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The Rough Guide to the Brain
How does memory work? Are we addicted to television? What is Alzheimer's Disease? Can machines read our minds? The human brain, with all its inherent complexity, has taken on near mythical status. Its 100 billion nerve cells, forged by nature and refined over millions of years, allow humans the capacity to survive, create culture, love.
Once an impenetrable grey mass, modern science is getting to grips with our brains at an unprecedented rate. We are moving from a time of anatomy, in which science did well to characterise the various regions of the brain, to a time in which we can observe thought processes in real time. We have entered a neural renaissance. The Rough Guide to the Brain is for anyone who's ever wanted to know more about how their brain and mind works - and what goes wrong when it doesn't. From how we evolved such an impressive organ to how it achieves the feat that is you. Including numerous insights from leaders in their fields, there's no better way to stimulate your grey matter.
Once an impenetrable grey mass, modern science is getting to grips with our brains at an unprecedented rate. We are moving from a time of anatomy, in which science did well to characterise the various regions of the brain, to a time in which we can observe thought processes in real time. We have entered a neural renaissance. The Rough Guide to the Brain is for anyone who's ever wanted to know more about how their brain and mind works - and what goes wrong when it doesn't. From how we evolved such an impressive organ to how it achieves the feat that is you. Including numerous insights from leaders in their fields, there's no better way to stimulate your grey matter.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2007
22 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 14, 2009
A first-rate primer, succinct yet broad in scope. Topics include not only structure and cognitive function, but also scientific history, disorders, drugs, unexplained phenomena, and future possibilities.
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October 26, 2011This book has changed my life , and it's my first English book that I have read .
I can't express how great is it, how clarified wronge concepts and explanation.
What I would like to say is THANK YOU Barry/the author.
=)
I can't express how great is it, how clarified wronge concepts and explanation.
What I would like to say is THANK YOU Barry/the author.
=)
December 23, 2013
Excellent book. The content of this book fit its purpose in explaining generality about brain. As a layman, I found it comprehensible. Good job, Barry J. Gibbs.
Currently reading
August 24, 2010Its a shame not everyone is free enough to use their own brains.
December 3, 2021
I complained about this book to the publishers( Penguin )who assured me in writing they would amend the chapter on Autism in future Editions. I was also successful in having the book removed from my local Library . In addition I also wrote to the author calling him out on his woeful and unscientific depiction of autism but he failed to respond .The chapter on autism casts a dark cloud over the entire book .The author appears to have no understanding or experience of autism and appears to have simply written what they thought they remembered about autism (much of which is woefully inaccurate) without actually looking into it or undertaking any personal investigation. As if there isn’t enough stigma associated with autism, without needlessly adding to it! I expect better of a scientist! The websites provided as references at the end of the chapter , contain none of the ‘information’ he provides so it would appear as if they have been used to grant his writing on autism some authority. I have a huge problem with this and so should he! Many readers would be duped into thinking his statements on autism have weight and that they come from these websites . In my opinion the lack of sources, citations and proper references for claims and statements demonstrate poor academic writing. The chapter on autism (pages 175 to 176) is deeply inaccurate at best, but damaging and hurtful also.
This is a book about the human brain and yet this short and very limited chapter on autism only refers to children, giving no indication of the condition in teenagers or adults .As an adult on the autism spectrum with children also on the spectrum and with other family members with the same neuro-diverse condition, ranging from low support to high support needs I was particularly distressed and also horrified at the misinformation .Most of the statements he makes on autism are damaging, closed, limiting, narrow, out-dated and offensive and provides no indication of the broad range of functionality of people on the spectrum and fails to acknowledge that a child on the spectrum can grow and learn and change !
