The Infant Mind [Hardcover]

M.D. Richard M. Restak (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

At birth the human brain has virtually all the neurons it is going to have; however, actual brain tissue doubles by age one and doubles again by age six. Dr. Restak, a neurologist and author of The Brain (the tie-in book with the PBS series of the same name), shows us how brain structure evolves from conception to old age. Using a minimum of technical terms he describes how and when neurons, nerve cells and fibers, synapses, neurotransmitters, and dendrites develop. He also correlates information on biological processes with past and present studies on infant behavior to provide a fascinating and informative account of infant development. Restak ably demonstrates that the fetal and infant brain is not an immature version of the adult brain but a unique and wondrous organ evolving in response to its changing environment. Jodith Janes, University Hospitals of Cleveland Lib.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 274 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday; 1st edition (October 7, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385195311
• ISBN-13: 978-0385195317
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,575,080 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good book if you can figure out his way of writing, July 1, 2002

By 

Webspinman "Raj" (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Infant Mind (Hardcover)

I shall provide a sample of Dr. Restak's writing. See if
you can figure it out. No, there are no typo's in my
transcription below - I checked it.

"
While there are facts and figures enough here to keep happy
those for whom learing facts about something is a form of
mastery, there are, at the same time, matters to ponder about
which, I trust, will interest those readers who will agree with
Thomas Merton that on occassion, "the demand for explanation is
due to the desire to be rid of mystery".
"

Come on Dr. Restak - this is ridiculous. Please hire a
professional writer and fix your prose. Else this is a dead
book. I offer my services.

3.0 out of 5 stars There are probably better books on the subject, March 25, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Infant Mind (Hardcover)

This book has some interesting nuggets, but you have to sift through a lot of gravel to find them.

I read this as a parent, hoping for some perspective on the minds of my young children. I can't really recommend it for parents -- there's too much technical and scientific background and not enough specific insights.

Students or researchers interested in the infant brain from a scientific perspective might get more out of this book.

Unfortunately, the book is poorly organized -- the author seems to drift from one topic to the next with no clear sense of where he's going. But just when you're ready to give up, he'll offer a nice bit of information on the curiosities of how babies think.

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting facts and discoveries of the infant brain, January 5, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Infant Mind (Hardcover)

The human brain is still beyond our comprehension but Dr. Restak offered very interesting and convincing glimpses of how it develops during the earliest stage. The book is filled with annecdotes and research results by scientist and medical doctors. My wife and I are expecting a baby. This book provided very useful information as well as laughs.

My only complain is that it's not very well structured. Expect lots of repetitions and digressions.