Customer Reviews

Minds behind the Brain: A History of the Pioneers and Their Discoveries

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?Minds Behind the Brain? covers the history of our attempts to understand how we understand. Finger (the author) is a scholar (a professor of psychology at the University of Washington) who undertook the writing of this book because of questions from his students concerning the people behind the theories he was teaching to them. He begins the journey over 5000 years ago with the Egyptians and pulls up just shy of the current explosion in brain research, justly claiming that he didn?t want to discuss ?theories so new that they had not undergone the test of time or could easily be found in other places.?

Finger attempts to humanize the people who have made major contributions to our understanding of how the human brain works. For instance, while describing Descartes, who viewed animals as ?beast machines?, Finger points out that Descartes had a pet dog called Mr. Scratch and that Descartes adored his pet but at the same time denied the possibility that the dog could ever truly return the affection. Finger winds his way through the scientific undertakings of people who both contributed greatly to our modern understanding of neural workings (e.g. Paul Broca) as well as those whose contributions seem crude to us now (e.g. Hippocrates 4-humor model) but are important nonetheless.

The book is somewhat lengthy at just over 300 pages, but can be easily be approached on a chapter by chapter basis. Each chapter covers the contributions of only one or two individuals. The writing is interspersed with black and white drawings and photographs, generally to illustrate a point of anatomy or to show the face of the person whom Finger is describing. The academic inclusion of numbered references into the text detracts from the casual writing style that the author wisely adopted. In the end, Finger?s efforts to capture the history of this great human undertaking is largely successful and makes for a fascinating book.

Boy...I wish I had had this book when I was going through neuroscience for my BS and my MS in med school! Too many professors do not realize that you cannot teach science out of context of history and social/cultural impact of the times in which the discoveries were made. So many times science is presented as the technological and mathematical sides of it, without portraying the human side of the story. Science does not exist in a vacuum, and despite what many 'scientists' believe their discoveries are not free from cultural and social bias.

The pictures and photographs add to the interest level and fun of reading this book. I enjoy seeing the older instruments, the drawings done by the original scientists, and photographs of the man with myasthenia gravis who was given anticholinesterase drugs to help with his affliction. This type of information puts a human face on dry science. Ultimately it is the application of what is learned in neuroscience used to relieve the suffering of those with chronic degenerative diseases which I find rewarding, not just the science as an end in itself. In fact, most of the men who made significant additions to neuroscience and understanding of the brain were trying to elucidate how the brain works in order to help those with these types of brain problems.

Finger does an excellent job. It is a long book, but immensely readable. Lots of information that was new to me, along with information that I had gotten glimpses from other sources (usually magazine articles in historical or lay science journals). This book should definitely be on hold in any university library where neuroscience is being taught, and if teaching neuroscience, professors should recommend to students to go and read the relevant chapters for historical background in this book.

There were a few scientists I would have liked more information on like Wilder Penfield. I would have preferred more recent (last 150 years) then all the early information from Greek history. That is a personal bias of mine, and not a reflection on the author who had to make choices of how much to put in the book about whom. I plan on keeping this book where I can reach it for papers and for teaching. I disagree with the reviewer who complained about all the references. I appreciate the referenced information, so that I know where to go for more information on a particular topic. I also plan on making this book recommended reading for my students and for deaf students. Karen Sadler, Science Education, University of Pittsburgh

In this extraordinary book, Dr. Stanley Finger, a psychologist, shares with us his perspectives on the people who are the foundation for the field of neuroscience. Beginning almost when history itself began, Dr. Finger traces science's theoretical, and later experimental forays into brain-behavior relationships and their advancement of cognitive neuroscience. The reader, either layman or professional, in psychology, psychiatry, and related disciplines, will find a thoroughly educative and comfortable read here, and will be "Mesmer"-ized by Dr. Finger's eloquent and articulate style. I enthusiastically recommend Minds Behind the Brain!

this book is not a medical reference or textbook. it is, however, an excellent historical exploration of brain and neuroscience. i loved it! i am not a doctor, but an historian, and my curiosity on the subject was satiated. i can now hold up an impressive end of a conversation regarding all things neurological. this book is for the general public, and all those who want to learn more about civilization, anthropology, biology, science, etc...
highly recommended.

The history of brain study is absolutely fascinating. It is a wonderful thought to give an account of this branch of knowledge through the lives of geniuses who gave birth to various aspects of our modern understanding of how the brain and the nervous system work. Dr. Finger's book is comprehensive, scientifically sound and well-researched, to say the very least. Unfortunately, this noble project is somewhat compromised by a rather stilted narration. There is very little thrill and suspense in the way the author recounts his story, and some of his comments are too simplistic and naive. Given the complex subject and the fact that the reader should be rather knowledgeable anyway to enjoy the book, this looks like patronizing or just ineptness. A pity.

Otherwise, a wealth of information.

I have to admit that I'd expected this book to be 'dry'. I was pleasantly surprised to find well-written stories of accidental discoveries, betrayal and conflict, and intriguing experiments. Wonderfully researched. Overall, a very enjoyable read.

As the author of a history of psychology book, I bought this book for the information that I'll be able to work into my next revision. Although I confess I haven't read it completely, I've enjoyed the parts I have read and look forward to completing it. Many of the characters in the history of psychology are fascinating, and this is also true of characters in the history of neuroscience, which is what Finger's writing about. He's done an excellent job in bringing his subjects to life. Strongly recommend.

Item not entirely as described, but it will do. Older book, some highlighting that wasn't described.