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It's clear to me that biology is taking the place in culture that computer science has held for the past couple of decades.

In particular, neuroscience. Consciousness and emotion are physical processes and these are becoming knowable. No more conceptual split between hardware and software. Hardware and software . . .

. . . mind and body are, as the old truism goes, one.

So, what stories do we tell ourselves about mind and body? Historian of science Anne Harrington teaches a fascinating class at Harvard called Stories under the Skin: The Mind-Body Connection in Modern Medicine. She uses narratology to frame students' thinking.

I've been unable to find a place where she's published about these mind/body stories..

Dear Anne Harrington: please write a book about these stories!

Anne Harrington was kind enough to write back and say that yes she is finishing a book for W.W. Norton, modeled on this class, and tentatively titled Stories under the Skin: The Making of Mind-Body Medicine in American Culture. Hooray.

"Story One:
"The Power of Suggestion" (the debunking story)"
 
Harrington deals with topics such as: possession, hypnotism, imagination, power of suggestion, placebo effect
 
Story Two:
 "The Body that Speaks” (the mystery story)

Harrington deals with topics such as : repressed memories in the body

Story Three:
 "The Power of Positive Thinking"(the miracle story)

Harrington deals with topics such as: faith cures, Christian Science, power of positive thinking

Story Four:
 "Broken by Modern Life" (the story of lament)
 
Harrington deals with topics such as: stress, heart disease and the immune system

Story Five:
"Eastward Journeys"(the exoticism story)
 
Harrington deals with topics such as: meditation, chi, and stress

Story Six:
 "Healing Ties” (the nostalgia story)

Harrington deals with topics such as: loneliness, love and cancer