We are constantly told to make the most of every precious moment – but when we let our brains rest and our minds wander, something magical happens…

‘A tonic for the frazzled mind‘ David Robson, author of The Expectation Effect

In The Brain at Rest, Dr Joseph Jebelli shares the transformative neuroscience that shows why doing nothing will change your life for the better. Drawing on groundbreaking new research, you will learn how:

· Napping and gentle exercise can enhance brain size
· Spending time in nature can boost creativity
· Silence fosters the growth of new brain cells

If you want to achieve a happier, healthier and more balanced life, this is the book you need.

‘The Brain at Rest is inspiring and practical’ Johanna Thomas-Corr, Sunday Times

‘Stop what you’re doing and read this book‘ Anna Lembke, bestselling author of Dopamine Nation

‘This excellent book is precisely what we need to stop, reset, and rest‘ Johann Hari, bestselling author of Stolen Focus

‘This book is magic‘ Chris Bailey, bestselling author of Hyperfocus and The Productivity Project

‘Offers practical, science-backed solutions for reclaiming your life’ Nir Eyal, bestselling author of Hooked and Indistractible

‘The most important part of your brain you’ve never heard of‘ Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, PhD, author of Work Less, Do More and Rest

‘A powerful, heartfelt manifesto for rest‘ Dr Hannah Critchlow, author of Joined-Up Thinking

* Waterstones Non-fiction Book of the Month, January 2026

Blending science and personal stories with practical tips, neuroscientist Dr Joseph Jebelli reveals how new research is solving the mystery of the brain at rest, with profound implications for intelligence, creativity and even life expectancy.

We are constantly told to make the most of our time: to stop procrastinating, to ‘optimise’ and be efficient with every precious hour.

But when we let our brains rest, and our minds wander, something magical happens: the brain’s ‘default network’ switches on, and we are able to think in completely new ways.

Drawing on groundbreaking new research, Dr. Jebelli reveals how napping can enhance brain size, spending time in nature can boost creativity and problem-solving skills, and how silence fosters the growth of new brain cells. Authoritative and inspiring, The Brain at Rest offers practical advice for achieving a happier, healthier, and more balanced life.

‘Addicted to work? Stop what you’re doing and read this book’ ANNA LEMBKE
‘The most important part of your brain you’ve never heard of’ ALEX SOOJUNG-KIM PANG
‘If you want to accomplish more, without any relaxation guilt, this book is for you’ CHRIS BAILEY

‘Masterful and illuminating’ DAVID EAGLEMAN

Dr Joseph Jebelli takes us on a seven-million-year journey through our own heads, drawing on insights from neuroscience, evolutionary biology, psychology, and philosophyto reveal how our brain’s evolution turned us into Homo sapiens and beyond.

Discover how memory has almost nothing to do with the past; magic mushroom use might be responsible for our intelligence; and how autism teaches us hugely positive lessons about our past and future.

A single mutation is all it takes.

‘Written with aplomb and an eye for arresting asides . . . This is an accessible and thought-provoking book’ The Times

We’ve come a long way. The earliest human had a brain as small as a child’s fist; ours are four times bigger, with spectacular abilities and potential we are only just beginning to understand.

This is How the Mind Changed, a seven-million-year journey through our own heads, packed with vivid stories, groundbreaking science, and thrilling surprises. Discover how memory has almost nothing to do with the past; meditation rewires our synapses; magic mushroom use might be responsible for our intelligence; climate accounts for linguistic diversity; and how autism teaches us hugely positive lessons about our past and future.

Dr Joseph Jebelli’s In Pursuit of Memory was shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prize and longlisted for the Wellcome. In this, his eagerly awaited second book, he draws on deep insights from neuroscience, evolutionary biology, psychology, and philosophy to guide us through the unexpected changes that shaped our brains. From genetic accidents and environmental forces to historical and cultural advances, he explores how our brain’s evolution turned us into Homo sapiens and beyond.

A single mutation is all it takes.