We live in the Age of the Higher Brain, the cerebral cortex that has grown enormously over the last few millennia, overshadowing the ancient, instinctive lower brain. The cortex is often called the new brain, yet the old brain held sway in humans for millions of years, as it does today in most living things. The old brain can’t conjure up ideas or read. But it does possess the power to feel and, above all, to be. It was the old brain that caused our forebears to sense the closeness of a mysterious presence everywhere in Nature.

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Reviewing Susan Jacoby's book The Age of American Unreason Kaminer (2008) sees Chopra's popular reception in America as being symptomatic of many Americans' historical inability (as Jacoby puts it) "to distinguish between real scientists and those who peddled theories in the guise of science". He currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Executive Programs at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. The documentary is directed by actress Namrata Singh Gujral and also features cancer survivors Olivia Newton-John Diahann Carroll Melissa Etheridge Mumtaz and Jaclyn Smith.

His books have been translated into 35 languages and sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. Chopra has taught at the medical schools of Tufts University Boston University and Harvard University. His critics accuse him of creating a false sense of hope in sick individuals which may keep them away from effective medical care.