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Psychologist Ronald T. Kellogg discusses the findings of recent neuroscience that reveal what sets us apart from all other species. He explores in detail five distinctive parts of human cognition. These are the executive functions of working memory; a social intelligence with "mind-reading" abilities; a capacity for symbolic thought and language; an inner voice that interprets conscious experiences by making causal inferences; and a means for mental time travel to past events and imagined futures. Kellogg argues that it is the interaction of these five components that results in our uniquely human mind. This is especially true for three quintessentially human endeavors--morality, spirituality, and literacy, which can be understood only in light of the whole ensemble's interactive effects. In the final chapter, the author recaps the story of the human mind and speculates on its future. How might the Internet, 24/7 television, and smart phones affect the way the mind functions?