H i g h l i g h t s 2 0 1 4 O d i l e J a c o b
Pierre BOULEZ
& Pr. Jean-‐Pierre CHANGEUX
Praise for Changeux’s previous books: ‘This book is a must read for anyone interested in the role that science can play in human flourishing. ’ ―Antonio Damasio ‘It's a spirited work of intellectual synthesis carried off with verve and wit. ’ ―Gerald Weissmann ‘Changeux is a man of universal mind, at home equally in philosophy, linguistics, social psychology, neuroscience, molecular biology and computer modelling. The Physiology of Truth is a joy to read, a thrilling book, in which we are guided by Changeux's lucid prose and effortless range of references and perspectives’ ―Oliver Sacks
1
H i g h l i g h t s 2 0 1 4 O d i l e J a c o b
Pierre BOULEZ and Pr. Jean-‐Pierre CHANGEUX
The Enchanted Neurons The Brain and Music
EVENT
A neuroscience of Art established in a profoundly innovative work – An intellectual landmark!
Pierre Boulez is not only a leading composer, but also an outstanding conductor and the founder of France’s renowned Institute for Research and Coordination in Acoustics and Music (Ircam). He is recognised as a leading 20th century creator and a foremost thinker in the musical domain. From 1976 to 1995, he held the chair of ‘Invention, Technique and Language’ at the Collège de France. Pr. Changeux is an eminent neurobiologist and the author of such successful works as Neuronal Man and The Physiology of Truth: Neuroscience and Human Knowledge (Harvard UP), or Du Vrai, du beau du bien (Yale UP), all originally published by Odile Jacob. He is an honorary professor at the Institut Pasteur and a member of the French Academy of Sciences. He held the chair of cellular communication at the Collège de France until 2006.
What goes on in the mind of an artist, of a composer, during the creative process remains a mystery — a mystery that this book seeks to uncover. Does artistic creation spring from specific intellectual or biological processes? Will scrutinising the creative mechanism enable us to understand how a composer, a musician or a conductor chooses to combine one note with another, decides to make one rhythm follow another, to produce something new, to create beauty or elicit emotion? Is it possible to understand what was going on in the minds of Stravinsky or Pierre Boulez when they composed The Rite of Spring or Le Marteau sans Maître? What are the links between the elementary building blocks of the brain and such complex mental activities as the perception of beauty or the creation of music? The goal of this book, which is to establish a neuroscience of art, originally stemmed from a discussion between the neurobiologist Jean-‐Pierre Changeux, who has made the brain the main focus of his scientific research, and the composer Pierre Boulez, for whom theoretical questions related to the art of music have always been fundamental. They are joined here by Philippe Manoury, who has provided his musicologist’s viewpoint.
• A no-‐holds-‐barred dialogue for a captivating book.
• A book to help us understand the magic of the workings of the human brain.
• An exceptional initiative that should be a milestone in the history of ideas.
| Odile Jacob | October 2014 | 232 pages |
2
H i g h l i g h t s 2 0 1 4 O d i l e J a c o b
Boris CYRULNIK
‘The wreck of my childhood had taught me that the Devil and the Good Lord are not in conflict. […] I thought the Devil was an angel gone mad who had to be pampered to restore peace. This childish notion involved me in a fascinating 50-‐years journey that was both logical and crazy. This is the logbook of that journey.’ On his previous book:
"Cyrulink has healed people and countries." ―The Times
‘An extraordinary book’ ―Elle ‘Boris Cyrulnik’s book is fascinating.’ ―Bernard Pivot, Le JDD ‘An inexhaustible life lesson.’ ―Le Nouvel Observateur ‘It’s pointless to comment on Boris Cyrulnik’s book. You must read it. Without fail. A deeply moving book.’ ―Valérie Trierweiler, Paris Match ‘A unique, poignant story that echoes deeply in all of us.’ ―La Vie ‘Boris Cyrulnik’s writing is so sensitive, so clear, that he ceases being just the brilliant neuropsychiatrist to become our brother in humanity. He deserves our thanks.’ ―Psychologies magazine
‘The survivor’s emotions combine with the writer’s talent; his tragic narrative merges with the construction of memory; the personal evocation of a war-‐shattered childhood intensifies the will to overcome misfortune and to respond to life’s call.’ ―La Vie ‘Limpid, simultaneously moving and fascinating.’ ―La Vie 3
H i g h l i g h t s 2 0 1 4 O d i l e J a c o b
Boris CYRULNIK
Wounded Souls
The adventure of modern psychiatry into a unique narrative
Boris Cyrulnik is a neuropsychiatrist and director of studies at the University of Toulon. He is the author of many immensely successful works, notably Autobiographie d’un épouvantail, which all sold more than 250,000 copies and are widely translated. Among his English translations: Talking of Love on the Edge of a Precipice (Penguin), Resilience: How Your Inner Strength Can Set You Free from the Past (Penguin). In the first volume of his memoirs, Sauve-‐toi, la vie t’appelle (more than 250,000 copies sold!), he recounted a childhood shattered by war, and how, despite devastating experiences, he succeeded in embracing life.
