Book review: A Thousand Brains and How We Learn
How do we actually learn? Jeff Hawkins’ book A Thousand Brains got me thinking about how our brains constantly build, test, and reshape models of the world. When you connect that neuroscience to Piaget, Kolb, Vygotsky, Kahneman, and others, you see a powerful theme emerge: learning isn’t about absorbing information—it’s about updating our mental models. In my latest reflection, I explore what this means for personal growth, leadership, and lifelong learning and share some questions worth pondering.
Have you ever stopped to wonder what’s actually happening in your brain when you learn something new? Jeff Hawkins’ book A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence (2021) dives into that mystery. Instead of picturing the brain as one big control centre, Hawkins suggests our intelligence comes from thousands of tiny “model builders” in the neocortex, called cortical columns. Each of these is like a mini-learning engine: it builds models, tests them, and adjusts when they don’t fit. Together, they give us the creativity and flexibility that make us human.
So, what does this mean for how we learn in daily life? And how might it connect to the theories of learning many of us already know? Let’s explore—and as you read, think about how your own learning reflects these ideas.
Learning as Model-Building
Hawkins’ core idea is simple but powerful: learning is model-building. Every interaction—touching, moving, talking—adds to or reshapes our mental map of the world. This echoes Jean Piaget’s theory of assimilation (fitting new things into what we already know) and accommodation (changing the framework itself).
David Kolb’s experiential learning cycle also fits perfectly: we learn by doing, reflecting, making sense, and trying again. Even Lev Vygotsky’s emphasis on social learning is there in Hawkins’ theory: the brain thrives in rich environments filled with dialogue, scaffolding, and culture.
Think about the last time you learned a new skill—maybe cooking a recipe or navigating a new app. Did you slot it neatly into what you already knew, or did you have to rethink how you approached it? That’s your cortical columns at work.
Prediction and Decision-Making
Hawkins also reminds us that our brains are prediction machines. Rather than simply reacting, we’re always guessing what’s coming next. Neuroscientists call this predictive coding, and it lines up with Daniel Kahneman’s ideas about System 1 (fast, intuitive) and System 2 (slow, deliberate) thinking.
Here’s the catch: our brains like to protect existing models. This is why we fall into biases like confirmation bias, where we notice only what supports our beliefs. It’s efficient, but it can hold us back.
Ask yourself: when was the last time you realised you were clinging to an assumption that wasn’t serving you? How hard was it to let it go?
Lifelong Learning and Development
Childhood is one giant explosion of model-building—something Piaget’s stages of development capture well. But Hawkins’ theory reminds us it doesn’t stop there. Adult development theorist Robert Kegan showed how we reorganise our mental models through life—shifting from being shaped by others’ expectations to building our own self-authored frameworks.
In the workplace, this links to Chris Argyris and Donald Schön’s concepts of single-loop (tweaking actions) and double-loop (rethinking assumptions) learning. Sometimes we refine; other times, we rewrite the playbook.
Lessons for Learning and Growth
If we take Hawkins seriously, a few practical lessons stand out:
- Learning must be active. Brains don’t just absorb information—they need interaction, testing, and reflection.
- Diversity matters. The more perspectives we encounter, the more flexible our thinking becomes.
- Feedback is fuel. Predictions only shift when they fail—so feedback is vital.
- Bias is sticky. Challenging old models takes conscious effort.
- Social learning is essential. We don’t just model the physical world—we also learn by observing and imitating others.
A Final Reflection
What I love about Hawkins’ approach is how it blends biology with psychology. Our brains may be incredible model-makers, but emotions, relationships, and culture shape how those models evolve. Real learning environments combine all of these—rich experiences, honest feedback, and meaningful dialogue.
So here’s a question to leave you with: What model of the world are you holding onto right now that might need an update? And what new perspective or experience could help you reshape it?
After all, our “thousand brains” are always learning. The real opportunity is whether we give them the right conditions to grow.