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