In accessible and engaging books of popular science such as The Drunkard’s Walk and Subliminal, Mlodinow, trained as a theoretical physicist, focused on the everyday practical realities of things we only marginally control, such as chance and subconscious choice. In his new book he looks at another inescapable feature of today’s world: change. Drawing on cutting-edge research in neuroscience and psychology, Mlodinow shows how the human brain has evolved with an exquisite elasticity that enables us to adapt to change, even the constant and increasingly fast barrage of changes we face now. Mlodinow complements his technical explanations of these human cognitive skills with a survey of historical triumphs of elastic thinking and gives tips on how we can use our elasticity to fulfill goals and improve our lives.
Mlodinow will be in conversation with Eliza Barclay, who oversees Vox.com's health, science, energy, and environment coverage.