Warhead: How the Brain Shapes War and War Shapes the Brain

From Dr Nicholas Wright, leading neuroscientist and adviser to the Pentagon, discover the new science behind warfare.

Why did France lose to the Nazis, despite its defenders having more tanks, troops, and guns? How did we bring peace to Germany after World War Two? How do you know if you can trust an ally? How can we make clearer decisions under pressure?

In Warhead, Nicholas Wright takes us on a fascinating journey through the brain to show us how it shapes our behaviour in conflict and war. Drawing on his work as a neuroscientist, and over a decade advising the Pentagon and the UK Government, Wright reveals that, whether we like it or not, the brain is wired for conflict - in the office or on the battlefield.

With a unique framework that helps explain today’s rising tensions and how to defuse them, Warhead brings cutting-edge research to life through battle stories from history. What was it like for a foot soldier at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, or in China’s Red Army as it fought to survive and triumph throughout the 1930s and 40s? How could leaders such as World War Two tank commanders, Shaka Zulu, or Winston Churchill see through the fog of conflict, make better decisions, and communicate with those who must carry those decisions out? How will human conflict shape our future technologies?

In an increasingly dangerous world that threatens our values and success, Warhead is an essential read to understand why we fight, lose and win wars. Because self-knowledge is power.

DR. NICHOLAS WRIGHT, MRCP, PhD is a neuroscientist who researches the brain, technology and security at University College London, Georgetown University, and the New America think tank in Washington DC, where he also advises the Pentagon Joint Staff. On emerging technologies he has worked with the White House, UK Cabinet Office, Australian Prime Minister’s office. He has published over 20 peer-reviewed research papers, many of which have been covered by the BBC and New York Times. He has appeared on CNN and the BBC, and regularly contributes to high profile outlets like Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, the Atlantic, and Slate.