Buy Brain

Review by Dr. Richard G. Petty:

Neuroplasticity has recently become a bit of a buzzword. Long the preserve of neuroscientists, this is one of a number of new books on the topic written for the public.

I recently reviewed Sharon Begley’s superb book – Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain – and this one is in a similar vein. Though it is rather different from Sharon’s book in which the main focus was on the changes wrought in the brains of meditators, while this one looks at the extraordinary responses of the brain to injury or congenital absence of sensory organs. Since this book went to press, yet another study, this time from India, has shown that some blind children may be able to regain their sight, an observation that is helping turn a lot of neurology on its head.

Neuroplasticity is a topic of enormous practical importance. The increasing evidence that the brain is a highly adaptable structure that undergoes constant change throughout life is a far cry from the idea that we are simply the product of our genes or our environment. Our genes help determine how we can respond to the environment; they do not make us who we are. And we all have untapped potential. This is more than the old nature/nurture debate in a new bottle. It has implications for human potential: how much can you develop your own brain and mind? Can you really teach a child to be a kind, loving person who can dramatically exceed his or her potential? Can psychotherapy really help change your brain for the better? Can we help re-wire the brain of a psychopath? Do we have the right to try?

The author is both a research psychiatrist and a psychoanalyst who has interviewed many experts in the field. His book is full of well chosen and detailed stories about scientists and their discoveries as well as case reports of triumph over unbelievable adversity. There is also a good discussion of people who have remarkable abilities despite the absence of key regions of the brain.

This book is a good complement to Sharon Begley’s and if you can afford it, then I strongly recommend that you get both books. If your interest is more in personal development and its effects on the brain, then Sharon’s book will be the one for you. If you are more interested in the science and anecdotes about scientists and some amazing patients, then this book may be the one to go for.

Highly recommended.

Richard G. Petty, MD, author of Healing, Meaning and Purpose: The Magical Power of the Emerging Laws of Life

Review by Cory Kerens:

This is one of the most interesting nonfiction books that I have *ever* read. I found the book fascinating, but lest that be chalked up to my being a psychologist, my husband the computer scientist found it fascinating, too.

Scientists used to believe that the brain was relatively fixed and unchanging — some of them still believe that — but recent research shows that the brain is much more mutable than biologists, psychologists, physicians (and any other scientists who studied brains) had ever thought.

For example, anecdotal evidence had long supported the idea that blind people hear better than sighted people, but scientists pooh-poohed this idea, saying that there was no mechanism for that to occur. Well, they recently discovered that the area of the brain usually called the visual cortex is taken over for auditory processing in blind people. So blind folks have twice as much brain space devoted to processing sounds, which means that they really do hear better, and now we know why. Scientists were astounded to discover that the “visual” cortex was really just brain space that could be used for anything.

Psych 101 and Bio 101 textbooks often have a picture in them that shows which areas of the brain control which bodily functions, and this is all presented as fixed and unchanging. Imagine our surprise to learn that the brain can make fairly large shifts in just a few days — for example, if you blindfold somebody for five days, the area of their brains that’s usually called the visual cortex starts using large sections of itself to process touch and sound, and this change is made in as little as two days. Two days!

The book is not just theoretical, though — the author is interested in the theory, but he’s even more interested in how all of this can be applied to better the lives of real people. He talks about people with strokes who’ve learned to walk again, people with vestibular problems who’ve learned to substitute something else for their missing vestibular system, people who’ve been helped with ADHD, autism, retardation, and many other “incurable” conditions by altering their brains.

The downside of the book is that the author is a Freudian, so there are some annoying comments about how Freud knew it all along, but if you can overlook that, it’s all fascinating. The author does an excellent job of drawing the reader in with a story about a real person, then elaborating on the ideas by talking about studies that show the basic principles and their implications, then explaining how this can be used to ameliorate or even cure conditions that were considered incurable.

This book blew me away!