The entire chapters focus is on disability rather than ability (and doesn't even consider the potential for ability) Furthermore these statements do not apply to many ,many people on the autism spectrum .The author also doesn’t give the slightest reference to the potential for high functioning autism (Also known as low support needs autism ; previously recognized as Aspergers)
This is a book about the human brain and yet this short and very limited chapter on autism only refers to children, giving no indication of the condition in teenagers or adults .As an adult on the autism spectrum with children also on the spectrum and with other family members with the same neuro-diverse condition, ranging from low support to high support needs I was particularly distressed and also horrified at the misinformation .Most of the statements he makes on autism are damaging, closed, limiting, narrow, out-dated and offensive and provides no indication of the broad range of functionality of people on the spectrum and fails to acknowledge that a child on the spectrum can grow and learn and change !
The entire chapters focus is on disability rather than ability (and doesn't even consider the potential for ability) Furthermore these statements do not apply to many ,many people on the autism spectrum .The author also doesn’t give the slightest reference to the potential for high functioning autism (Also known as low support needs autism ; previously recognized as Aspergers)
March 5, 2019
الكتاب فعلا بيستعرض نواحي كتير عن الدماغ البشري , بداية من التشريح و كيمياء الدماغ و انتهاء النوم و الذكاء ..ألخ
الكتاب ممتع في بعض الاجزاء - من وجهة نظري- خصوصا ما يتعلق بالذكاء الاصطناعي و السؤال اذا ما كان المخ مازال يتطور ام الا .
انصح بقراءته لمن يريد ان يبدا بالتعرف علي تركيب الدماغ و مفاهيم زي الوعي , والاختلاف بين الانسان وباقي الحيوانات و مفاهيم اخري متقدمة زي ال cyborg , Artificial intelligence, brain machine interface
الكتاب ممتع في بعض الاجزاء - من وجهة نظري- خصوصا ما يتعلق بالذكاء الاصطناعي و السؤال اذا ما كان المخ مازال يتطور ام الا .
انصح بقراءته لمن يريد ان يبدا بالتعرف علي تركيب الدماغ و مفاهيم زي الوعي , والاختلاف بين الانسان وباقي الحيوانات و مفاهيم اخري متقدمة زي ال cyborg , Artificial intelligence, brain machine interface
July 16, 2017
This was so interesting. It's the first science book I've read in which everything has been explained clearly enough for my very non-scientific brain to comprehend. I feel like I actually learned a lot and really enjoyed it too.
February 12, 2019
I picked up this book to gain an overview of brain anatomy and physiology. It indeed met my expectation. Nothing presented was earth-shattering or mind-blowing, but rather informative and kept me interested. However, the reading signposted me to other areas of interest.
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March 12, 2017Giraffes sleeps for 2 hours a day
Delfins have bigger brains than humans
Alcohol is twice as bad as sugar
Cbt (thinking & behaving)
Delfins have bigger brains than humans
Alcohol is twice as bad as sugar
Cbt (thinking & behaving)
August 18, 2019
very clear intro to a range of subjects about the brain
July 5, 2018
A very good explanation of the brain, including the history of brain science, the biology of each part, mental illnesses and disorders, how drugs affect our brain and the future of brain science including AI, social media etc.
Fairly easy to read but did take time to think about each chapter in turn. The information is very clear and concise with images and graphs scattered throughout.
Fairly easy to read but did take time to think about each chapter in turn. The information is very clear and concise with images and graphs scattered throughout.
September 7, 2019
A nice rough guide to learning about the brain, and a nice break from the fiction books I usually read. Learned some new facts. Recommend it to anyone who would like to learn about the anatomy and functions of the brain.
August 28, 2015
This is an excellent, easy to read synopsis of current knowledge of the marvellous brain. The implications of the first chapters should enlighten everyone who has not been exposed to current research on the brain. The concept of "mind" fades as research on the brain progresses.
August 20, 2010
A very interesting book, but quite dry. If that's your sort of thing, you'll love it.
June 11, 2009
what a fanstastic book. very through and informative.
January 30, 2010
Good intro book--accessible language
May 30, 2010
A good introduction to what we know about the brain.
March 11, 2014
Heavy!
March 25, 2017
easy to follow and interesting.
May 20, 2016
A+/ottimo, semplice intro tocca tutti soggetti rivedere fare note, studiare per primo
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews