Some books are just plain difficult to review… “The Rewired Brain: Free Yourself of Negative Behaviors and Release Your Best Self” by Dr. Ski Chilton, with Dr. Margaret Rukstalis and A.J. Gregory, is just such a book. Published by BakerBooks in the fall of 2016, this title immediately caught my attention because I have learned a great deal from similar works (most by Dr. Caroline Leaf, who I highly recommend) about improving our thought lives. Since “The Rewired Brain” was published by a Christian company, I assumed that the content would be based upon Scriptures and would perhaps give new insight into “renewing our mind” from the viewpoints of both science and the Bible. While this is somewhat the case, another element that I hadn’t anticipated also came into play…

As Dr. Chilton explains about the two systems of thinking, he says: “Developed over millions of years, System 1 responses are primitive reactions, feelings, sensations, and intuitions associated with animal-like survival instincts. System 1 originates predominantly from regions of the lower (reptilian) and mid (limbic system) brain… The capacity to use System 2 to make conscious choices appears to have been a critical milestone in human history. It shifted us from being humans largely driven by our primitive, animal instincts to humans with the faculty to carry out higher-level cognitive functions, have distinct personalities, and make complex decisions.” This does not sound very Bible-based to me!

In Genesis 1:27 of God’s Word, it states: “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” I believe that God made people with fully-functioning, intricately-designed brains from the beginning of time. Consequently, when Dr. Chilton made the statements mentioned above just one chapter into his book, it did not incline me to put a lot of trust in the rest of what he had to say, and I had a difficult time making it much farther. I understand that some people may agree completely with Dr. Chilton’s views of how the brain has developed, but I do not.

I do not hesitate to admit that the writing style of “The Rewired Brain” was engaging, even during times of deeply scientific explanations, but for me, I could not fully delve into the information because my belief system did not agree with Dr. Chilton’s. So, for Christians who are considering “The Rewired Brain” for Bible-based insight into the workings of our minds, be forewarned that it may not be exactly what you think…

I am grateful to have received a copy of this book from Baker Books Bloggers, free of charge, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.