Center-Brained: Why You Can’t Tell Left From Right, East From West or North From South!

by E. Patsy Greenland

There’s a reason why you often get lost and directions confuse you… and there are many other people in the same boat. Discover the reason!Are you directionally challenged?

Perhaps you struggle to tell the difference between left and right, or maybe your inability to follow a map or distinguish between the compass points has gotten you lost more times than you care to remember.

You probably make light of it in most social situations, secretly hoping that no one tasks you with anything that requires you to go somewhere new or help someone find their way. Perhaps you laugh it off, putting yourself down in the process, which only makes you feel worse.

There are many people like you out there, most of them hiding their difficulties and scolding themselves for being stupid—when really there’s a very good reason and it has no bearing at all on their intelligence.

You’re about to find out exactly why directions trouble you and get your hands on realistic coping mechanisms that account for how your brain works.

This fascinating book, written by an author who’s been directionally challenged their whole life, is about to enlighten you and help you understand why your brain works the way it does.

Inside, you’ll

Detailed insights into the author’s own experience—so that you can see that it’s definitely not just youA thorough exploration of left and right dominance (and its relationship to spatial awareness)How directional confusion manifests itself—and why you might have been getting more signs than you realizedWhy the way the world treats your challenges has affected your relationship with themThe role your brain plays in spatial navigation… and why you struggle with directionsKey scientific research that explains some of what you’re going through—and flings up many more questions!The characteristics of a center-brained person—do you recognize yourself?Why the terms “left-brained” and “right-brained” could be missing something vital… and what this can tell you about your own experienceSensible coping mechanisms that will actually help you (rather than confusing you even more)What we can do to change the world and make it better for other directionally challenged peopleAnd much more.

You might have tried a number of strategies to help you with your directional confusion, and if you’ve found that they’ve hindered as often as they’ve helped, you might have come to the conclusion that you’re a lost cause.

But there’s a reason why your brain works the way it does, and when you understand this, you’ll begin to see your challenges in a new light and break away from the shame you feel about them.

Want to know why you really struggle with directions? Then scroll up and click “Add to Cart” right now!

170 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 6, 2025

Reviews

[William Gboleahane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does something rare: it validates without excusing. Greenland acknowledges fear, mistakes, and avoidance, but she also shares practical strategies she’s actually used, not theoretical fixes. The restaurant bathroom example and the phone calling workaround felt so real it was almost uncomfortable. That level of specificity is what makes the book trustworthy.

[Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book puts into words a struggle I’ve carried for years without fully understanding it. The author’s personal experiences make the topic feel real and deeply human rather than abstract or clinical. I appreciated how compassion is woven into every explanation, never making the reader feel deficient or “less than.” Instead, the book gently reframes directional confusion as a difference, not a failure. I finished it feeling validated and understood.

[Adey Shokunbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The discussion of handedness and the corpus callosum stopped me in my tracks. I was forced to switch hands as a child, and I’ve struggled with navigation ever since, but I’d never connected the two. Greenland doesn’t overclaim she asks careful questions and invites reflection. That restraint made her conclusions feel credible rather than speculative.

[johnny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this slowly, partly because I kept putting it down to think. The story of Iona traveling between her grandmother’s and mother’s homes stayed with me long after I finished that chapter. Greenland has a gift for turning confusion into narrative without simplifying it. By the end, I felt like I understood my own brain better, even if I still can’t tell east from west.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first chapters, this book made me feel seen in a way I didn’t expect. The storytelling is honest and reflective, making complex ideas easy to grasp without oversimplifying them. I found myself recognizing my own experiences in many of the examples shared. There’s a strong sense of empathy throughout the writing. It’s both informative and emotionally reassuring.

[Saver Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thoughtful exploration of how the brain works, told through lived experience rather than dry theory. The author has a rare ability to explain something nuanced while keeping the tone warm and approachable. I never felt talked down to or overwhelmed by jargon. Instead, I felt guided and understood. It’s a book that encourages self-acceptance.

[Samson Adenekan]

What stood out to me most was how relatable and sincere the writing feels. The author doesn’t shy away from moments of frustration, confusion, or embarrassment, which makes the book incredibly authentic. It helped me realize how many people quietly deal with the same challenges. The compassion in the narrative is constant and genuine. This is a book that normalizes experiences many people hide.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book changed how I talk to my spouse. I used to tease him for not knowing left from right, but after reading Greenland’s childhood classroom story about the chalk box and her lifelong workaround, I stopped laughing. Her patience in explaining the emotional cost of being directionally challenged is what stayed with me most. It’s rare to find a book that teaches without shaming, and she does that beautifully.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recognized myself on the very first page, but it was the grocery-store trolley story in Chapter 1 that sealed it for me. I’ve done that exact thing loaded someone else’s cart without realizing it—and never had language for why. Greenland’s explanation of being “center-brained” gave me relief I didn’t expect. By the time she reached the chapters on coping mechanisms, I felt like she wasn’t diagnosing me she was finally understanding me.

[Lavender · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glad it's not only me. I always thought I was the only one with such a terrible sense of direction.

[James Readnerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up out of curiosity and finished it with empathy. The chapter on how directionally challenged people are treated especially the casual ridicule made me rethink my own behavior. Greenland writes with grace, even when describing humiliation, and that restraint gives her authority. I came away respecting both the subject and the author deeply.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short review, but sincere: the DMV driving test scene made my stomach tighten. I’ve never felt so seen by a nonfiction book. Greenland’s ability to connect neurological discussion with lived experience is remarkable, especially in the chapters about highways and GPS panic. I finished the book feeling less broken and more human.

[Orpey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read academic articles on spatial disorientation, but none of them prepared me for how personal this book is. The sections about getting lost in familiar buildings and the hospital workplace felt painfully accurate. Greenland doesn’t hide behind theory she walks you through her fear, embarrassment, and adaptations. That honesty gave the science weight instead of abstraction.

[M.O PAUL · Rating 5 out of 5]

By the afterword, I realized this wasn’t just a book about navigation it was about being misunderstood for decades and still choosing to speak. Greenland’s voice is steady, reflective, and quietly courageous. She doesn’t demand belief; she invites recognition. I closed the book feeling grateful that someone finally took this experience seriously enough to write it down.

[Korey Pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

What surprised me most was how much this book is about dignity. From the dedication to those “criticized for losing their way” to the final call for directional enlightenment, Greenland argues quietly but firmly that intelligence and navigation are not the same thing. Her writing is calm, thoughtful, and deeply earned. I trust her because she never pretends this is easy.