"No fictional character is more renowned for his powers of thought and observation than Sherlock Holmes. But is his extraordinary intellect merely a gift of fiction, or can we learn to cultivate these abilities ourselves, to improve our lives at work and at home? We can, says psychologist and journalist Maria Konnikova, and in Mastermind she shows us how. Beginning with the "brain attic"--Holmes's metaphor for how we store information and organize knowledge--Konnikova unpacks the mental strategies that lead to clearer thinking and deeper insights. Drawing on twenty-first-century neuroscience and psychology, Mastermind explores Holmes's unique methods of ever-present mindfulness, astute observation, and logical deduction. In doing so, it shows how each of us, with some self-awareness and a little practice, can employ these same methods to sharpen our perceptions, solve difficult problems, and enhance our creative powers. For Holmes aficionados and casual readers alike, Konnikova reveals how the world's most keen-eyed detective can serve as an unparalleled guide to upgrading the mind. "-- Provided by publisher.

"Lessons from the world's greatest fictional detective teach us how to improve our own mental powers. Konnikova unpacks mental strategies that lead to clearer thinking and deeper insights. Drawing on twenty-first century neuroscience and psychology"-- Provided by publisher.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [263]-266) and index.

Pt. 1: Understanding (yourself). The scientific method of the mind ; The brain attic : what is it and what's in there? Pt. 2: From observation to imagination. Stocking the brain attic : the power of observation ; Exploring the brain attic : the value of creativity and imagination

Pt. 3: The art of deduction. Navigating the brain attic : deduction from the facts ; Maintaining the brain attic : education never stops Pt. 4: The science and art of self-knowledge. The dynamic attic : putting it all together ; We're only human.