
The Tale of the Duelling Neurosurgeons: The History of the Human Brain as Revealed by True Stories of Trauma, Madness, and Recovery book by Sam Kean
By Sam KeanThe author of the bestseller The Disappearing Spoon reveals the secret inner workings of the brain through strange but true stories. Early studies of the human brain used a simple method: wait for misfortune to strike -- strokes, seizures, infectious diseases, horrendous accidents -- and see how victims coped. In many cases their survival was miraculous, if puzzling. Observers were amazed by the transformations that took place when different parts of the brain were destroyed, altering victims' personalities. Parents suddenly couldn't recognize their own children. Pillars of the community became pathological liars. Some people couldn't speak but could still sing. In The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons, Sam Kean travels through time with stories of neurological curiosities: phantom limbs, Siamese twin brains, viruses that eat patients' memories, blind people who see through their tongues. He weaves these narratives together with prose that makes the pages fly by, to create a story of discovery that reaches back to the 1500s and the high-profile jousting accident that inspired this book's title.* With the lucid, masterful explanations and razor-sharp wit his fans have come to expect, Kean explores the brain's secret passageways and recounts the forgotten tales of the ordinary people whose struggles, resilience, and deep humanity made neuroscience possible. *"The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons" refers to the case of French king Henri II, who in 1559 was lanced through the skull during a joust, resulting in one of the most significant cases in neuroscience history. For hundreds of years scientists have gained important lessons from traumatic accidents and illnesses, and such misfortunes still represent their greatest resource for discovery.
Book details
- Paperback
- 417 pages
- English
- 0316182346
- 9780316182348
About Sam Kean
sam kean was Read More about Sam Kean
More Books By Sam Kean
People who bought this also bought
F for Effort: More of the Very Best Totally Wrong Test Answers book by Richard Benson
Used Book
Yankee Magazine's Make It Last: Over 1,000 Ingenious Ways to Extend the Life of Everything You Own book by Earl Proulx
Used Book
God's Generals: The Roaring Reformers (Volume 2) book by Roberts Liardon
New Book
Uranium Frenzy: Boom and Bust on the Colorado Plateau book by Raye Carleson Ringholz
Used Book
More of Him, Less of Me: My Personal Thoughts, Inspriations, and Meditations on the Weigh Down Diet
Used Book
Keys to Excellence in Integrated Language Arts Level D
Used Book
Corporate Governance: A Practical Guide to the Legal Frameworks and International Codes of Practice book by Alan Calder
Used Book
365 Ways to Cook Pasta: For Every Season, for Every Reason, a Pasta Lover's Paradise
Used Book
21st Century Reference Guide to Cooking Secrets & Helpful Household Hints
Used Book
Think and Grow Rich: A Black Choice book by Dennis Kimbro , Napoleon Hill
New Book
The Innovation Stack: Building an Unbeatable Business One Crazy Idea at a Time book by Jim McKelvey
New Book
The Last Word on First Names: The Definitive A-Z Guide to the Best and Worst in Baby Names by America's Leading Experts
Used Book
The Corporation : The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power book by Joel Bakan
New Book
A Book of Grace-Filled Days by Elizabeth M. Briel
Used Book
The Bond King: How One Man Made a Market, Built an Empire, and Lost It All book by Mary Childs
New Book
All-in On AI: How Smart Companies Win Big with Artificial Intelligence book by Thomas H. Davenport , Nitin Mittal
New Book
Choicemaking: for Co-Dependents, Adult Children and Spirituality Seekers
Used Book
Small Miracles for Women: Extraordinary Coincidences of Heart and Spirit
Used Book