This is an exciting time to be in the brain business. The study of the human mind has never been more in the public eye. Nearly every day turns up another occasion for neuroscience and evolutionary psychology to explain the ways in which human beings respond to one another and to their world.

After a summer when Gaza was viewed as the most implacable place on Earth, when Jews and Arabs renewed their ancient enmities and charges of war crimes were followed like daily box scores, Lawrence Wright?s ?Thirteen Days in September? comes as a refreshing reminder that peace between Arabs and Jews was once possible and has even proved to be durable.