Shakespeare Thinking (Shakespeare Now!) - Study of Dramatic Mind

In this review of Shakespeare Thinking (Shakespeare Now!), the authors present a focused argument for reading Shakespeare as a living model of human thought. Readers who want a close, intellectually rigorous exploration of how dramatic performance maps to cognitive processes will find the book compelling; the single biggest reason to buy is its sustained claim that Shakespearean method reveals the dynamic, processual shape of human mentality across historical and neurological perspectives. The review treats the book as a scholarly but accessible intervention that connects Romantic interpretation to modern experiments on brain function.

Key Features

• Living model of thought: The book frames Shakespeare as a paradigm of fully human mental creativity, useful for readers who want a performative account of cognition.
• Historical sweep: It traces the positioning of Shakespeare from the Romantics to contemporary studies, offering context for changing views of theatrical mind.
• Interdisciplinary approach: The text links literary close reading with references to neurological experiments to suggest new understandings of brain function.
• Focus on process: Shakespeare Thinking emphasizes thinking that happens in the living moment of performance rather than static interpretation, helping readers appreciate dramatic immediacy.
• Scholarly authorship: The combined perspective of Philip Davis, Ewan Fernie, and Simon Palfrey gives the book weight for readers interested in criticism and performance studies.

Who It's For

The book is best for literature scholars, theatre practitioners, graduate students, and thoughtful general readers who want a sustained argument about how performance reveals the dynamics of human mentality. Those engaged in cognitive literary studies or interested in how historic interpretation connects to modern science will appreciate the crossover treatment.

Readers seeking a quick introduction, a general history of Shakespeare, or a beginner's play-by-play guide should look elsewhere; this is not an elementary primer but a focused critical study that expects some familiarity with Shakespearean scholarship and ideas about performance.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Clear case for Shakespeare as a living model of mental creativity, useful for advanced study and teaching.
• Interdisciplinary links broaden the book's appeal beyond pure literary criticism to cognitive and performance studies.
• Contributors with academic credentials provide an authoritative voice on the subject.

Cons

• The book's focus on dense theoretical argument and historical sweep may be challenging for casual readers without prior exposure to the topics.

Specifications

Title	Shakespeare Thinking (Shakespeare Now!)
Authors	Philip Davis, Ewan Fernie, Simon Palfrey
Subject	Shakespeare, dramatic thinking, literary criticism
Approach	Historical and interdisciplinary analysis linking performance to cognition
Key focus	Thinking in performance and the dynamics of human mentality
Intended audience	Scholars, students, theatre practitioners

Our Verdict

Shakespeare Thinking is a rigorous, intellectually rich study that rewards readers seeking to understand how dramatic performance models human cognition. It is good value for scholars and practitioners because it connects Romantic interpretation to contemporary neurological ideas and foregrounds the immediacy of theatrical thought.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book argue that Shakespeare explains brain function?
It does not claim to be neuroscience itself but uses recent experiments and cognitive ideas to argue that Shakespeare's method illuminates aspects of mental process.

Is it suitable for classroom use?
Yes, it can serve in advanced undergraduate or graduate courses on Shakespeare, performance studies, or cognitive approaches to literature.

Do you need prior scholarship to follow the book?
The book assumes familiarity with scholarly debates and performance concepts, so newcomers may find parts dense.