Customer Reviews

My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Being a stroke survivor myself, this book has a wealth of information. Although a couple of chapters are simply scientific information and need waded through, doing so provides considerable knowledge. The writer of the book obviously had a huge struggle with rehab, but what she writes rings so true with me and my stroke. Additionally, she write compellingly about what the stroke survivor needs and wants. This book really needs to be required reading for the families of stroke victims as well as nurses and other care-givers in the medical field. I'd like to see it be required reading for those who work on neuroscience units. If a nurse, nursing student interested in neurology, medical student interested in neurology and associated areas is wondering about reading this book - I'd say READ IT DEFINITELY!!!!! Well worth your time!!

I ordered this book for my mother, who is a stroke survivor and it TRULY lifted her spirits and gave her a new insight into her continuous recovery.

What makes this book special is the spiritual insight it offers. When the author's left hemisphere of her brain was incapacitated by a hemorrhagic stroke, she experienced the spiritual feeling of "oneness" with the universe, feeling no distinction from her body and the rest of the energy molecules around her. In the absence of the judgment of her left mind, she experienced deep internal peace and joy, the "Nirvana" that exists in the consciousness of our right brain. She explained how, at any moment, we can choose to hook into that part of our brain. Meditation is one way, and definitely, a less traumatic way than suffering a stroke. She also offers wonderful insights into quieting the constant "story telling" and chatter of the left brain, to bring you into the now, the peace of the right brain which only experiences the present moment, where there is no fear or anger. I was impressed with her scientific explanations of how we experience these negative emotions physiologically for 90 seconds, but can then choose to let them go and return to a peaceful state.

Taylor learned to reign in the judgment and ego center of her left brain and retain the compassionate feeling of oneness that was her only sensation when the left hemisphere of her brain was impaired. I thank her for sharing her experience and the wisdom she acquired in her journey back to wholeness. She says, "I choose to observe my environment through the nonjudgmental eyes of my right mind, allowing me to retain my inner joy.... it's really easy to be kind to others when I remember that none of us came into this world with a manual about how to get it all right."

A fascinating read! Namaste, Becca Chopra, author of The Chakra Diaries

If you understand the way the two halves of your brain work, you can make remarkable progress in performance, acting responsibly and experience more happiness. The left-brain and the right brain are in principle complimentary but in practice the left half suppresses many of the talents good feelings and capabilities of the right half. The right half experiences what is, and not on what was or worries about the future. The right side as it concentrates on what is now makes you aware that there are only processes and that you feel yourself as a part of the universe. The right side organizes this information and makes decisions, absolutely necessary. Unfortunately the left side also generates anger, fear, jealousy, ego-centeredness, stress, hatred, aggressiveness, false pride and greed. These negatives are referred in Buddhism as "Negative Thoughts and Emotions." Jane's book explains in great detail the methods on how you can train your mind to reduce these negative influences of the left half.
It was astounding to me is that the method Jane describes is almost identical to Buddhist meditation methods of training the mind as described in the" Leader's Way" by the Dalai Lama based on the teachings of Buddha. It is he first proof I have come across that proves that it is true what Buddha said: " All I have done is to discover the laws of Nature". With the knowledge from this book you will become more effective in training your mind.
This book is not only for people that have experienced brain damage or for people that help them. It is also for everybody else especially for leaders in business and politics that have to cope with enormous pressure, have to act responsibly and whose action affect large numbers of people.

I have recommended this to all of my reading friends. I read it because my much-younger sister-in-law had a stroke in her left-brain. I did not expect to find words so easy to read or so descriptive. I knew the ending; still, I read this as if it were a great mystery novel. Now, I am enjoying passages at a more leisurely pace. Read this!

Its a good book, informative and fun. Don`t watch her talk at TED talks conference, it was a spoiler for me.

This is a very well written book to help everyone understand better what a stroke victim feels and how they want to be treated both physically and emotionally.There is quite a bit of medical information that is hard for the ordinary reader to understand but its worth struggling through.
I think everyone working in hospitals, care centers, nursing homes and families of stroke victims should read this.

This book was just as described, it was perfect!I would definitelly buy from them again. Very happy with the product!

This is an excellent book written by a brain scientist using her personal journey to show us how our brain functions and what to do when suffering from stroke. I find it extremely helpful for those or their loved ones who suffer from stroke. The journey of Dr. Jill Taylor proved that there was always hope for stroke patients toward full recovery. Thank you Dr.Taylor for sharing your knowledge and experience with us.

This is a splendid book which should be made obligatory reading for all in the caring professions. While it must surely mark a turning point in medical insight, it is clear, concise and makes fascinating reading even to the uninitiated.