The chapter titles will give you more information about the subject matter:

1. A Woman Perpetually Falling…: Rescued by the Man Who Discovered the Plasticity of Our Senses

2. Building Herself a Better Brain: A Woman Labeled “Retarded” Discovers How to Heal Herself

3. Redesigning the Brain: A Scientist Changes Brains to Sharpen Perception and Memory, Increase Speed of Thought, and Heal Learning Problems

4. Acquiring Tastes and Loves: What Neuroplasticity Teaches Us About Sexual Attraction and Love

5. Midnight Resurrections: Stroke Victims Learn to Move and Speak Again

6. Brain Lock Unlocked: Using Plasticity to Stop Worries, Obsessions, Compulsions, and Bad Habits

7. Pain: The Dark Side of Plasticity

8. Imagination: How Thinking Makes It So

9. Turning Our Ghosts into Ancestors: Psychotherapy as a Neuroplastic Therapy

10. Rejuvenation: The Discovery of the Neuronal Stem Cell and Lessons for Preserving Our Brains

11. More than the Sum of Her Parts: A Woman Shows Us How Radically Plastic the Brain Can Be

Appendix 1: The Culturally Modified Brain

Appendix 2: Plasticity and the Idea of Progress

Highly recommended!

Review by J. Brown:

I believe personal productivity and performance as a leader are directly correlated. Just like we have to lead a team, we have to lead ourselves to a higher level of a productivity and effectiveness. In all of the leadership classes I teach, emphasis is placed on knowing yourself. When you know yourself it provides you the ability to adapt to weaknesses and leverage your strengths (increase your personal productivity and effectiveness).

Knowing how your brain functions is part of knowing yourself.

This book is so insightful and valuable that I sent copies to my clients. The value of the book hinges on the understanding of the brain and how it works which allows me to leverage that knowledge for increased personal productivity and in my interactions and relationships with others.

Myth Busters for the brain!

The book is a fairly easy read because the author uses stories to illustrate the functionality of the brain. This book is not a “leadership-lite” book filled with cute and truthful antidotes, but a book with hard science communicated in an interesting way. Dr. John J. Medina is a developmental molecular biologist. He also shares what scientists don’t know about how the brain works!

This book gave me many, many take-aways and here are just six …

I. Some parts of the brain are just like a baby’s and can grow new connections and strengthen existing connections. We have the ability to learn new things our entire life. Medina states this was “not the prevailing notion until 5 or 6 years ago.” So much for the “you can’t teach and old dog new tricks excuse.” The old dog line is exposed for what it really is…an excuse.

II. Humans can only pay attention for about ten minutes and then need some kind of reset.

III. The brain can only focus on one thing at a time. This is further rationale on the futility of multi-tasking.

IV. Exercise increases brain power and aerobic exercise twice a week reduces the risk of general dementia by 50% and Alzheimer’s by 60%.

V. There is a biological need for an afternoon nap.

VI. The brain is very active during sleep and loss of sleep hurts cognitive and physical ability.

Buy and read Brain Rules. It will benefit you.

One of the reasons I read leadership books is to learn new things but also to get old truths hammered into my thick skull so they result in action. Action! So you may know or have heard of some of the truths in “Brain Rules” but I guarantee the author brings them to you in a unique an interesting way with solid depth that will allow you to easier implement those truths into how you handle yourself and others on a daily basis.

Dr. James T. Brown PMP PE CSP

Author, The Handbook of Program Management

Review by Thomas Duff:

When an author and industry expert you hold in high regard says a book is the best one s/he’s read in 2008, it’s probably a good idea to take notice. So when Garr Reynolds of Presentation Zen fame recommended Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School by John Medina, I decided that should be something I get sooner rather than later. After reading, I can see why he recommends the book so highly. Medina’s 12 “brain rules” are based on solid science, but they’re presented in such a way that you can actually apply your new-found knowledge.

Contents:

Exercise – Rule #1: Exercise boosts brain power.

Survival – Rule #2: The human brain evolved, too.

Wiring – Rule #3: Every brain is wired differently.

Attention – Rule #4: We don’t pay attention to boring things.

Short-Term Memory – Rule #5: Repeat to remember.

Long-Term Memory – Rule #6: Remember to repeat.

Sleep – Rule #7: Sleep well, think well.

Stress – Rule #8: Stressed brains don’t learn the same way.

Sensory Integration – Rule #9: Stimulate more of the senses.

Vision – Rule #10: Vision trumps all other senses.

Gender – Rule #11: Male and female brains are different.

Exploration – Rule #12: We are powerful and natural explorers.

