Goldberg delves into the mechanisms of the mind, outlining how the elegant structures of the brain develop and change over the course of a lifetime. Drawing on recent and historical examples of leaders and artists who achieved their greatest successes late in life - from Goethe to Ronald Reagan - Goldberg illustrates the effects of an emerging scientific understanding of the biology of wisdom. Bringing together the latest research in brain function, he takes to task outdated neurological concepts and argues that new neurons can be created throughout our lives, the left brain's specialisation in pattern recognition accounts for its increased activity as we age, and the strengthening of the neural pathways in later years accelerates decision-making processes. Most provocatively, he outlines how a "cognitive fitness" program can both curtail the negative mental effects of ageing and enhance our decision-making powers. Insightful and inspiring, The Wisdom Paradox is a groundbreaking look into our mental machinery that will change the way you think about ageing - and about thinking.