Books / News
‘Many people can be overwhelmed by their own thinking’
A new book written by a retired clinical psychologist aims to explore the complexity of the human mind.
Bristol-based James Brennan was a clinical psychologist for 45 years and published his first book, a clinical handbook called Cancer in Context, in 2004.
However Brennan’s latest book, Trains of Thought, is for the casual reader.
is needed now More than ever
He said: “When I was working in a very distressing era of medicine, working with a lot of people who were facing their mortality, it was emotionally very draining for me. I found one way that helped was to keep a journal.
“Sometimes very personal, sometimes very much about the work or about what I was really trying to understand about my patient’s experience.”
His journal became the basis for his new book.
Trains of Thought explores how we make sense of the world – photo: Alice Galliott
Brennan continued: “I learned from my clinical work that an awful lot of people are quite well (but), I’m tempted to say, are sometimes scared by their own thoughts. They can be overwhelmed by their own thinking and certainly influenced by it hugely.
“I think reading a book like this is to perhaps look at one’s own thoughts in a slightly more balanced way. A way that means your thoughts don’t dominate you.”
Trains of Thought is available in all major booksellers
Main photo: Alice Galliott
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