Acknowledgements

Index

When Reynolds reviewed the book on his site, he focused on how these rules pertain to the art of making presentations. Attention, as explained by Medina, means that the brain does not multitask (much to your bosses dismay), we notice patterns and abstract meanings better than recording detail, and you have basically 10 minutes before the audience checks out without a new stimulus. Vision, the sensory “trump card”, is the dominant sense, our brain controls what we see (and it’s not totally correct), the processes to “see” something are very complex, and most importantly, we remember and learn best through pictures and not written/spoken words. That one insight alone should be enough to make you totally rethink the way we attempt to present to people…

Now, even if you’re not approaching the book from a presentation angle, the book is still outstanding. Something like memory, an act we take for granted, is a deep mystery that we still don’t understand. Medina shows by studies and real-life examples how things *might* work, knowing full well we haven’t even begun to understand but a fraction of what goes on there. Sleep, something that boosts brain power, is *not* a time of relaxation for the brain. In fact, it often kicks into overdrive. Why? There are still no definitive answers. But he does go on to prove how *lack* of sleep can utterly render you incapable of rational thought and physical action. When you’ve worked through all 12 of the brain rules, you’ll have a more complete understanding of how you can affect the quality of your brain functioning, all the while being entertained and amazed at what lies between your ears.

Every time I got to the end of a chapter, I started to put the book down. But then I’d think “just one more and then I’ll turn out the light.” Needless to say, I was at the end before I knew it. Like Garr Reynolds, this is one of the best books I’ve read this year, and one that I’d recommend to others for a number of reasons and purposes.

Review by Spudman:

Michael Sweeney and many others have stated that the brain needs to be challenged and exercised in order for it to grow and to remain sharp. It’s one of several reasons why I read such a book, a book that explores the incredible machine that is our brain.

When I first explored this hefty 340 page heavyweight volume, I thought I’d just enjoy the pictures and only read passages and snippets of interest. Midway through the first chapter I was hooked and never looked back.

I’m just an average potato brained reader with no science background or passionate interest in science but with a late life interest in this natural wonder that lives within each and every one of us. The book informs, challenges, and offers topics to think and reflect upon. It covers the physiology of the brain, the history of what man has learned about it, current knowledge and possible future breakthroughs.

Throughout the book are many supplementary pieces of information that support, explain, and enhance the text. In the beginning of Brain the reader is introduced to these extras: tables, charts, flow charts, sidebars, fact boxes, and fast facts. After interrupting myself too many times from the flow of the main text to read these extras, I found it easier and more enjoyable and efficient to read the sidebars first.

Two of my favorite chapters are near the end of the book – Learning and Memory and The Aging Brain. I found quite a bit here to apply to my own brain and to share with my students.

Anyone with an interest in the workings of the brain or anything related to the human brain should find “Brain” a fascinating, stimulating, and educational read. Even if you don’t have the desire to read such a book cover to cover, it’s a great book to add to you personal library.

Review by Joan Cousins:

I ordered this book and “The Human Brain Book” by Rita Carter and there is no comparison. “Brain: The Complete Mind” has a prettier cover but the content is far more superficial and the illustrations are not nearly as educational and engaging. You will get a lot more enjoyment as well as understanding from “The Human Brain Book.” The Human Brain Book

Review by :

