Book excerpt: Have you ever done something you knew would make someone else happy, sad or angry? Have you ever bought a thoughtful gift for someone you love? Or realized someone was being sarcastic with you? Or enjoyed someone else's misfortune? These everyday events involve mind mapping, your brain's ability to create mental pictures of how someone else's mind works. Mind mapping underlies all aspects of daily life, from the best to the worst. You won't find an aspect of your life where mind mapping isn't involved-and you probably never heard about mind mapping before! Brain Talk offers what you need to know about mind mapping and the emerging brain science of interpersonal neurobiology (how interacting with other people affects your brain). Brain Talk is written for the general public in an easy-to-read style and establishes a personal relationship with you. It creates vivid pictures in your mind with attention-grabbling examples, and walks you into powerful new insights about yourself and the important people in your life. Reading Brain Talk can be a life-changing experience. * Part One explains mind mapping and increases your ability to "read" people and map their minds (and your own). It helps you know what they want, what they're feeling and thinking, and what they're likely to do. Part One also covers mind masking (shielding your mind from being mapped), lying and deception. Brain Talk revolutionizes your understandings of yourself, your spouse or romantic partner, and your children, parents, siblings, and coworkers. * Part Two explores the darker aspects of mind mapping, like traumatic mind mapping and antisocial empathy.Traumatic mind mapping occurs when mapping some else's mind leaves your brain/mind traumatized. Did you grow up in a troubled home with experiences that produced vivid "flashbulb memories" lingering in your mind? Do you have recurring thoughts about someone you're dealing with who does disturbing things? Brain Talk helps you understand subtle interpersonal trauma and reveals the short- and long-term negative impacts of traumatic mind mapping. * Part Three shows you how to repair the negative impacts of traumatic mind mapping and effectively handle the difficult people in your life. Brain Talk also details how to use mind mapping to create positive healthy interactions with those you love, and ends on an uplifting note. Brain Talk is based on Crucible(r) Neurobiological Therapy, developed through fifteen years of clinical research with highly troubled clients. Brain Talk is also a crossover book for therapists, educators, and avid readers of brain science. * Four Appendices contain the scientific research underlying the main text and offer in-depth discussions of important topics and treatment details (over 100 pages and 400 references). Brain Talk is available in three versions: paperback and TWO Kindle versions (Standard and Professional). Brain Talk Professional Edition offers the additional functionality of directly downloading FREE scientific brain research articles published online. Consider this electronic edition if you a mental health professional, academic, graduate student, or die-hard brain wonk.(Read about Brain Talk Pro here.) Brain Talk is written by the award-winning clinical psychologist, Dr. David Schnarch, renowned relationship expert and author of the international best-selling books, Passionate Marriage and Intimacy & Desire. He has a proven track record for creating innovative therapies, and making complex brain science understandable and useful to the general public. His ground-breaking professional contributions have received awards from the American Psychological Association, the American Assn. for Marriage and Family Therapy, and the American Assn. of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists. He is Board Certified in Couple and Family Psychology (ABPP), and his textbook Constructing the Sexual Crucible is used by therapist training programs around the world.