This new text introduces students to the concepts, methods and findings fundamental to the science of mind. It is the first genuine textbook introduction to cognitive science, and in presenting a comprehensive account of the discipline, it encourages critical thinking by presenting alternative views. The textbook grounds theoretical issues by reference to a concrete scenario throughout each chapter: a family conversing over breakfast. The opening chapters discuss the emergence and nature of cognitive science and core concept of the discipline, and introduce the topics of succeeding chapters in the context of the scenario. No single text can hope to cover the diversity and breadth of research and so succeeding chapters are exemplars of the discipline.