I was having a bit of a philosophical crisis when I went looking for a book on free will and determinism — I had discovered that deep down, I really didn’t believe in free will. That was a surprise, since consciously I thought the idea of fate was absurd. I always thought that my brain had been programmed to be the way it was through my genes and the way I was raised, and that the best I could do was to not get too upset about the way I am, do whatever came to me, and hope for some life-changing experience to make things better. After some research on the internet I decided to do what William James and Abraham Maslow did and “act as if” I had free will, and see if I got the same extraordinary results they did (both had been depressed determinists and were “cured” once they gave free will an active try). I still wanted intellectual confirmation though, and I came across this book at the bookstore and bought it on a hunch. This book has blown my mind. Schwartz’ cognitive-therapy work with obsessive-compulsive patients leads us to ask the question, “How is it that a strictly mental process can result in measurable brain changes as shown on PET scans?” Is it caused by another part of the brain? Even if it is, that just postpones the question, because what caused that part of the brain to be any different this time? He makes the case that conscious experience isn’t reduceable to anything more fundamental — try having a colorblind researcher truly understand the color “red” by tracing physical and chemical changes in the brain. Combine that with the fact in quantum mechanics that observation affects which reality it is that shows up, and he proposes a kind of fundamental “mental force” and does a much better job of explaining it than I’ve done here.One problem is that in the middle of the book there is a lot of scientific history of particular studies that would support his theory, but they aren’t really necessary because they don’t say much more than what he’s already said, and there’s lots of detail that isn’t necessary for making his point. It can get dry and uninteresting in those parts, and it seems more like he’s just trying to give these unsung scientists their due.That can’t negate, however, how great the rest of the book is. It has a very powerful argument against strict materialism, especially for this atheist/materialist who didn’t believe in free will last week. (I can’t *believe* how many things this book explains with regard to spiritual claims.) So, don’t get discouraged by the scientific history if you get bored by it, and see the book through. And have fun.

Review by Larry H in Austin:

There’s a lot of interesting and useful information in this book, but it’s not without it’s flaws. On the positive side:

- The descriptions of experiments on the brain are fascinating. So are the descriptions of experiments in quanta mechanics and the resulting paradoxes.

- I find the conclusions regarding the brain’s ability to rewire itself quite inspiring.

- I also find very interesting the idea that Buddhist meditation may be driving neuroplastic changes; it is implied that this physiological change–unbeknownst to the practitioner–is what is actually gained through meditation.

- I admire authors’ drive to bring science to questions regarding sentience, although it isn’t clear how successful they are; as others have said, taking the evidence provided to the conclusions provided requires a leap of faith. In any case, it’s a start from which others may build.

On the flip side:

- I found myself reading reworded versions of the same idea over and over. It was as if the authors were themselves trying to rewire the reader’s brain through repetitive exercises. Unfortunately, this makes the reader lose attention, thus undermining this goal.

- There is a lot of text that attempts to add a human interest perspective. Maybe this was considered important to the commercial appeal the book. But, for this reader, it only diluted the value.

- As mentioned by many others, the authors do not provide convincing evidence to support their conclusions on free will. For example, the authors provide very interesting details about quanta mechanics and the evidence that the universe is not deterministic. While I agree that a deterministic universe eliminates the possibility of free will, the inverse is not true: proof of a non-deterministic universe does not result in proof of the existence of free will.

On the whole debate over free will, I have concluded there are two levels at which people discuss this question: (1) a real-world, practical view and (2) a theoretical view. In the real-world view, as long as one consciously believes he has the ability to make choices, he has free will. There may be a perspective that exists, maybe from the view of deities or the afterlife, in which it is clear that free will is just an illusion; this possibility is the theoretical view. But this theoretical view just doesn’t matter in the real world. The answer to the theoretical view of free will, whatever it is, has no moral implications to this world (the book is very concerned that the answer has deep moral implications). The fact is, sentient creatures believe that they make decisions under their own volition and believe that these decisions have consequences to themselves and others.

The authors start out with the theoretical question and proceed to prove only the real-world view. But I don’t know if the real-world view of free will needs proving. Doesn’t everyone believe they experience volition?

Review by Johncpu:

