 |
highly recommended |
For the first time ever, discoveries in our under-
standing of the brain are changing anthropology, linguistics,
philosophy, and psychology--indeed, the brain itself may become a catalyst for transforming the very nature of these inquiries.
In A User's Guide to the Brain, Dr. John Ratey, best-selling co-author of Driven to Distraction, explains in lucid detail and with perfect clarity the basic structure and chemistry of the brain: how
its systems shape our perceptions, emotions, actions, and reactions; how possession of this knowledge can enable us to more fully understand and improve our lives; and how the brain
responds to the guidance of its user. He draws on examples from his own practice, from research, and from everyday life to
illuminate aspects of the brain's functioning, among them
prenatal and early childhood development; the perceptual
systems; the processes of consciousness, memory, emotion, and language; and the social brain.
As the best means for explaining the dynamic interactions of the brain, Ratey offers as a metaphor the four "theaters" of exploration: 1) the act of perception; 2) the filters of attention, consciousness, and cognition; 3) the array of options employed by the brain--memory, emotion, language, movement--to transform information into function; and 4) behavior and identity. Ratey
succeeds not only in giving us a compelling portrait of the brain's infinite flexibility and unpredictability but also in demonstrating how our very understanding of the brain affects who we are.
From the Hardcover edition.
An excellent guide to the brain 
This is an excellent guide to the brain and how it works. The focus on movement and its role in the brain, as well as neuro-chemistry provides fascinating insights into how the brain works and even how such disorders as ADHD are caused by neurological deficits. The book is written in easy to understand language, but also with an appreciation of the potential reader. I definitely recommend it as a good introduction to neuro-science and the mysteries of the human body.
Aimee
This book is EXCELLENT! I love it! It's a great explanation of how the brain develops and how it processes information after development. I would recommend that any woman who is pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant read the first chapter at the very least. I knew that certain food, etc., were not good during pregnancy but this really clarifies by telling you why and explaining what would possibly happen. In addition, it's just absolutely fascinating. Thanks, Dr. Ratey!
Great book
This is a book that is very understandable to read for someone that is not medical. It is an enjoyable book with information anyone can understand. There are only a few illustrations but they are useful.
I recommend this book for anyone pursuing a better understanding in the workings of the human processor "brain".
Best Book On The Brain Yet
This is the best written book on the brain and mind that I have seen yet, and I've seen and read a bunch. Ratey can write so well that it was a pleasure to read. The book is very comprehensive and insightful. I'd give it 10 stars if the rating system could handle it.
Intriguing, Interesting, but Lacks Citations 
"A User's Guide to the Brain" is an intriguing essay on the mind, as the subtitle implies: Perception, Attention and the Four Theatres of the Brain. Written in 2001, the 401 pages over ten chapters is more of Dr. Ratey's personal memoirs and anecdotes written in the first person than a medically written essay without any interjected opinions or afterthoughts, which is more of what I was hoping to find. Dr. Ratey, however, makes several claims and refers to several papers without the much needed citations that allow the reader to follow in the doctor's footsteps.
For example, on page 109, Dr. Ratey states, "There are countless reports in history about people with an extraordinary ability to know where they are going: pathfinders, guides, mariners, pioneers..." Being more of a general statement, it would not be reasonable for the reader to expect the author to cite the "countless reports," but in the next paragraph, Dr. Ratey states, "Joseph Kirschvink and researchers at the California Institute of Technology have identified the same kind of magnetite particles in human brain tissue." At the end of this statement, a footnote or an endnote should follow immediately, or at least an APA reference that allows the reader to investigate the claim further. It seems that the author's unwillingness to cite his sources means he expects his readers to believe whatever he says, and I understand I make take a few unhelpfuls for that, but when it comes to making a claim about a study, find or statistic, professional writing demands that such claims be backed up with a footnote, endnote or bibliographic reference. For general knowledge, a writer could do it all day long. But with medial science, no way.
Another example of a missing citation: page 263, paragraph 2. "Researchers Jenny Saffran and colleagues at the University of Rochester reveal a study showing that infants' learning ability may greatly exceed previous expectations." Which study? No reference, no citation, no follow-up possible.
On page 373: "One recent advance that seems straight out of science fiction is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)...Twelve patients diagnosed with OCD were given the stimulation at several different points on their skulls. The patients found that stimulation to the frontal lobe on the right side of the head resulted in a reduction in compulsions and an improved mood." Right there, at the end of that sentence, there needs to be a citation or link to the aforementioned "transcranial magnetic stimulation."--otherwise, as the author states, it might just _be_ science fiction. It's not? No? Then cite the source. In the very next statement, Dr. Ratey even mentions indirectly that his omissions are intentional: "More research needs to be completed before we truly understand the possibilities of this new technology." Dr. Ratey, it is your job as the writer to do that research. The reader's job is to be excited with your presentation and follow your work, not to do your work for you.
The missing citations are more of the fault of the editors at Pantheon books. I'm surprised the manuscript ever got past the senior editor. Until the myriad of missing citations are put into a revised first edition of "A User's Guide to the Brain," unfortunately, Dr. Ratey's work here cannot be accepted as conclusive. To avoid work, Dr. Ratey included a "suggested reading" list in the back, which conveniently frees him of his responsibility as an author. This type of text would be much improved and vastly more accepted if it were strictly a third person narrative. Otherwise, it's mostly hearsay, although we would like to believe Dr. Ratey has no intention to deceive his audience, credibility demands that no non-general claims are left unsubstantiated.
reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
| products you might be interested in |
attention, brain, guide, perception, theatres
|
|
 |
|
based on 36 reviews