‘Because of the war and of my chaotic childhood, from a very young age I was moved by a fierce desire to understand. I believed that psychiatry, the science of the soul, could explain the madness of Nazism. I thought the devil was an angel that had gone mad and that had to be healed so peace could be restored. This childish notion involved me in a fascinating 50-‐year journey that was both logical and crazy. This book is the log of that journey. ‘To master that world, and to survive, I had to understand; that was my only freedom. The need to give coherence to this affective, social and intellectual chaos turned me into a complete psychiatrist from childhood. ‘50 years of psychiatric adventures have given me moments of happiness, some difficult trials, the feeling that I have made myself useful, and some mistakes on record. My fondness for this specialty is an autobiographical confession. ‘The account of those 50 years also tells how I followed the birth of modern psychiatry, from criminal lobotomies, humiliating straw in hospitals, the esteemed Lacan, principled psychoanalysis despite some dogmatic excesses, a useful pharmacology which became abusive when it was claimed it could explain all aspects of the psyche, and the relief I found in the theory of attachment in which resilience, my favourite chapter, examined a new way of understanding and assuaging psychic suffering. This long trajectory has led me to attempt to explain, appease, and sometimes heal psychic suffering. It has given me the pleasure of understanding and the joy of caring for wounded souls,’ writes Boris Cyrulnik
• The fascinating history of modern psychiatry recount with style and exact vision.
• How this internationally acclaimed neuropsychiatrist has become who he is.
• “Cyrulnik’s work can be said to have changed how we see human pain.”―Le Figaro
| Odile Jacob | September 2014 | 336 pages |
4
H i g h l i g h t s 2 0 1 4 O d i l e J a c o b
Roger-‐Pol DROIT
‘Just about a 100 pages that you can read in one sitting, or browse through to savour the poetry.’ ―Le Pèlerin
‘The love of life expressed in an optimistic novel written by a sage who is always full of surprises.’ ―La Libre Belgique
‘Roger-‐Pol Droit’s style, intellectual rigour and humour make this unusual voyage a joy to read.’ ―Les Échos
‘A phenomenon, […] a lesson in freedom and a breath of fresh air that you’d like to share with the whole world.’ ―Elle
‘His approach is witty and playful, learned and light-‐hearted — and a welcome change to those guidebooks to ready-‐made happiness that glut the publishing world. An enjoyable and stimulating memento mori.’ ―Paris Match
‘As urgent, syncopated and moving as a solo by John Coltrane.’ ―Le Point
‘A long philosophical poem.’ ―La Libre Belgique
‘Just before the book closes on the issue that lies at its core — knowing how to live — Droit tells us what he’d like as his epitaph: “He knew how to pick out a melon.” A homage to the senses and the present moment.’ ―Le Monde des livres
‘Following the example of Françoise Héritier, the philosopher becomes more of a writer, shifting from grand theories that attempt to cover everything to comforting nuggets of thought. He even enthuses over the ignorance of Socrates, the folly of Erasmus and the madness of Pascal.’ ―Livres Hebdo
‘A contagious authenticity. The author’s unrestrained style, profound words and open heart make the reader’s experience one of pure philosophy. And for that, I thank you. Thanks for enabling me to focus on each hour in my day, to imagine that each one could be the very last, and certainly for making it the most wonderful of all.’ ― Psychologies Magazine 5
H i g h l i g h t s 2 0 1 4 O d i l e J a c o b
Roger-‐Pol DROIT
If I Had Only One More Hour to Live A brilliant, original and contagious philosophy lesson
Bestseller
Roger-‐Pol Droit is the author of the immensely successful 101 expériences de
philosophie quotidienne. He is a research fellow at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and teaches at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques (Sciences Po). He has published more than 30 works and is a regular contributor to Le Monde, Le Point and Les Échos.
Extract: ‘If I had only one hour left to live, just one, exactly and inescapably, what would I do? What actions would I undertake? What would I think, experience, desire? What trace would I leave behind? Just imagine: in 3,600 seconds and not one more…
Would it be all over for me — the Universe, the tenderness of the extreme, children’s laughter, the ritual of a tea ceremony, the alchemy of wine, the hatred of hatred and of all that follows. Goodbye life, hello mysteries: the mystery of the end, of what lies beyond, of what has to be done first; and so everything has become more intense, more urgent and denser.