Since both myself and a loved one have been diagnosed and treated at Amen’s clinic, I’d like to respond to this book from the view of my actual experience. First, I agree with most of the what is said in the other positive reviews. The book is engaging, informative, and most importantly, it offers a great deal of hope. It breaks new ground, and it allows the layman to make better sense of the complexities of brain biology, personality, and behavior. To those few reviewers who insisted that Amen does not actually tell us “how to change your brain” – this is simply not true. Amen offers a variety of options including traditional meds, (even a nice chart to help with the benefits of each), and alternative treatments such as herbal and dietary suggestions.As many know, Amen’s use of SPECT scans is very controversial. Although he has a following of professionals, he is also careful to say that the scans are NOT a primary diagnostic tool – only a way to confirm a tentative diagnosis. This may be because SPECT is not approved by the DSM, nor the APA(to my knowledge), as an accepted and reliable diagnostic tool for ADD or any of the other problems Amen discusses. Given the stodgy psychiatric mentality in the US toward new approaches, this should not be a problem in and of itself. Yet given the controversy, a serious flaw of the book is that it does not address the number and types of cases in which this approach does NOT work. But I also want to offer some cautions to those who might be tempted to passively accept the book in its entirety.1) In my own case, two Drs and a thrapist in Amen’s own office had different interpretations of my loved-one’s SPECT scan, yet there was no consultation among them to resolve the issue. 2) In this layman’s view, the book also seems to show some inconsistency in interpreting the scans. Why does the same over-active image area become the diagnostic key in one case, but then seems irrelevant in another ? 3) Again in my personal case, the drug protocol for my loved-one was the opposite as that described in the book. Despite my questions, this was never explained to me. 4) A recent read of another book by a different author using PET scans showed completely different parts of the brain producing some of the same symptoms as Amen describes. But I suppose this doesnt matter as long as the treatment works. So what is the upshot of my review? My experience causes me to question the credibility of some parts of the book. Interpretation of these scans needs refinement, and Amen may need to get his own house in order as well. Yet, I have found no other professional who understands the intricacies of ADD and the associated problemsas well as he does. Amen truly cares, and this book is a ‘must-read’. Regardless of the imperfections, his approach DOES work for many, many people. But do not be lulled into a passive acceptance by the enticing simplicity of the diagnosis and explanation.Feel free to email me your thoughts. And to those dealing with the pain of ADD its related problems, I wish you peace and comfort. Remember that the heros in a race are not only those who win, but also those who continue to struggle until they finish.

Review by Riowest:

This book shows you that there is hope for everyone! Though the title is a little silly, it is appropriate. This book actually shows you pictures of brains with different emotional/chemical imbalances. Give it to anyone who questions whether diet or medication really affect their feelings and relationships. Many people believe that medication is for weak people and that they should be able to conquer their problems through sheer will. I have known countless people who have tried everything to overcome emotional issues but actually changing their physiology. This book gives indisputable evidence that problems like depression, aggression, ADD and Alzheimers are physically based. The changes in patients’ brains before and after treatment (often, but not always medication-based) are phenomenal. It demonstrates with the SPECT series brain scans that our brain chemistry rules our emotions. I learned that even minor bumps to the head can change people’s personalities and ability to learn. Dr. Amen shows pictures of brains with little or no activity in areas that have been injured, mirroring the patients’ emotional or intellectual difficulties.Amen is very clear that he always uses talk therapy and teaching communication skills before he contemplates having a SPECT series done. His point is that many people can benefit from learning new skills and ways of looking at life, but some are truly stuck because their brain activity keeps them looping on negative thoughts, reacting with extreme anger, obsessing about limited situations, or shutting down when they try to concentrate. When medication is used these patients can finally put the communication and coping skills they have learned to good use. This book helped me understand people in my life who have seemed hopeless, shallow and even vicious. It showed me that there is hope for everyone who is willing to open their mind, get proper treatment, and challenge how they have viewed the world up until now. The exercises he gives the reader are very specific and helpful. If another reviewer thinks that there is nothing concrete in the book, then they aren’t willing to look at their diet, their habitual way of thinking, and herbal and medical treatments. The prescriptions are plentiful and very specific.It is an easy read, very accessible, with fascinating stories that pull you in. It is not academic or inaccessible. Quite the opposite. It’s a great book for anyone who wants to know more about themselves and how their body works.

Review by Raskolnikov:

If you are looking for something new or scientific, skip this one. The book is short on actual science, uses simplistic anecdotes, but more importantly is nothing more than a written infomercial for Dr. Amens to try to sell you his vitamins and supplements. Once you identify the “type” of overeater you are, the book recommends supplements to help you “change your brain” all of which are available on the Amens web site for outrageous prices. The book is one long, giant infomercial. You can get all of the same informaiton for free on the website, and get instantaneous “personalized” results from the “test” there, along with recommendations of which overpriced supplements you should buy from the web site. Nothing new in this book, so save your money. Just go get the pitch from the free web site, and decide whether to fork out hundreds of dollars for supplements there. You won’t need this book to make that decision. Just Google “Amen clinics”.

Review by leafreader:

The book is not bad. There are very interesting information on brain types.

