A review by bobisphere
Cognitive Dominance: A Brain Surgeon's Quest to Out-Think Fear by Coyne Shawn, Mark McLaughlin

5.0

I find reading growth books are highly subjective, and highly dependent on your place in life. That being said, this book was objectively excellent. The medical stories are fascinating and the author does a great job of walking you through what's happening so that you can relate. And that's what he does so well - he bring his experience of brain surgery and patient care to your own life experiences. He intentionally balances left-brain logical, intellectual thinking with right-brain emotional, creative energy. The book is called Cognitive Dominance, but it could really be called Harmonizing Your Mind: Break Free From Fear and Engage Your Life. He teaches how to master "reptilian brain" impulses with logical thought processes, mastered by your own worldview, moral center, and higher life order. He includes charts and workflows for the more logical reader, and inspiration for the more creative. He is open and vulnerable, explains what he struggles with, and his personal humility is fully on display. This is one of the few books I feel I need to read again after I have grown, just so I can truly gain what is offered.

I highly recommend this book. I took my time with it, read it over 5 weeks, and alternated between reading and listening to the audiobook. Like any great growth book, it is read by the author. Nothing beats listening to a book read by the person who wrote it. The story of his father utterly broke me down, and many of his stories had strong emotional impact. You'll be better for reading this book.