‘One would have to brush aside illusions, get rid of what is superfluous, go straight to what’s essential — but what is essential?’ writes Roger-‐Pol Droit. • An inspiration for readers to draw up a balance sheet of their own lives, and to remember, dream and decide what for each of us counts the most.
• A final, radical and decisive work. Rights sold: Germany (Rowohlt) – Italy (Bompiani) Spain (Paidόs) – Brazil (Bertrand Brasil) Poland (Literackie)
Turkey (Nail Publishing)
| Odile Jacob | January 2014 | 112 pages | 6
H i g h l i g h t s 2 0 1 4 O d i l e J a c o b
Christophe ANDRÉ
‘There’s a good chance that this work will be the first bestseller of 2014.’ ―Elle ‘The teachings of Christophe André.’ ―Elle ‘The keys to harmony with oneself.’ ―Direct Matin ‘His words are infinitely respectful of each person’s existential difficulties.’ ―Elle ‘His latest work […] develops, with greater maturity, what made his works so successful during the past 15 years: clarity, a pedagogical sense, scientific arguments and autobiographical narratives.’ ―Elle ‘Although we cannot decide to be happy, we can learn to get better at seizing opportunities for happiness. The famous psychotherapist Christophe André shows us how.’ ―Elle ‘Christophe André may be regarded as the wise man of French psychotherapy; he is an apostle, but also a critic, of behavioural therapy and one who obtains concrete results.’ ―L’Express ‘A notice to candidates for happiness: Christophe André’s new book offers the stupefying revelation that happiness is a muscle. The more you exercise it the happier you will be.’ ―Elle
7
Rights sold: Germany (Campus) – Italy (Mondadori) – Spain (Kairόs) Korea (Esoop) –Taiwan (Psygarden) China (Guangxi Sc & Technology Press) Romania (Editura Trei) – Russia (Eksmo) – Lituania (Tyto Alba) 2 Book Club licences (GLM and France Loisirs )
H i g h l i g h t s 2 0 1 4 O d i l e J a c o b
Christophe ANDRÉ Don’t forget to be happy! The ABC of Positive Psychology The keys to harmony with oneself
#2 on the Bestseller list!
Christophe André is a psychiatrist physician at Hôpital Sainte-‐Anne, in Paris. His works have met with great success, notably Sérénité, Les États d’âme, Imparfaits, libres et heureux, Vivre heureux, L’Estime de soi and Comment gérer les personnalités difficiles (more than 250,000 copies sold of each of them) and widely translated.
Extract: ‘Positive psychology changed many things in my life. It made me realise that my job was not just to repair what had been damaged in my patients’ minds and souls but also to enable them to become happier and to enjoy life more. ‘Positive psychology does not just make vague recommendations; it is not some sort of screen that allows us to focus on what is joyful and happy in life and to forget that adversity and sorrow are also part of it. Positive psychology is subtler and more ambitious than that. ‘Its goal is to work at cultivating optimism, confidence and gratitude, based on the study of what works well in our minds, and on the mental and emotional skills that enable us to enjoy life, resolve problems and overcome adversity. Life is a gift — one that we often waste. ‘I’m convinced we can learn to be happy — for a simple reason: I learnt to do so myself. There are exceptionally talented students, but I’m not one of them. And then there are ordinary students, not all of whom are very talented. But their efforts can produce results, and make them much happier than they would have been if they hadn’t tried.’ C.A. • Alphabet books were used to teach children how to read. Here, Christophe André teaches us how to be happy. • His unique approach allows him to delve further into the quest for happiness.
| Odile Jacob | January 2014 | 400 pages | 8
H i g h l i g h t s 2 0 1 4 O d i l e J a c o b
Pr. David KHAYAT
‘An international leader in the fight against cancer’
‘David Khayat, MD, PhD, received the 2011 Distinguished Achievement Award in recognition of his clinical and research work and his role in promoting oncology care in his home country.’
‘Dr. Khayat has been instrumental in transforming cancer care in France and advising other nations seeking to improve the care of patients with cancer. He was Co-‐Founder of the World Summit Against Cancer in 2000, an event at which more than 100 international political, corporate, and nonprofit organization leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the global eradication of cancer by signing the Charter of Paris Against Cancer. Numerous countries went on to develop their own national cancer plans, for which many sought out Dr. Khayat as an advisor.’ — ASCO, the American Society of Clinical Oncology
9
H i g h l i g h t s 2 0 1 4 O d i l e J a c o b
Pr. David KHAYAT
To Prevent Cancer – It Is Also Up To You!