The big problem with the book is frankly a lack of focus. You may very well come away with an OMG-now-what feeling. That’s because the author attempt to cover many possibilities that contribute to the same problem. Let’s say you suffer from anxiety, by the end of the book, you will have been given 50 different things that could have contributed to you experiencing anxiety – and when you try to summarize all those “solutions” it tends to lead you to basic good commons sense: eat well, exercise, don’t stress. Great! Now I know how to live.

That is not to say that book doesn’t give good advice or that it doesn’t have added information. But for 80% of the book, you would have already known the common sense information if you paid any remote attention to the usual batch of health and fitness related articles and magazines.

The big draw for me to purchase this book is to learn about the different types of brains that Dr. Amen has identified. And how each can be best managed via supplements? I focused in on supplements because I already have fairly good regime when it comes to food and exercise. He does provide the info I seek, but I had to shuffle through different parts of the book to piece the information together. The author did not make that easy. At the end of it, I came up with a one-page of summary from all those scattered writings. I’m OK with it but it is clearly not the best. It also indicate the value of your money, assuming you had some common sense about diets already.

The point is, if you don’t know a lot of basic information to begin with regarding good eating and brain habits, then this book will be very valuable. If you know the basics already, you will find information that you’ve not seen before but it takes some work to extract out the info and it puts to question the real value you are getting.

Review by Randy A. Lakin:

I read a lot of books on science and the human body, so I expected the usual on this book. Matthew MacDonald’s book, “Your Brain, The Missing Manual” blew me away. In this book MacDonald covers the entire brain from neurons, to glands, to emotions. The book starts out covering the brains biological workings. It covers neurons, synapses, the Endocrine system and the Nervous system. Next he covers how the brain uses energy and how it gets its food. In this section MacDonald includes the Brain-Friendly Diet and explains how Protein, Fat and even Chocolate affect the brain. There is a great explanation on how the Human Appetite works. In one chapter he discusses the brain and sleep. He writes how the human brain needs light and dark to regulate the sleep cycle. In the book, MacDonald, state how sunlight or bright lights can wake you up fasters. I tried it for myself, I got out of bed early one morning and stepped outside and faced the morning sun. I was amazed at how fast my mind woke up and how clear my mind was.

The Sections on the mind’s visual perception and memory were extremely interesting. I enjoyed the Optical Illusions that he included in the book. One thing I would like to point out is that MacDonald references several websites throughout the book were you can get additional information. I found this very useful and learned a lot on these websites. In addition, the section on how to improve your memory helped me significantly. There MacDonald lists several methods on how to boost your memorization powers, don’t skip this section trust me.

The author goes on to cover such topics as Emotions, Reason, Personality and more. MacDonald lays all the information out in an easy to understand format. This is one of those books that you’re skeptical on getting, but once you’ve read it you know it was well worth the purchase price. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to better understand the brain, or just wants to improve their memory. This books is a must have on every book shelf, you won’t be disappointed with “Your Brain, The Missing Manual”.

Review by Thomas Duff:

When you think about it, the thing we think *with* is one of the biggest mysteries to us. In Your Brain: The Missing Manual by Matthew MacDonald, you’ll gain some level of understanding about how the brain works, what makes it tick, and how you can manipulate it to work better. Even better, you don’t have to be a brain surgeon to understand it all.

Contents:

Part 1 – Warming Up: A Lap Around the Brain; Brain Food – Healthy Eating; Sleep – Taking Your Brain Offline

Part 2 – Exploring Your Brain: Perception; Memory; Emotions; Reason; Your Personality

Part 3 – Understanding Other People’s Brains: The Battle of the Sexes; The Developing Brain

Index

The thing I appreciate most about the Missing Manual series is the way they are designed to be readable for a “normal” person. Part 1 takes you through more of the “hardware” part of the brain… what the different parts are, the roles they serve, and how they interact with each other. Couple clear writing with plenty of illustrations, and you end up with a firm foundation in Brain 101. From there, MacDonald starts digging into more of the “software” aspect of the brain, as in how are memories stored. He uses the most current studies and findings to explain what makes you, you. The items that made this exceptionally interesting to me are the examples of people who, through some abnormality in the brain, don’t quite process things the same way we do. For instance, “Henry M.” had his hippocampus removed in 1953 to prevent seizures. The side-effect was that he lost his ability to form long-term memories. Imagine your mind stuck in a time warp, where your last memory is as it was before your surgery. Anything presented to you since then only lasts a few minutes before you have absolutely no recollection of it. By tracking what he could and couldn’t do in this state, researchers were able to draw conclusions as to what role the hippocampus played in memory. That kind of stuff is something that amazes me, and confirms the fact that we still only have a fraction of a clue as to how the mind works.

