The Awakened Brain- The New Science of Spirituality and Our Quest for an Inspired Life
Lisa Miller, PhD in conversation with Imaad Nasir, MD, Behavioral Neurologist at UCLA
Whether it’s meditation or a walk in nature, reading a sacred text or saying a prayer, there are many ways to tap into a heightened awareness of the world around you and your place in it. In
The Awakened Brain, psychologist Dr. Lisa Miller shows you how.
Weaving her own deeply personal journey of awakening with her groundbreaking research, Dr. Miller’s book reveals that humans are universally equipped with a capacity for spirituality, and that our brains become
more resilient and robust because of it. For leaders in business and government, truth-seekers, parents, healers, educators, and any person confronting life’s biggest questions,
The Awakened Brain combines cutting-edge science (from MRI studies to genetic research, epidemiology, and more) with on-the-ground application for people of all ages and from all walks of life, illuminating the surprising science of spirituality and
how to engage it in our lives.
Absorbing, uplifting, and ultimately enlightening,
The Awakened Brain is a conversation-starting saga of scientific discovery packed with counterintuitive findings and practical advice on concrete ways to access your innate spirituality and build a life of meaning and contribution.
Bios
LISA MILLER, Ph.D., is Professor of Psychology and Education at Columbia University, Teachers College and is Founder of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute, the first Ivy League graduate program in spirituality and psychology.
Dr. Miller is a foremost scientist on spirituality across the lifespan, with her work published in top research journals including JAMA-Psychiatry, American Journal of Psychiatry, and the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Her innovative research has focused on quantifiable effects of spirituality in health, resilience and thriving, and an overall sacred and joyful life. Her clinical and consultation work focuses on spiritual awareness and spiritual growth, for individuals, families, groups and organizations.
Dr. Miller is the author of The Spiritual Child; The New Science of Parenting for Health and Lifelong Thriving and The Awakened Brain - The New Science of Spirituality and Our Quest for an Inspired Life. Based upon her decade and a half of experience, she offers talks, workshops and consultations on spirituality in healthy development to parents and schools, adult wellness groups, and private and public organizations. She is the Editor of The Oxford Handbook of Psychology and Spirituality and Co-Editor of the APA journal, Spirituality in Clinical Practice. She has been elected as Fellow by the American Psychological Association, as well as for the Virginia Sexton Mentoring Award of graduate students. A graduate of Yale, she received her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania from Martin Seligman. She frequently is cited in print and in on-line media and has appeared on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and NBC Today Show as an expert. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and three children.
Imaad Nasir, MD is a board-certified Neurologist, specializing in Behavioral Neurology. He is a Clinical Instructor at UCLA's Neurobehavior program. He completed his MD from Ross University School of Medicine, residency in Neurology at The University of Arizona, and fellowship in Behavioral Neurology at UCLA. He trained under well-known and highly regarded experts including Geoffery Ahern at The University of Arizona and Mario Mendez at UCLA. Dr Nasir is particularly interested in the neural correlates of social behaviors including religion and spirituality. Currently, he is part of a team that is analyzing how hate is generated in participants with healthy brains and those with brain disease, hoping to target and mitigate mechanisms of dehumanization.