Доктор Сара Маккей — нейробиолог, популяризатор науки, лектор, автор множества научно-популярных статей. Ее страсть — рассказывать о последних достижениях в области исследования мозга простым, понятным языком.
«Моя цель — провести для вас хронологическую экскурсию по всей жизни женщины и показать, как наши мозг и сознание формируются и меняются под влиянием генов и гормонов, жизненных событий, общества и культуры, мыслей, чувств и убеждений. Я начну с внутриутробного развития, затем последовательно рассмотрю младенчество и детство, пубертат, подростковые годы, психическое здоровье, романтические отношения и интимную близость, беременность и материнство, менопаузу и, наконец, долголетие и преклонный возраст. На страницах книги я объединяю результаты множества научных исследований и комментарии моих коллег — специалистов по нейронаукам из Австралии, Новой Зеландии, Великобритании, США и Канады». (Сара Маккей
Excellent text to help any woman understand how her brain functions. Also explains what is known about the effect of hormones on the female brain. Explores the brain and female sexuality, and how the female brain functions in different life stages (puberty, pregnancy, menopause). Finally, addresses the aging brain, and suggests methods for helping stave off dementia based on neuroscience.
Recommended reading for any woman seeking to understand her own thinking and mood, and who wants to optimise her brain health.
I would include this book in the beginning of a Women's Health survey class. It includes a great overview of neuroscience, hormones, and their effects over a woman's lifespan.
However, McKay completely misses acknowledgement of women that do not (whether by choice or otherwise) bear children, which leaves the book lacking in information for an entire group. This book also lacks information regarding birth control use, but focuses quite a bit of time on HRT (hormone replacement therapy.)
The Women's Brain is a decent read for women that want to understand the biological changes our bodies undergo in puberty, midlife, and menopause, with a brief call to action for our aging brains. For a more in-depth understanding of the aging brain, I recommend XX Brain by Dr. Lisa Mosconi as a follow up.
This book had far less neuroscience than I expected it would. It's very much a book for someone who has absolutely no knowledge of the human body/brain. And it could use a better editor - there is way too much fluff. Stories that are meant to illustrate scientific points often go on for too long take up probably up to half of the book.
Loved this book! It really delves into the technical physiology of the female brain while still engaging non-neuro scientists. I thought it was a brave book, as many scientists are unwilling to acknowledge any differences between the male and female brains despite the evidence. Feminist reader here, and I loved it!
Fuuu.... And I thought I am crazy. If I still am, at least I am not the only one apparently. And I have a quiet good justification. Recommending as a read for anyone sharing, living, being married to, working with, not understanding, wanting to understand the woman's world.
This book offered surprisingly little that I didn’t already know, and the author’s presentation of research seemed problematic in parts. Perhaps this writer aimed for accessibility over depth of coverage or freshness of insights.
2.5 stars! Read this one for book club and I’m gonna be honest, I had to push myself to read it. I liked the format but the research didn’t feel particularly new or eye opening to me.
I wonder if this book would have been more impactful if I have had experienced pregnancy and child birth.