If you’re at all interested about your mind, or if you’re simply curious about how such things as optical illusions work, this would be a great book to read.

Review by An Appreciative Reader:

Is it OK to get excited over a book about the brain?

When I ordered “The Human Brain Book” I assumed it was just an updated version of one of my favorite illustrated “brain books”—Rita Carter’s expertly executed survey of the human brain titled “Mapping the Mind.” I would have been happy with an updated version of “Mapping the Mind” that reflected recent brain research.

When it arrived I was pleasantly surprised to see that Ms. Carter had collaborated with DK, the creator of amazingly well photographed and illustrated educational books to produce one of the most visually informative books on the brain I have ever seen. The paragraph-sized entries and highly visual content of “The Human Brain Book” make it accessible to a wider age range than “Mapping the Mind”–which explores select topics on the brain with fewer illustrations but article-length commentary and depth.

Brain regions are made memorable by explaining the region with engaging examples of the types of behaviors, senses, emotions, cognitive, or other functions associated with that the area of the brain.

The large format and variety of photograph and image sizes reminded me of the wonderful Time Life Science series books that were popular a few decades ago. But so much better.

“The Human Brain Book” is a delight to browse–it’s the kind of book that you can open to any page and find something engaging to explore.

And then there is the pleasant surprise of the interactive DVD-ROM . . .

Rita Carter and DK can be proud of creating an exceptional book. At less than , this is one the best values I have found on Amazon in a long time.

Review by S. L. Shea:

I almost never pre-order a book, wanting to see the product before shelling out money, but in this case I bet on my enjoyment of Rita Carter’s other books and I was NOT disappointed. Well-laid out with spectacular illustrations, Carter’s new The Human Brain, is a wonderful addition to an extremely complicated and rapidly progressing field. While not detailed enough to use as an advanced textbook, I’ve already asked our library to order a few copies for the shelf and for the reserve desk so my students can benefit from an nicely integrated presentation of anatomy, physiology and other basic sciences with clinical disorders.

Review by Karen Woodworth Roman:

Simple discussion of the brain, its parts, and its functions. Explains neurons and the spinal cord, too. For example, “Your brain may have as many as 100 billion (BIL-yuhn) neurons (NOO-rahnz) to do its work.” Illustrations are functional, but the photos are good. Ends with a nice “words you know” review of vocabularyand an index. Karen Woodworth-Roman, Children’s Science Book Review

Review by Melissa Bunner:

This book is a great introduction to the brain. I read it to my child’s first grade class and they loved it. It is perfect for kindergarten!

Review by G. R. Parker:

I know how tough it is to write good books for kids, but this one has really impressed us. (I say ‘us’ as my 10-year-old daughter and I are reading this together.) As soon as you open it, you know you are in for a treat.

The content is thoroughly engaging to all ages — it has the right ‘attitude’ to keep even science-haters hooked, but the author’s depth of knowledge about the brain enables him to keep even the geekiest brain-lover involved. The layout and artwork are superb, and my daughter loves the sidebars, which could be a book on their own (on such varied topics as “brain freeze”, squids, lobotomies, and zits).

This book could serve for teachers as a wonderful textbook, while at the same time would be a great present for a curious kid. With so many boring science texts out there, let’s celebrate the ones that are done well. It’s hard to imagine how to improve this one. Well done!

Review by Midwest Book Review:

The study of the brain has a long history, from early Egyptian probes to modern-day research into how the brain works. The Great Brain Book: An Inside Look At The Inside Of Your Head explores all facets of the brain’s systems, with bright color photos surveying parts of the brain and how they interact and operate physically and psychologically. Students in grades 6-9 studying anatomy will find it a bright, fun book inviting leisure browsing as much as reference consultation.