Neuroscience dressed up in literary trappings. As a hardcore Austen fan, I found it fun to use her stories as a lens to explore the human mind. In all honesty, however, the book often felt like it could have used any writer to fulfill the same function. So, great if you love Austen and are running out of nonfiction options or if you would like a primer on neuroscience; not so great if you don't fall into either of those camps and came looking for something deeper about Austen's work.

I feel conflicted about giving this book such a low rating as there was no inherent flaw in it. The topics were in-depth and yet concise, heavily-researched yet full of original thought, and complex yet understandable. So why the two star rating?

I believe that this text has been given an entirely misleading title that does not relate to the contents of the book. I was expecting an academic study on Jane Austen's infamous texts but, instead, this was a psychological study that used Austen's characters for its examples. I was expecting far more literary criticism and insights into her writing, rather than her characters' thoughts and actions used in passing, to illuminate another topic where any example would have sufficed. This was a fascinating insight to brain science but, apart from the introduction, not unique or deeply related to Austen's work in any way, which was disappointing.

Some of the author's explanations of psychological concepts are a little hard to follow. Using concrete examples of text as psych concept would be helpful. I know that my local Jane Austen Society of North America chapter will be reading this book this year for their book group.

I'm unashamedly a Janeite! I love Jane Austen, her books fill me with happiness and I low-key adore every adaptation of her books, even when I don't really want to. (I'm looking at you, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies!) And I'm not alone. We're a force to be reckoned with, spanning generations and continents. But what is it about Jane Austen and her books that makes us so happy? Countless of books have been written about her unique talent to make us feel as we do, and I try to read a fair share of them. So of course I had to read Jane on the Brain as well. Thanks to Pegasus Books and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Jane on the Brain takes a unique approach to Jane Austen's books by bringing Wendy Jones' expertise in neuroscience and psychology to the conversation. Jones doesn't rely too heavily on literary analysis, but rather analyses the keen insight with which Austen crafts her characters. Jones takes an interaction, like, for example, Darcy and Elizabeth meeting unexpectedly at Pemberley, and dissects how Austen describes their responses. Although Austen did not intend to write psychological novels per se, Jones successfully shows how her sharp perceptiveness and interest in human behaviour allowed her to not only make us care for her characters and Austen herself, but to also feel like she cares for us, as if she understands us. This was one of the main lessons I learned from this book, that Austen's power lies in us, the readers, feeling understood and appreciated. And Jones shows us just how she accomplishes that in Jane on the Brain.

Jane on the Brain requires its readers, especially those like me who engage a lot in Jane Austen literary theory, to reset their expectations a little bit. As I said, this is not "normal" Austen commentary or analysis. Wendy Jones blends together different disciplines in this book, introducing her readers to concepts like Theory of the Mind, as well as the anatomy and processes of the brain. If you don't adjust your expectations, it will be difficult to get into the book. Jones does her best to limit the jargon in her book and not overwhelm the reader, but there is still a lot of information and theory to take in. I personally really enjoyed this and it added an extra layer to my appreciation of Austen. I can see Jane on the Brain being an excellent teaching tool as well, both for the neurosciences and English literature. If you're willing to buckle down and learn something new, then Jane on the Brain is definitely for you.

Jane on the Brain gives its readers a completely new insight into Austen's writing and into her power to make us feel. Although her more scientific approach may not be for everyone, there is a lot learn from and think about in Jane on the Brain. I will definitely be revisiting this book in the future.

Well written, and an interesting premise. The mix of disciplines is done exceedingly well, and I think this is a book I will come back to and reread more than once.

There are reason why Jane Austen books are still being read and made into movie to this day. Jane on the Brain is a brilliant examination and exploration into the psychology and science behind empathy and social concerns...in relation to Jane Austen.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.