On tour: Meet the author Marc Lewis

23 July 2015 Books+Publishing

Neuroscientist and professor of developmental psychology Marc Lewis challenges the understanding of addiction as a ‘disease’ in his latest book The Biology of Desire (Scribe). He is travelling to Melbourne in August and to Sydney for the Festival of Dangerous Ideas in September.

What would you put on a shelf-talker for your latest book?
Not a disease!

What are you reading right now?
The Crimson Petal and the White (Michel Faber, Canongate).

What are you planning to read next?
The Brain’s Way of Healing (Norman Doidge, Scribe).

Which book do you always recommend?
It changes every few months. Lately I’ve been recommending Sam Harris’ Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion (Black Swan) and Johann Hari’s Chasing the Scream (Bloomsbury Circus). And occasionally a cute little book called The Humans by Matt Haig (Canongate).

What was the defining book of your childhood?
As a child I liked adventures, especially by Edgar Rice Burroughs. His ‘John Carter of Mars’ series (various imprints) was formative.

If you were a literary character you’d be
No idea … maybe Merlin.

What’s your favourite book adaptation (film, television or theatre)?
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

What’s your favourite books website or blog?
I suppose it’s Goodreads.

Hardback, paperback or digital?
Paperback.

Facebook or Twitter?
Neither!

In 50 years’ time books will be …
Good question: I think paper will still exist, but it might be entirely replaced by digital.

Category: Features