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“... Margaret Boden’s somewhat breathless book sings the praises of the new ‘computational’ models in psychology and of what she rightly calls ‘the computational metaphor’. A feature of her writing is the making of (what seem to be) strong claims followed or prefaced by judicious disclaimers. When she is functioning in what I am tempted to call her disclaimer mode, she warns us against various kinds of intellectual ‘imperialism’ that AI people engage in at times (‘AI’ is the acronym for Artificial Intelligence – computer simulation of ‘intelligent’ behaviour), urges a Popperian stance of trying to falsify strong claims, and even denies that computers could in principle be conscious or have intentional states (in a non-metaphorical sense ...”

“... side of his theory and to leave the rest well alone. Breadth, however, is the great strength of Margaret Boden’s introduction to Piaget. In a short but extremely versatile book* she deals with the psychological, philosophical, mathematical and biological sides of his work simply and competently. She has an interesting chapter on the relationship ...”

“... this was how real brains worked. This ‘top-down’ approach was once memorably encapsulated by Margaret Boden as ‘You don’t need brains to be brainy.’ The silicon chemistry of the microchip could effectively incarnate (or better, I suppose, inmachinate) the carbon chemistry of the neurons. The natural allies of such AI theorists are cognitive ...”

“... the Duchess of Windsor in a triple-pearl choker, Dorothy Sayers in a mannish coat and tie or Margaret Thatcher in high pie-crust frills, send messages about power rather than vulnerability. One of the most striking portraits in the book juxtaposes two images of female exposure and protection. Dame Laura Knight’s self-portrait of 1913 shows the artist ...”