I raise my glass to science

I was most impressed with this book. Firstly, there is the correct attitude to approach the subject, with humility, and open discussion. There are no bones to pick, no doctrines to sell. Just a gathering together to try and understand something enormously relevant and complicated-the brain. Secondly, it is at the forefront of academic research. Thirdly, it is eminently readable.The brain is an important subject to study. A proper understanding of its functioning and 'malfunctioning' can only help humanity. Brain scientists are gathering together from various sub-disciplines of the greater field of biology, including evolution and genetics, immunology, biochemistry, and cellular biology, to understand the brain. Those beetle watchers have upstarted the academic community again! Not surpising, since we happen to be animals, part of the biosphere. (Incidentally, this includes our brains).There are up to date discussions on such things as susceptibility, 'second hits' (environmental influence), addiction, learning, shyness, introvert/extravert behavioural dispositions, mood disorders, creativity, manic depression, and schizophrenia, with some interesting analyses of famous poets, writers and artists included. Stress, what it means, the relationship to the immune system, and advances in therapy are discussed. Emotions, fear, and reason is discussed in the light of recent ideas and discoveries. Finally dreams, what they are, and what they do and don't mean. There is a lot of good stuff here. Most importantly was the bringing together of ideas and research from various disciplines-we might like to compartmentalise our various learning streams in society-but that isn't necasarily how the brain operates. The links between stress, the immune system and the brain is a good example. There are real discoveries here, and real solutions. Facilitated fertilisation of ideas, and co-operation amongst disciplines. It is great stuff. I look forward to what may be the coming 'century of the brain'. This book, in both its attitudes, and its discoveries, I found inspirational.

Mind set

One of my friends and I have an on going email conversation regarding the evolution of mind and human behavioral attributes. This volume suggested itself to me as a worthy source of useful information on the subject, and indeed it is. Although I liked "Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers" better (for which check my review or the listing), it was more because I enjoyed that author's slightly flip and irreverant style, than because this book is less informative. In fact, the two books have different purposes altogether, and each is successful. Whereas the former book is dedicated to explaining how the mind effects us physically, "States of Mind" is a collection of short essays on the research into the anatomy of the human brain, and into conciousness, emotional behavior, memory, etc. They are the written adaptations of a series of lectures delivered at a conference entitled "Understanding the Human Psyche." For anyone who has not attended such a conference or a colloquium given in honor of a respected academic, the format familiar to those of us who have is that such a collection consists of brief essays on selected, loosely related topics chosen from a given area of enquirey, each preceded -although these too were added where they were significant to the discussion. The book is a quite practical volume in some respects, not merely a collection of unusual findings for the the curious; I found the subject of memory of particular significance. A friend of mine is having problems with her mother whose memory is starting to fail her. Some of the recent problems that have arisen between them might be avoided by simply knowing which areas of memory my friend's mother is most likely to have difficulty with and which are likely to remain dependable. I plan on loaning my friend the book so that she can read the appropriate chapters. I suspect she will find at least some comfort in them. I know I did. I also plan on sending the book to my friend Roger for his own perusal! I can hardly wait for our usual exchange of opinions on the subject!