The Watchman's Rattle by Rebecca D Costa

The Watchman's Rattle by Rebecca D Costa

Why does it feel as if our most challenging problems today- the worldwide recession, global warming, fast-spreading viruses, terrorism and poverty- aren't getting solved? What if our brain has limits that prevent it from solving such complex problems? If ancient civilisations collapsed because they, too, hit a cognitive limitation, are we headed for a similar collapse, and if so, can it be prevented? Using historical and modern-day examples, The Watchman's Rattle describes the cognitive gridlock that sets in when complexity races ahead of the brain's ability to manage it. Beginning with the Mayans, Khmer and Roman Empires, Costa shows how the tendency to find a quick fix to problems by focusing on symptoms instead of searching for permanent solutions, leads to frightening long-term consequences: Society's ability to solve its most challenging, intractable problems becomes gridlocked, progress slows and collapse ensues. But, as Costa reveals, there is a growing body of scientific evidence that the human brain can be retrained to comprehend, analyse and resolve massively complex problems. A process of intuitive thinking, which Neuroscientists refer to as 'insight'. Part history, part social science, part biology, The Watchman's Rattle is sure to provoke, engage and incite change.

Rebecca Costa has written a riveting examination of our world's most dire and complex issuesHer message for mankind is an ultimately hopeful one as she explores her fascinating theory about the brain's ability to develop advanced problem-solving techniques in times of crisis. A must read! * Donald Trump *
I am on the side of Rebecca Costa. Let us become realists-in-search-of-a-solution rather than doomsayers. * E.O Wilson *
A fascinating read that challenges our very beliefs about how we solve the problems we face in a resource constrained world with a rapidly growing population. * Sir Richard Branson *
an excellent book, rich with challenging thoughts as well as perceptive solutions. -- Geri Spieler * NY Journal of Books *

Rebecca D. Costa is a sociobiologist whose unique expertise is to spot and explain emerging trends in relation to human evolution, global markets and new technologies. A frequent speaker at the prestigious Renaissance Conference, West Coast Green Conference and major universities, Costa is the former CEO and founder of Silicon Valley start-up, Dazai Advertising Inc., whose clients included Apple, Hewlett-Packard and General Electric. Raised in Tokyo, Japan, Rebecca Costa graduated from the University of California with a BA in Social Sciences and earned an MBA from Santa Clara University. She lives in the central coast of California.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780753539781
ISBN 10	0753539780
Title	The Watchman's Rattle
Author	Rebecca D Costa
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Ebury Publishing
Year published	2011-02-03
Number of pages	352
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note	Unavailable