Author Zack Lynch got interested in neuroscience after a bungee-jumping misadventure left him with a serious back injury. After years of pain, then-new MRI technology helped diagnose a ruptured disk in his spine, leading to a successful recovery and allowing Lynch to get back to the slopes with his snowboard just a few months later.

From this opening anecdote forward, Lynch’s energetic personality and his enthusiasm for neurotechnology spill forth throughout The Neuro Revolution, as he crafts a wide-ranging forecast for how neurotechnology will impact virtually every aspect of society in the future — a future he calls the “neurosociety”. Narrator L.J. Ganser — who compares narrating a well-written book to good surfing — is a perfect match for Lynch’s consistently excited, but conversational tone. Ganser’s voice is lively but controlled, almost persuasive in its effortless delivery. Through Ganser’s reading, the book’s quick, garrulous language maintains a consistent, pleasant flow.

Brain imaging is a recent technology, but one Lynch believes will revolutionize the way humans conduct law, marketing, and finance, and the way we understand religion, art, and social groups. Lynch contextualizes each of his projections with a background in the field and general explanation of how neuroscience intersects with each topic. The chapter on law, for instance, places brain imaging within the larger discussion of the role of scientific evidence in criminal cases. Lynch discusses the history of lie-detection devices in the justice system before exploring the possible applications of EEG and MRI technologies in discerning truth. As in his exploration of other new neuro-fields, Lynch’s forecast includes a warning of the possible misuse and abuse of brain imaging in determining exactly what, or how much people know.

The Neuro Revolution is a fun, intriguing listen for anyone who enjoys thinking about the potential applications of emerging technologies. While it does not delve into any specifics of brain functioning, or provide an in-depth review of current research in brain imaging, it does present a well-researched, market-oriented glimpse into the future role of a powerful new tool. —Emily Elert