THE TELEGRAPH BEST BOOKS OF 2025 | THE GUARDIAN BRILLIANT BOOKS TO READ IN 2025

‘Massively important...Zmigrod is a joyful and compelling writer’ THE SUNDAY TIMES

'Fascinating, insightful, lucidly and entertainingly written' A. C. GRAYLING

‘Filled with insightful findings, this book shows that ideological extremism and polarization are not just problems to fret about but puzzles that can be studied and understood’ STEVEN PINKER

'Extraordinary, eye-opening and startlingly original' CASS R. SUNSTEIN

Why are some people radicalised?
Who is most susceptible to ideological thinking?
Can we unchain our minds from toxic dogmas?

In today's polarised world, The Ideological Brain is essential reading to foster a more informed, resilient and freer society. Packed with Dr Leor Zmigrod's groundbreaking new research, it uncovers the hidden mechanisms driving our beliefs and behaviours, and zooms into the processes happening inside each of us to shows how to spot – and stop – rigid thinking in ourselves and others.

With captivating real-world examples, like how a simple card sorting game can reveal your entire approach to life, Dr Leor Zmigrod reveals how cognitive rigidity – struggling to adapt to new rules – mirrors the rigidity with which you cling to social and political ideologies. While some individuals are more susceptible to dogmatic thinking than others, all of us can strive to be more flexible.

Regardless of your political stance, this book will challenge you to reassess your convictions – and what they are doing to your brain.

"‘Leor Zmigrod’s hotly awaited debut…uses new research to show that polarised thinking isn’t something that just floats through the mind: it changes our entire neural architecture’ THE TELEGRAPH, BEST BOOKS OF 2025" - The Telegraph

"'Zmigrod reveals the science behind dogma and shows us how to nurture cognitive flexibility instead’ THE GUARDIAN, BRILLIANT BOOKS IN READ IN 2025" - Guardian

"'Massively important...Zmigrod is a joyful and compelling writer'" - The Sunday Times

"‘If I had to pick one, Zmigrod’s would be my book to watch out for in 2025’" - New Scientist

"'The Ideological Brain is a deeply fascinating and beautifully written investigation of the human mind‘s susceptibility to radical ideologies. Leor Zmigrod elegantly weaves together her ground-breaking research with vivid storytelling. The book is a treasure trove of surprising insights: from the epigenetics of extremism to the impact of stress on rigid thinking, and the role of parenting styles in cultivating authoritarian attitudes.'" - Julia Ebner, author of GOING DARK