The Brain: The Story of You

The book is simply and elegantly written and eminently readable. But apart from the author's charisma in writing there is wisdom in the layout and structure of the book which results in such an unimpeded flow of the text; apart from several simple illustrations there is nothing in the text to distract your attention. But unbeknownst to the reader, at the end of the book there are End notes which provide additional information and references; also a glossary. In the body of the text there are boxes which elaborate on points raised in the text. Finally at the beginning of the six chapters comprising the book, each featuring a trait of the human brain, there is a text highlighting the essence of the ensuing chapter. Our brain weighing roughly 1400 g - apparently the most complex structure in the known universe - a dense tangle of billions of cells and trillions of connections is what makes us human. One of the remarkable traits of the human brain is its plasticity. Humans are born with their brains unfinished with the result that we are helpless and totally dependent on those around us for many years. By contrast baby animals develop quickly because their brains are wiring up according to a largely p reprogrammed routine. But that preparedness trades off with flexibility which enables humans to thrive in many different environments. Instead of arriving with everything wired up - hardwired - a human brain allows itself to be shaped by the details of life experience. All the experiences of our life shape the microscopic details of our brain. Our brain constantly re writes its own circuitry and since our experiences are unique, so are the vast, detailed patterns in our neural networks. Because they continue to change during our whole life, our identity is a moving target. I imagine that many of us have pondered as to whether we perceive physical reality or reality is something reconstructed in our brain. Well, it is very much the latter. Outside our brain is just energy and matter. Over millions of years of evolution the human brain has become adept at turning this energy and matter into a rich sensory experience of being in the world. Our brain has no access to the world outside. There is only one way that information from out there gets into the brain. Our sensory organs - eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and skin - act as interpreters. They detect a spectrum of information sources (photons, air compression waves, molecular concentrations, pressure, texture, temperature) and translate them into the common currency of the brain namely signals. I shall conclude this part with Synesthesia for which the author has written a whole book. Synesthesia is a condition in which senses are blended e.g they perceive sounds as colors. I imagine that most of us do not realize the enormous power of the unconscious brain. The universe inside our heads extends far beyond the reach of our conscious experience. At every moment in our life, networks in our brain are buzzing with activity. Our life is shaped and colored by what is happening in the subconscious part of our brain: how we act, what matters to us, what we believe is true and false. Our experience is the final output of these hidden processes. It is the power of the unconscious brain that flawlessly orchestrates our movements ( walking, riding, bicycling etc). Between sleep and being awake, the biological material in the brain is the same but the activity patterns slightly change. Being awake (and conscious) we are aware of an identity, a life, needs, desires, plans. Consciousness reacts to surprises but also plays a vital role in settling conflicts within the brain. Consciousness makes plans and sets goals for the system as a whole. Humans do not simply have social needs, they are hardwired to be social creatures. Normal brain function depends on the social web around us. Our neurons require other people's neurons to thrive and survive. From our families, co-workers, and business partners, our societies are built on layers of social interaction. The world around us is a large part of who we are, the self does not exist in a vacuum. Finally, we are at a moment in human history when the marriage of our biology and our technology will transcend the brain's limitations . This is poised to fundamentally change what it will mean to be human.

So entertaining and informative

This is really a very good book. Clear and brimming with enthusiasm and genuine knowledge, for anyone who isn't up to date with brain science this book will be a revelation. Modern brain scanning techniques provide evidence for where there was previously only speculation, and as is so often the case, the truth is stranger, more uplifting, more revealing and more amazing than fiction or guesswork. Eagleman tells it well. So 4/5 may seem a bit unfair but... It used to be that if you watched a fascinating TV series, the book of the series treated you to more detail that can be easily covered on-screen. This is no longer the case and 'The Brain' seems more a summary of than companion to the TV series. So if you've seen the series the book won't tell you more - although it does revisit and re-enforce much that is good. Secondly, I've also read Incognito, which is a more immersive read, does contain more detail and pulls off that trick of making you feel that you (rather than the author) is the smart one. For all that, 'The Brain' will leave you desperate for more - a rare compliment for a modern book.

