Excuses not to think

Nonfiction ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Excuses not to think (or Excusas para no pensar, in its original version in Spanish) is a book written by the Spanish science communicator Eduardo Punset, in which he gives a general scientific explanation of the uncertainties of life.

Excuses not to think gathers 10 chapters with several sections in each, and is introduced by a preface, also by the author. Every chapter is dedicated to a specific feature of life that comes up to uncertainty in mankind (the origin, the learning process, our feelings and emotions, the brain, etc.), and is divided into sections, that follow an argumentative thread for every particular topic.

From my point of view, this book is a fairly common science book: one that tries to reach the mass and, as a result, skips the complex nature of the topics. While it’s true that a vast culture and experience is felt in Mr. Punset’s speech, you are never able to reach a ‘final’ statement on the topics he’s talking about.

In Excuses not to think, Eduardo Punset certainly points out several interesting topics and lines of reasoning, and always accompanies them with references from well-known scientists (fact that I find the most positive feature of the book); however, its main handicap is that you can always notice a non-scientific background in the writing, embodied by diffuse concepts and even spelling mistakes. Moreover, in the book, and sometimes in the same chapter, the author puts together some apparently unlinked concepts, which makes up a feeling in the reader of ‘I-want-to-write-this’.

The topics covered by the book are:

The origin of the universe.
The learning process.
Our emotions.
The brain and its neuroplasticity.
Our feelings.
Life in the Earth.
The power of the changes.
The current taking of decisions.
The State.
How to be happier in a better world.

In conclusion, I recommend this book to people that want to get a little knowledge on current scientific trends without having to think too much about it. Nonetheless, those expecting rigorous explanations and lines of reasoning might find this book quite vague.

When you’re young, your aunt, your grandmother, your mum, your dad, even your neighbours, say you’re fantastic, the tallest, the most intelligent, etc. But when you leave home, you have to prove it.