The Idiot Brain by Dean Burnett

written by Elisavet Dionysia Chiou

If you've ever walked into a room and immediately forgotten why you’re there, or if you’ve confidently argued about a fact only to realize later that you were completely wrong—but still insisted you were almost right—congratulations: you have an idiot brain. And in this book, neuroscientist-turned-comedian Dean Burnett explains why that’s completely normal.

​

Burnett takes readers on a tour of the brain’s most baffling quirks, from its laughably bad memory system to its talent for making us feel emotions at the worst possible moments. And here’s the kicker—our brains are often deliberately inefficient. One of the most surprising revelations in this book is that intelligent people actually have less active brains. It turns out that being smart isn’t about constantly thinking at maximum capacity but about thinking efficiently. A highly intelligent brain is one that has streamlined its processes, meaning it doesn’t waste energy on unnecessary mental effort. So if you’ve ever felt like you’re not doing enough, maybe your brain is just really good at its job.

​

But that’s far from the only brain oddity Burnett explores. Ever noticed how anxiety makes us terrible decision-makers? That’s because stress hijacks our prefrontal cortex—the part responsible for rational thought—shoving it aside so our more primitive survival instincts can take over. The brain assumes everything is a life-or-death situation, so an upcoming exam can feel like a physical threat. And if you've ever been frustrated by how unreliable your memory is, there’s a reason for that too: your brain doesn’t actuallywantto remember things perfectly. It prioritizes usefulness over accuracy, meaning it often justguesseswhat probably happened instead of storing events precisely as they occurred.

​

What makes The Idiot Brain stand out is Burnett’s ability to mix humor with fundamental neuroscience. The author doesn’t just explain why our brains are bizarre; he makes you laugh at their absurdity. From why we sometimes see faces in random objects (hello, toast-Jesus) to why multitasking is a myth, this book turns neuroscience into a relatable, highly entertaining experience.

Ultimately, The Idiot Brain is perfect for anyone who’s ever wondered why their mind seems to betray them daily. It’s a reminder that, for all its brilliance, the human brain is often a ridiculous, malfunctioning mess—and that’s precisely what makes us human.