This book captured my attention from start to finish. Not a complicated read for such a scientific topic which is great. Just really interesting all the way. It’s not often I read a book in just 2 days but this was just so good I kept going straight back to it every chance I had.

This is an excellent book of interest to everyone who has a brain. It is the book of the TV series and follows it pretty closely although the TV series was also excellent. Of particular interest to everyone, especially now, is chapter 5 (Episode 5) where Eagleman reprises one of those seminal experiments which gives deep insight into our behaviour. In essence he exposes the core mechanism which leads to the collapse of empathy and the beginning of fascistic thinking. If the lessons of that chapter were widely understood our behaviour to each other would be moderated quite differently. Certainly compulsory reading for all politicians and would-be politicians for a start. The book (and series) also gives insights this reader was only generally aware of, and had never seen written down, about how fragile our perception of our surroundings actually is. We build models in our heads and only update it with the deltas our senses sense. But if we somehow interfere with the model in other ways then entirely hallucinatory effects can be produced. As Eagleman points out our perception of colour is quite arbitrary. Reality isn't necessarily like that and its all a matter of how you interpret what your senses give you. We are ca walking mass of illusions about ourselves. What we sense and what we are, are two different things altogether. Likewise what we perceive and what is. A salutary lesson, in fact six or more salutary lessons, for all owners.

Beautifully written book about neuroscience.

4 stars for the text, but only 3 for the Kindle edition. I very much enjoyed the content of this book, although I had hoped to find more on the physiology of memory. An accessible and fascinating discourse to introduce the lay reader to the function and development of the brain. I have medical training and did not feel patronised. I would recommend any future purchaser to get the physical version rather than the kindle one. The text is not in an easy- to -read continual flow, as much of the text in the book is set in side boxes, which are fine to process in a physical book but requires much jumping back and forward with the Kindle. Also the illustrations just do not work in the Kindle Paperwhite edition - reproduced far to small to make sense of, the colours for explaining parts of the brain of course are absent, and the text annotations too small to read.

Wonderful book that talked about the Miracls of the brain in a very simple interesting way.

Excelente libro me encantó como el autor explica el desarrollo de nuestras neuronas, gracias a eso eh podido entender más nuestro proceso de aprendizaje.

Ho comprato questo libro dopo aver visto il documentario composto da 6 episodi dello stesso autore del libro ovvero David Eagleman. Cosi come mi ha piacevolmente stupito il documentario cosi mi ha stupito anche il libro . Presenta in maniera molto chiara con esempi molto interessanti il funzionamento del nostro cervello e devo dire che le informazioni scritte in questo libro non sono assolutamente banali e già note a tutti . Il libro presenta in maniera sintetica i frutti degli ultimi 10-13 anni di ricerca di D. Eagleman. Nel libro vengono considerati argomenti come la plasticità del nostro cervello, come fa il cervello ad adattarsi all'ambiente circostante, come fa a percepire la realtà che ci circonda , cosa noi siamo in relazione al nostro modo di pensare e infine come la tecnologia cambierà in futuro noi stessi in relazione ai cambiamenti ai quali il cervello va incontro. Lo consiglio a tutte le persone affascinate del nostro cervello , del nostro modo di pensare.Inoltre a chi è interessato consiglio anche di comprare i cd del documentario collegato in quanto tale documentario permette di avere una visione migliore delle cose spiegate nel libro grazie alle animazioni molto belle e alla chiarezza espositiva.

This book doesn't just explain how the brain works—it challenges the way you think about who you are as an individual with conciousness and awareness. Each chapter dives into a core question that will make you keep reflecting the rest of your day. Great read!

This book is very interesting. The author wrote for people who are not specialists in this subject. However, there is a rich content in this book. I learned a lot!