Everything you need to know to adopt anti-‐cancer behaviour in your daily life
Pr. David Khayat is Chief of Oncology at Hôpital de La Pitié-‐Salpêtrière, in Paris, and a professor at Pierre-‐et-‐Marie-‐Curie University. He is also Adjunct Professor of Medicine in the Department of Breast Diseases at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston, United States. He has been the President of the French National Cancer Institute (INCa) and is now Honorary President of this Institute. He received the American Association for Cancer Research public service award in 2000 and was elected for a research grant from the Bristol-‐ Myers-‐ Squibb Foundation in 2000. He is the author of the highly successful Le Vrai Régime anticancer (more than 150,000 copies sold – Rights sold in the US (W.W. Norton & Company), Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Greece, Poland, Lebanon), Les Recettes gourmandes du vrai régime anticancer, etc.
Preventing cancer is in our power. Cancer may be the worst contemporary scourge but it is also the most susceptible to preventive measures. In his latest book, David Khayat delves further into prevention, to take into account recent findings on the multiple causes of cancer. Preventing cancer depends on each and every one of us, on our ability to modify our lifestyle and diet so as to limit the possibility of developing the disease. Cancer prevention consists of a multitude of small measures that may ultimately change the whole picture. Diet is important, of course, but not exclusively. Sleep, sexuality, medication, night work and even the quality of the leather of our shoes all play a part. As do pollution and magnetic fields. There is much to learn — and knowledge is indispensible. On all these matters, David Khayat reviews the latest research and gives us valuable guidelines on what each of us can do to prevent cancer.
• The latest cancer-‐prevention studies finally explained to the general audience! • Dr Khayat accompanies the reader and provides an accessible ‘consultation’. • Specially tailored advice for men and for women and each type of cancer. • Several tables summarising information on food and diet. • A clear and accessible style and a message of hope.
| Odile Jacob | October 2014 | 300 pages |
10
H i g h l i g h t s 2 0 1 4 O d i l e J a c o b
Alain BRACONNIER
‘You can’t command optimism, you must seek it.’ —Alain Braconnier ‘A fresh look at our feelings of confidence in the future.’ ―Le Monde ‘Optimism rehabilitated.’ ―Psychologies Magazine ‘Here’s the good news: there is a form of optimism, which we could call “intelligent optimism”, that admits both realism and a critical mind. […] Far from magical thinking, it is a way of looking at life’s positive side that is not opposed to the complexity of the psyche or to reason.’ ―Psychologies Magazine ‘Besides defining a rather overused notion, [this work] offers advice and proposes a method for taking a new look at one’s life.’ ―Psychologies Magazine ‘The psychiatrist Alain Braconnier helps us delve into our reserves of optimism.’ ―Le Pèlerin ‘The intelligent optimist does not live in a dream world: he plans and takes into account criteria of efficiency in those cases where the dreamer-‐optimist would be satisfied with incantatory formulas. […] This is an optimism that appeals and convinces.’ ―Psychologies Magazine 11
Alain BRACONNIER Optimist
H i g h l i g h t s 2 0 1 4 O d i l e J a c o b
How to develop and cultivate optimism, to contribute to our happiness and well-‐being
Alain Braconnier, a psychiatrist and psychologist, is a consultant at the Pitié-‐Salpêtrière teaching hospital and teaches at the School of Practising Psychologists, in Paris. He was formerly the director of a mental health association in Paris. He is the author of such immensely successful books as Mères et Fils, Les Filles et les Pères, Petit ou grand anxieux and, more recently, Être parent aujourd’hui.
What is optimism? Intuitively, everyone seems to know the answer; but it’s not so easy to define its precise characteristics, nor is it always easy to be optimistic. Is optimism innate? Is it a character trait, built up from childhood and the product of a favourable upbringing? Is it an attitude that must be adopted under certain circumstances? Can optimism be boosted?
It is now possible to measure optimism, using three major criteria that allow us to evaluate each individual’s optimism. We know how a pessimist can become an optimist (though pessimism need not always be harmful).
To become an optimist, you must have the confidence to move mountains. But where do you acquire the energy to do so? How and where can you find the foundations of such optimism and the source of well-‐being? The answers to help you change your state of mind and cultivate optimism are to be found in this book, written by an eminent expert.
• How to develop a mental outlook that contributes to well-‐being and happiness.
• Scientific research has demonstrated that optimism has a beneficial impact on human psychology.
• Recommendations and a methodology to enhance optimism.
| Odile Jacob | January 2014 | 304 pages | 12
