Royal Society Science Book Prize Winner

Inventing Ourselves

by Sarah-Jayne Blakemore

Summary

A neuroscientist's account of the adolescent brain, written for parents, teachers, and general readers trying to understand teenagers. Blakemore draws on brain-imaging research to show how circuits involved in social cognition, risk, and self-awareness continue to develop well into the twenties. She argues that the behaviors often dismissed as adolescent immaturity are in fact essential adaptations that support identity formation and learning.

Historical Context & Significance

Blakemore advocated for understanding "teenage rebellion" as a necessary and productive stage of neural reorganization.