Gluttony. Greed. Sloth. Pride. Envy. Lust. Anger.

These are the seven deadly sins, the vices of humankind that define immorality, the roots of all evil in the world. Or so some believe.

But do these sins really represent moral failings, or are they simply human functions that aid us? Are they just the result of how our bodies, psyches, and brains in particular, are wired?

This new book by Dr Guy Leschziner, a professor of neurology and sleep medicine, explores the underlying nature of the seven deadly sins, their neuroscientific and psychological basis, their origin in our genes and crucially how certain medical disorders give rise to them.

Drawing on his clinical practice, we meet individuals whose physical and psychological conditions have given rise to these sins, where brain injury or other experiences have sparked 'immoral' actions. He explores how illness can simply expose what lies within us and investigates how the origins of these traits lie in evolutionary imperatives to preserve the wellbeing of the tribe. Perhaps, he suggests, these character traits are less of a moral question and more biological, which raises fundamental issues of responsibility and blame in the face of 'sin'.

Combining cutting-edge science placed in the context of real-life experience with patients, the book reexamines where the boundaries between normal human nature, pathology and sin are drawn. And, most importantly, whether these hard-wired traits truly represent sin, or simply the intensity of our intrinsic desire to survive and thrive.

About the Author

Guy Leschziner is a professor of neurology and sleep medicine at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals, and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London. In addition to many academic papers and books, he is author of The Nocturnal Brain - Nightmares, Neuroscience, The Secret World of Sleep, and The Man Who Tasted Words. He has presented three series on neuroscience for BBC Radio 4 and World Service.

Reviews

EARLY PRAISE FOR SEVEN DEADLY SINS:

'Thought-provoking, fascinating, compelling - Leschziner delves into the psychology, psychiatry and neuroscience of harmful behaviours and asks: can we ever really be free to choose how we behave? His thesis is compelling: if we can understand ourselves better, and particularly the darker aspects of our psychology, we can hope to make the world a better place'

Professor Alice Roberts, author of Crypt

'A riveting exploration of the science behind why humans engage in behaviour that harms themselves and others'

Jonathan Kennedy, author of Pathogensis

PRAISE FOR THE MAN WHO TASTED WORDS

'A riveting study of sensory function and malfunction... He leaves the reader hankering for more, with a renewed sense of awe at the delicate, magnificent workings of the senses'

Guardian

'Full of delights that linger in the mind'

Independent

'A lucid evocation of big ideas that will make you grateful for your health, and both more appreciative and more sceptical of our symphony of senses with its brilliant, capricious conductor, the brain'

The Times

'From the opening paragraph, I was spellbound, entranced. Through real stories about what happens when our fragile perception of the world around us and within us is severed, Guy Leschziner connects us back to our senses'

Professor Alice Roberts

Book Information
ISBN 9780008615697
Author Guy Leschziner
Format Hardback
Page Count 384
Imprint William Collins
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
Weight(grams) 270g
Dimensions(mm) 240mm * 159mm * 27mm