Brainscapes: An Introduction to What Neuroscience Has Learned About the Structure, Function, and Abilities of the Brain (Discover Book) [Paperback]

Richard M. Restak (Author), Richard Kot (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1996 | ISBN-10: 0786881909 | ISBN-13: 978-0786881901 | Edition: First Printing

A comprehensive overview of the workings and abilities of the brain covers its structure and components, how it functions consciously and unconsciously, the ways in which brain cells communicate with one another and other parts of the body, and much more. Reprint. AB.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Neurologist Restak offers a guided tour of the workings of the brain.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Author and neurologist Restak offers a concise summary of the status of neuroscience and speculates about the future of brain research. He briefly examines the brain on three levels?the macromolecular (or anatomical), the microscopic (which includes a discussion of neurotransmitters and their receptors), and the genetic. Several examples of neurological "sleuthing" are presented, along with a description of the technology now available for diagnosis of brain dysfunction. This very brief overview also summarizes the key ethical issues facing his profession. As with his earlier books, including his entertaining The Brain Has a Mind of Its Own (LJ 9/1/91), the author writes with a spirit and clarity that will appeal to the general reader.?Laurie Bartolini, Legislative Research, Springfield, Ill.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 149 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Books (Adult Trd Pap); First Printing edition (October 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786881909
• ISBN-13: 978-0786881901
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,256,233 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction for the educated reader, May 17, 2000

By 

Michael J Edelman (Huntington Woods, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Brainscapes: An Introduction to What Neuroscience Has Learned About the Structure, Function, and Abilities of the Brain (Discover Book) (Paperback)

Written for the layman, this slim (135 pages) volume by a neurologist is a very up to date and comprehensive review of what we know about the brain, its functional structure, the role of neurotransmitters and even a bit about the nature of conciousness.

Like Oliver Sachs, Restak focuses much of his attention on pathology, since not only is it the focus of neurologists, it also tells us quite a lot about the functional organization of the brain. Unlike Sachs, Restak delves deeply into the actual neuopathologies, the cells, the transmitters and the structure of the brain. While the level of detail is relatively superficial from a neuroanatomical point of view, the descriptions are still accurate and detailed; this would have been a nice introductory book to have for my first physiological psychology courses back in grad school.

As well as being an excellent teacher, Restak is an excellent storyteller. Each chapter reads like a good adventure, leading us through the neural pathways, or like a mystery, tracing the history of a particular neuropathology. If you enjoy the medical detective stories of Berton Rouche, or the essays of Lewis Thomas, you'll find much to interest you here.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A readable book for amateurs & beginners in neuroscience, August 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Brainscapes: An Introduction to What Neuroscience Has Learned About the Structure, Function, and Abilities of the Brain (Discover Book) (Paperback)

This book is a simple overview about the subject of contemporary neuroscience. It is not intended for senior students or professionals. However, it is a good book for amateurs, since it was written in simple lauguage. It also gives a sense to beginning students about what they are actually studying. Since the author is a neurologist, this book has been adopted an extreme neurological veiwpoint as references to all human behaviors. Readers should be cautious about this; however, it is nevertheless one important way to look at human behaviors. Also, the book is a good buy and should worth a bargain.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Science explained for all scientists, old, new, and blue., April 18, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (San Francisco, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brainscapes: An Introduction to What Neuroscience Has Learned About the Structure, Function, and Abilities of the Brain (Discover Book) (Paperback)

Brainscapes may be a small book with only 135 pages but it is packed with information that is informative and easily understood. Anatomy and physiology made interesting. When Dr. Restak describes the sodium/potassium pump more like a glob of Silly Putty that changes shape he creates and image that communicates the way your science teacher only dreamed about. What made the book a pleasure to read was how concise the author conveyed the information. One truth about brain research is "how little we know" and Restak never tries to shove any particular dogma down your throat. But instead offers a glance at the vast cornucopia of information and possible avenues awaiting investigation. He examines the criticism that has been leveled against the medical profession for prescribing drugs that may alter personality. Are illegal street drugs more acceptable to the public than a legal prescription? Finally, he discusses the philosophical questions of the brain studying itself. Is it possible to study yourself and be objective? It would be nice if all the science books written for the general public were as good as this one.