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.