James Olson (author)

The foundation of Olson's philosophical and scientific research starts with a knowledge of the complementary systems that manage the operation of the two hemispheres, one a dual system (as expressed by ontological dualism), the other a nondual system. He explores how the two hemispheric systems relate to one another, seeking to understand the nature of the mental viewpoints they give us, and why they elicit the responses they do. Having studied each hemisphere's viewpoint (the view it shows us) and its typical response (its default reaction to what it perceives), Olson then set out to explain in detail the differences between left-brain and right-brain consciousness, resulting in his latest book How Whole Brain Thinking Can Save the Future (2017) which outlines his four- and sixteen-variation models of consciousness.

In researching for his 2017 book, Olson found that the dual consciousness discovered by Roger Sperry (for which Sperry won a Nobel Prize in 1981) [9], is a consequence of genetic dominance, specifically, genetic complete dominance, which produces the left-hemisphere- or right-hemisphere-dominant model of consciousness advocated by Sperry. Based on patterns common to genetic dominance, Olson hypothesizes that genetic co-dominance causes the two hemisphere to work as an integrated team to inform consciousness, and genetic incomplete dominance causes the two hemispheres to integrate into a hybrid system of operation.

How Whole Brain Thinking Can Save the Future (2017) is the recipient of several book awards:

"Using Brain Science to Enhance Creativity", article in Common Ground, May, 2017

"The Role of Sacred Geometry in Informing Us", article in Spirituality & Health, March 27, 2017

"The Divine Feminine - As Above So Below", article in Spirituality & Health, March 5, 2017

"How the Split Brain Affects Our Political Observations", article in Spirituality & Health, Jan 29, 2017

"How Whole Brain Thinking Can Save the Future", article in Om Times, Jan 14, 2017

"Evolve Into Your Ultimate Self With Whole Brain Thinking". article in Spirituality & Health, Jan 8, 2017

"Politics with Half a Brain", article in Whole Life Times, August 7, 2016

In July, 2012, Olson published a research paper on the topic of sexual orientation with a table showing 32 variations in sexual orientation, “The Role of Brain Dominance in Sexual Orientation”, that has garnered critical media recognition in traditional and LGBTQ outlets, based on the prevailing controversies around the topic of sexual orientation.

“The Role of Brain Dominance in Sexual Orientation”, article, July, 2012

“The Brain's Role in Sexual Orientation”, Guest Opinion in The Bay Area Reporter Online, July 26, 2012

“Our Brains on Peace”, article in Light of Consciousness magazine, Spring 2012

Awards for The Whole-Brain Path to Peace (2011) include:

“The Holistic Perspective is the Path to Peace”, article in Wisdom Magazine, Summer 2011

From 1968 – 1987, James Olson worked in agriculture in Woods County, Oklahoma, managing a farm producing wheat and alfalfa.

After attending Oklahoma State University, Stillwater from 1961-1963, and the University of Vienna, Austria in 1963, Olson graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Oklahoma, Norman. In 1967 he attended graduate school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

James Olson (born Chet Myles Olson; June 27, 1943) is an American philosopher and author. A generalist focused on psychological aspects of the brain, neuropsychology, Olson explores the brain's role in influencing the nature of human consciousness, thought, and behavior. In particular, he seeks to understand how genetic dominance and functional lateralization combine to create a series of inheritable default brain-operating systems to help guide perception and response. Olson is the author of How Whole Brain Thinking Can Save the Future (Origin Press, 2017), a book that seeks to explain human behavior by focusing on functional differences in the brain's hemispheres in terms of how they view and manage the information that generates our thoughts, feelings, and actions; and The Whole-Brain Path to Peace (Origin Press, 2011), which promotes peace though whole-brain thinking. To explore the brain's role in our decision-making and behavior, Olson studies the character of the macro management systems that oversee the brain's operation, explaining how the various systems help shape our viewpoint, bias our perception, and divide us.

The Whole-Brain Path to Peace: The Role of Left- and Right-Brain Dominance in the Polarization and Reunification of America (ISBN 978-1579830557), Origin Press, 2011