise our intuitive ability for the most effective outcomes. She shares compelling examples of success, at work, in families, and all team situations, and shows us how to work, play and grow with intelligence.

As Rowan Williams has said: “From startling futuristic speculation to practical exercises in getting in touch with your own routine mental processes, Hannah Critchlow steers us with a sure hand and an unfailingly clear and engaging voice. This is a treasure of a book, exploding some damaging myths and encouraging us to re-imagine the values of relationality and receptivity in our thinking.”

Praise for Joined Up Thinking:

"For tens of thousands of years we have tried to work out how we can best think. At last this genius work explains the past, the present and the future of our minds. Read - to be amazed." Bettany Hughes

"Hannah Critchlow has written a timely and engaging book about human intelligence and the challenges our brains face in the twenty-first century. It will make you think. It might even change for the better the way you think." Ian Rankin

"A powerful manifesto for the strength of "we" thinking" Marcus du Sautoy

Dr Hannah Critchlow is an internationally-acclaimed neuroscientist with a background in neuropsychiatry. Best known for demystifying the human brain on regular radio, TV and festival platforms. She regularly appears on the BBC TV and Radio, most recently as Science Presenter in Family Brain Games with Dara Ó Briain. Her book on Consciousness: A Ladybird Expert Guide, was published with Penguin in 2018, whilst The Science of Fate, published with Hodder in May, 2019, made The Sunday Times Bestseller list.

Dr Rowan Williams was the 35th Master of Magdalene College, and is an Honorary Professor of Contemporary Christian Thought in the University of Cambridge. From 1986-2001 was Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity for six years, before becoming Bishop of Monmouth, and, from 2000, Archbishop of Wales. In 2002, he became the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury. Dr Williams is a noted poet and translator of poetry, and, apart from Welsh, speaks or reads nine other languages. In 2013, he was made a life peer, becoming Lord Williams of Oystermouth, in the City and County of Swansea.

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