The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons: The History of the Human Brain as Revealed by True Stories of Trauma, Madness, and Recovery
By Sam Kean
Read by Henry Leyva
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1 Format: CD
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Regular Price: $45.00
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ISBN: 9781478901211
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From the author of the bestseller The Disappearing Spoon comes this tale of the brain and the history of neuroscience. Early studies of the functions of the human brain used a simple method: wait for misfortune to strike—strokes, seizures, infectious diseases, lobotomies, horrendous accidents—and see how the victim coped. In many cases survival was miraculous, and observers could only marvel at the transformations that took place afterward, altering victims' personalities. An injury to one section can leave a person unable to recognize loved ones; some brain trauma can even make you a pathological gambler, pedophile, or liar. But a few scientists realized that these injuries were an opportunity for studying brain function at its extremes. With lucid explanations and incisive wit, Sam Kean explains the brain's secret passageways while recounting forgotten stories of common people whose struggles, resiliency, and deep humanity made modern neuroscience possible.
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Summary
A New York Times bestseller
Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award
Longlisted for the 2015 PEN Literary Award
Barnes & Noble's Biggest Books, May 2014
A 2014 Library Journal Editor’s Pick
From the author of the bestseller The Disappearing Spoon comes this tale of the brain and the history of neuroscience.
Early studies of the functions of the human brain used a simple method: wait for misfortune to strike—strokes, seizures, infectious diseases, lobotomies, horrendous accidents—and see how the victim coped. In many cases survival was miraculous, and observers could only marvel at the transformations that took place afterward, altering victims' personalities. An injury to one section can leave a person unable to recognize loved ones; some brain trauma can even make you a pathological gambler, pedophile, or liar. But a few scientists realized that these injuries were an opportunity for studying brain function at its extremes.
With lucid explanations and incisive wit, Sam Kean explains the brain's secret passageways while recounting forgotten stories of common people whose struggles, resiliency, and deep humanity made modern neuroscience possible.
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Editorial Reviews
Details
Details
Available Formats : | CD |
Category: | Nonfiction |
Runtime: | 12.62 |
Audience: | Adult |
Language: | English |
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