The Animal and the Thinker

Name: The Animal and the Thinker
Brand: RANDOM HOUSE UK
Price: 34.75 AUD
Availability: PreOrder

Instinct, Reason and the Dance of Our Divided Selves

By: John Duncan

Write A Review

Paperback | 9 July 2026

At a Glance

Format
Paperback

Dimensions(cm)
19.6 x 12.9 x 2.8

Paperback

$34.75

or 4 interest-free payments of $8.69 with

Available: 9th July 2026

Preorder. Will ship when available.

Pioneering, prize-winning neuroscientist who has led research programmes at Oxford and Cambridge, with a dazzling new story of human behaviour and how we find meaning, for fans of Thinking Fast and Slow and Steven Pinker.

Why are we so often in conflict-arguing with ourselves and with others, uncertain over who we are what we need from our lives?

In The Animal and the Idea, the world-leading, pioneering neuroscientist John Duncan explains that each of us is not just one person - we are two. On one side are our animal instincts, built on the sophisticated needs of human life through evolution, but struggling to navigate the complexity of modern life. On the other side is our rational brain which calculates and cogitates, but is often helpless in the face of bigger questions of meaning and purpose.

Dovetailing these two competing sides of ourselves, Duncan draws on a lifetime's pioneering work to attack puzzles that have concerned thinkers, writers and philosophers through human history. Right and wrong. Freedom and responsibility. Women and men. Democracy and justice. Ambition and fulfilment. Understanding how these two sides of ourselves interact offers revealing and often surprising answers to some of the great questions of our lives.

Discover a new perspective on human behaviour, and learn how we can better understand ourselves, our struggles, and our search for meaning.

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

Orders over $89.00 qualify for free shipping.

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.