Impulse: Why We Do What We Do Without Knowing Why We Do It
Mindlab International founder Lewis's study is an illuminating guide through the infamously disordered, oft-unwelcomed realm of impulse. In a society that values free will, we rarely think our actions are inherently uncontrollable. So Lewis begins with examples of how impulse guides our lives—some of which are fortunate, but most are not, with several drawn from his own experience. But any instance of impulsivity, however rapid, has substantial psychological and even evolutionary significance. Neurological studies suggest that our brains produce two frequently interchangeable types of thought processes: deliberate and slow-moving logical processes, and quick, unconscious, impulsive reactions. From this scientific ground, Lewis moves into more general manifestations of impulse, from love to addictive tendencies like overeating and shopping. Lewis's account, while timely, appears to lack a tangible definition of impulse and how it might differ from its compulsion-oriented counterparts. Other chapters themselves seem impulsively placed: a section on teenage behavior, for example, is not so easily connected to the broader discussion. There are also few solutions to the problems posed by impulsive thinking, aside from Lewis's brief mentions of exercise and pre-impulse breaks. Nevertheless, this book's readable balance of information and anecdote is sure to provide especially impulsive readers with a necessary moment of reflection. (Oct.)