Shane O'Mara is Professor of Experimental Brain Research at Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin. He is Principal Investigator in, and was director of, the Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, one of Europe's leading research centres for neuroscience, as well as being a Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator and a Science Foundation Ireland Principal Investigator. He is the author of Why Torture Doesn't Work, A Brain for Business and In Praise of Walking. His musings on neuroscience, psychology and life can be found at the substack Brain Pizza.
Delightfully well-written, accessible, surprisingly reflecting ... and humorous * Niamh Jiménez, Irish Times * Surprising... intriguing... enjoyable * New Scientist * In this time of digital disconnection, Talking Heads is a reminder of the enduring power of face-to-face interactions and conversations. It is a thoughtful book that might make you watch what you say * Irish Independent * Talking Heads ... is mostly interested in big-picture questions: how intact memory supports our sociality and binds us into collective beings who share collective memories. ... The point O'Mara is most keen to make in his book is that entities such as nations 'begin as conversations'... O'Mara is an entertaining guide, full of good stories * Times Literary Supplement * O'Mara delves deeply into the ways we use conversations to create our cultures and build entire nations ... There's a lot in it that resonates * Irish Times * Fascinating … The author’s lucid exploration of how we communicate stretches from neurons to nations [and] strikes an informed, accessible tone ... Talking Heads is seasoned with intriguing facts * Sunday Business Post * An invaluable perspective. Talking Heads is a fascinating account of a highly complex field, and Shane O'Mara does a grand job of explaining it clearly * David Crystal, author of Let's Talk * O'Mara is particularly good in expanding his theme from the minutely personal to the global ... [This is] a book that's accessible to all as well as a fascinating read * Connaught Telegraph * Verily enjoyable * Trinity News * This is a very important book because it drills down into how we shape realities through conversation and dialogue, including identity, filtering down into bedrock convictions that can result in wars * The Quad - Oxford University Alumni Review * PRAISE FOR IN PRAISE OF WALKING Informative and persuasive enough to rouse the most ardent couch potato - perhaps saving humanity before our lifestyle consumes our brains completely * New Scientist * Convincing and compelling ... In Praise of Walking is peppered with insights * Sunday Times * Fascinating * The Times * An invaluable perspective. Talking Heads is a fascinating account of a highly complex field, and Shane O'Mara does a grand job of explaining it clearly * David Crystal, author of Let's Talk * Informative and persuasive enough to rouse the most ardent couch potato - perhaps saving humanity before our lifestyle consumes our brains completely * New Scientist on In Praise of Walking *