The Human Brain Book [Hardcover]

Rita Carter (Author), Susan Aldridge (Author), Martyn Page (Author), Steve Parker (Author), Chris Frith (Collaborator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 31, 2009

The Human Brain Book is a complete guide to the one organ in the body that makes each of us what we are - unique individuals. It combines the latest findings from the field of neuroscience with expert text and state-of-the-art illustrations and imaging techniques to provide an incomparable insight into every facet of the brain. Layer by layer, it reveals the fascinating details of this remarkable structure, covering all the key anatomy and delving into the inner workings of the mind, unlocking its many mysteries, and helping you to understand what's going on in those millions of little gray and white cells.

Tricky concepts are illustrated and explained with clarity and precision, as The Human Brain Book looks at how the brain sends messages to the rest of the body, how we think and feel, how we perform unconscious actions (for example breathing), explores the nature of genius, asks why we behave the way we do, explains how we see and hear things, and how and why we dream. Physical and psychological disorders affecting the brain and nervous system are clearly illustrated and summarized in easy-to-understand terms.

The unique DVD brings the subject to life with interactive elements. These include a clickable model of the brain's structure that allows the user to zoom in and discover deeper layers of detail, while complex processes, such as the journey of a nerve impulse, are broken down and simplified through intuitive animations.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Using computer-generated three-dimensional images, graphics, and clear explanatory text presented in brief sections, the follow-up to The Human Body Book (2007) examines each aspect of the brain’s structure and functions. Carter covers both the physiological and psychological aspects of the brain and more than 50 brain-related disorders as well as providing a comprehensive, layered brain atlas. Sections on brain function treat topics such as “Movement and Control,” “The Social Brain,” and “Memory.” A glossary provides definitions of medical and other terms, and an index aids navigation for readers looking for specific topics. A time line of investigation into the brain and a two-page spread on “Landmarks in Neuroscience” help readers put their newly gained knowledge into context. The highlight of the volume is the illustrations. Pages are full of color photographs, charts, diagrams, and other graphics, including specially commissioned brain scans. This is a valuable resource for any high-school, college, and public library collection. Libraries should be aware that it comes with a DVD. --Sara Marcus

Review

"The Human Brain Book combines incredible brain images with fascinating neuroscientific findings." --Newsweek.com, October 1, 2009

"All 256 pages are chock full of amazing illustrations and facts, covering literally everything that your brain does or takes part in bodily function wise." --The Super Mom Blog, September 16, 2009

"This outstanding reference is filled with interesting detailed information about every possible aspect of the human brain." --Science & Children

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: DK ADULT; Har/Dvdr edition (August 31, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756654416
• ISBN-13: 978-0756654412
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 10 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,087 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #48 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Biology

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

90 of 90 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars very good, but loaded with errors, July 27, 2010

By 

Haseeb - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Human Brain Book (Hardcover)

I found too many errors in this book to give it five stars, but at the same time, it is put together so well and covers too much material to give it just three stars.

Here are the errors I was able to find:

*The diagram on page 58 mistakes an Internal globus pallidus for an External globus pallidus

*On page 60, it incorrectly states that the auditory cortex is represented by Brodmann areas 40 and 41 while it should be Brodmann areas 41 and 42.

*On page 115, the color coded projections of the cerebellar circuits to and from the pimary motor cortex are wrong.

*On page 116 it incorrectly stated that the red nucleus is in the superior colliculus. Furthermore, it incorrectly indicates that the pons is the inferior colliculus.

*On page 135, the superior temporal gyrus is called a superior temporal sulcus. The same error is made on page 142 as well.

These are very serious errors and no book on the brain should contain this many blatant errors. I know the book was not written by a neuroscientist, but whoever the neuroscientist was who reviewed her work did not do a very good job. The only other thing in this book is that I don't think the section on memory explains neuroplasticity very well. I've read quite a few other books written by neuroscientists such as Robert Sapolsky and Joseph LeDoux who do a much better job explaining this and use more concise diagrams.

The included DVD which shows brain scan images, the anatomy of the brain as well as the different Brodmann areas and a short video on how neurons fire is excellent.

86 of 87 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Pleasant Surprise, October 1, 2009

By 

An Appreciative Reader (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Human Brain Book (Hardcover)

Is it OK to get excited over a book about the brain? :)

When I ordered "The Human Brain Book" I assumed it was just an updated version of one of my favorite illustrated "brain books"---Rita Carter's expertly executed survey of the human brain titled "Mapping the Mind." I would have been happy with an updated version of "Mapping the Mind" that reflected recent brain research.

When it arrived I was pleasantly surprised to see that Ms. Carter had collaborated with DK, the creator of amazingly well photographed and illustrated educational books to produce one of the most visually informative books on the brain I have ever seen. The paragraph-sized entries and highly visual content of "The Human Brain Book" make it accessible to a wider age range than "Mapping the Mind"--which explores select topics on the brain with fewer illustrations but article-length commentary and depth.

Brain regions are made memorable by explaining the region with engaging examples of the types of behaviors, senses, emotions, cognitive, or other functions associated with that the area of the brain.

The large format and variety of photograph and image sizes reminded me of the wonderful Time Life Science series books that were popular a few decades ago. But so much better.

"The Human Brain Book" is a delight to browse--it's the kind of book that you can open to any page and find something engaging to explore.

And then there is the pleasant surprise of the interactive DVD-ROM . . .

Rita Carter and DK can be proud of creating an exceptional book. At less than $30, this is one the best values I have found on Amazon in a long time.

58 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what it should be!, September 12, 2009

By 

S. L. Shea "portledge steven" (Carbondale, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Human Brain Book (Hardcover)

I almost never pre-order a book, wanting to see the product before shelling out money, but in this case I bet on my enjoyment of Rita Carter's other books and I was NOT disappointed. Well-laid out with spectacular illustrations, Carter's new The Human Brain, is a wonderful addition to an extremely complicated and rapidly progressing field. While not detailed enough to use as an advanced textbook, I've already asked our library to order a few copies for the shelf and for the reserve desk so my students can benefit from an nicely integrated presentation of anatomy, physiology and other basic sciences with clinical disorders.