If you say that a book or discussion is highbrow, you mean that it is intellectual, academic, and is often difficult to understand. He presents his own highbrow literary programme. lowbrow
If you describe someone as highbrow, you mean that they are interested in serious subjects of a very intellectual nature, especially when these are difficult to understand. Highbrow critics sniff that the programme was `too sophisticated' to appeal to most viewers. lowbrow