A Colorful Introduction to the Anatomy of the Human Brain

by John P.J. Pinel

Thousands of people inquire about and buy a competitor to this book each year. Unique layout compared to the competition Text is on the left page with illustration on facing page. A cover flap can cover the illustration's labels for easy self-testing. Up-to-date information covers the latest findings. Available now

Acknowledging the difficulty many readers have when first attempting to learn about the brain's psychological functions, the authors of A Colorful Introduction to the Human Brain have created a book that makes the fascinating world of brain psychology research accessible to readers with little or no background in neuroscience. Readers learn the material in several steps. First they read through the introduction and definitions on the left page; then they color the illustration on the facing page; and finally they use the special cover flap to conceal the illustration labels while checking their knowledge, until they feel they have completely learned the material. Review exercises at the end of each chapter provide an opportunity for self-assessment, with answers provided at the end of the book.

John Pinel, a professor of biopsychology at the University of British Columbia, is an award-winning teacher and the author of over 200 scientific articles. However, he is best known for his reader-oriented writing. His clear concise introductions to behavioral neuroscience have inspired, enthralled, and amused a generation of students and lay people.

Genres: Psychology, Neuroscience, Textbooks, Brain, Science, School, Reference

226 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

John Pinel, the author of Biopsychology (9th Edition), obtained his Ph.D. from McGill University in Montreal and worked briefly at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, before taking a faculty position at the University of British Columbia, where he is currently Professor Emeritus.

Professor Pinel is an award-winning teacher and the author of over 200 scientific papers. However, he feels that Biopsychology is his major career-related accomplishment. "It ties together everything I love about my job; students, teaching, writing, and research." Pinel attributes much of his success to his wife Maggie who is an artist and professional designer. Over the years, they have collaborated on many projects, and the quality of Biopsychology's illustrations is largely attributable to her skill and effort.

Pinel is an enthusiastic West African drummer who performs at local clubs, festivals, and drum circles with Nigerian drum master Kwasi Iruoje. For relaxation, he loves to cuddle his three cats: Rastaman, Sambala, and Squeak.

Reviews

[Roy Kenagy]

One of my retirement projects: teach myself basic human neuroanatomy. So far I've done three units in three days; only 71 to go! It's actually been quite fun - each unit has a coloring page with an illustration of the features presented. I haven't colored this much since 1954. Ms. K is amused, but asks me each day what I've learned, so I'm thinking she may be a little jealous too. She says I color really good [sic], but she may be pulling my leg. My hope is that in about three months, I will be able to make my way through books on the neurobiology of reading without being swamped by the terminology. And other topics in neuroscience: mirror neurons, consciousness studies, neuroaesthetics, etc. Wish me luck!

[Karen Chung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reposting my September 23, 2009 Amazon review of this book:

For brains itching to know more about themselves

If you study anything that has to do with the brain - which is everything - you will benefit from this book. My specialty is linguistics, and I found this to be an outstanding resource on learning more about overall brain function as well as how the brain processes language. Read all of the other reviews for more information - they are in my view all on target. This book is fun and pedagogically sound - very highly recommended.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little book for those students using Pinel's Biopsychology Textbook and looking to solidify their functional understanding of various parts of the brain. This book is probably best for somewhere around a 2nd year undergraduate level.

[Juliette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great study tool with the diagrams and study questions.

[Addi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a helpful exercise for learning neuroanatomy!