Overview

From the author of the bestseller The Disappearing Spoon comes this tale of the brain and the history of neuroscience.Early studies of the functions of the human brain used a simple method: wait for misfortune to strike--strokes, seizures, infectious diseases, lobotomies, horrendous accidents--and see how the victim coped. In many cases survival was miraculous, and observers could only marvel at the transformations that took place afterward, altering victims' personalities. An injury to one section can leave a person unable to recognize loved ones; some brain trauma can even make you a pathological gambler, pedophile, or liar. But a few scientists realized that these injuries were an opportunity for studying brain function at its extremes.With lucid explanations and incisive wit, Sam Kean explains the brain's secret passageways while recounting forgotten stories of common people whose struggles, resiliency, and deep humanity made modern neuroscience possible.

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9781478901211

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Sam Kean spent years collecting mercury from broken thermometers as a kid, and now he's a writer in Washington, DC. His work has appeared in the New York Times magazine, Mental Floss, Slate, and Science, and it has been featured on NPR's Radiolab and All Things Considered. The Disappearing Spoon and The Violinist's Thumb were New York Times bestsellers. Henry Leyva is a classically trained actor with extensive work in theater, television, film, and radio. He has appeared off Broadway and in regional theaters across the country in many plays, including Romeo and Juliet, Taming of the Shrew, and Street Car Named Desire. He has also narrated numerous bestselling audiobooks and performed in audio dramas for the Syfy Channel and National Public Radio.

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