Scientific American Book of the Brain [Hardcover]

The Editors of Scientific American (Author)

Book Description

Series: Scientific American | Publication Date: November 1, 1999

Arguably one of the most compelling and elusive territories of scientific research is the landscape of the human brain. The reach of neuroscience is vast, extending to nearly every other scientific and philosophical discipline. From research on the neurobiology of depression to recent breakthroughs in human-computer communication, the implications of neuroscience are immense. Now, The Scientific American Book of the Brain presents the most fascinating and often most controversial contributions of world-renowned scientists to our understanding of the brain. Over thirty articles reveal the diverse research currently being conducted by Walter J. Freeman, Kay Redfield Jamison, Joseph E. LeDoux, Dennis J. Selkoe, and many more. Read about how scientists are honing in on the biological "risk factors" some believe may predispose certain minds to criminal behavior. Learn about how new treatments for Alzheimer's disease may be used to boost memory in healthy individuals. U! ! nderstand the meaning of dreams and eavesdrop on a debate among psychiatrists, philosophers, and scientists on the neurobiology of consciousness.

Organized by topics such as disease and mental disorder and reasoning, intelligence, and behavior; and with a section of color photographs and drawings as well as dozens of black-and-white illustrations throughout, The Scientific American Book of the Brain is a stimulating, comprehensive look at every aspect of the brain, for consumption by every hungry mind.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

What's going on in there? If you want to get the latest in neural and behavioral science, there's no better place to turn than The Scientific American Book of the Brain. Thirty-two heavyweight researchers and science writers contribute thoughtful, often eloquent reviews of their own and others' neuroscience research, aiming to help the intelligent reader quickly grasp the current state of knowledge. Reading Elizabeth Loftus on false memories, Kay Redfield Jamison on manic-depressive illness, and Michael Gazzaniga on recent split-brain research is like attending a series of impressively cogent and engaging lectures, without any note-passing undergraduates to distract you. The articles are mostly from 1998, though a few go as far back as 1991; each represents the best, most current writing on its topic. Of particular interest to those who love a good debate are the side-by-side articles on the biological basis of homosexuality and the inclusion of consciousness within the domain of neurobiology by careful writers on opposing sides of each issue--it's a pleasant reminder that not all arguments need end in nationally televised fistfights. You may want to use The Scientific American Book of the Brain as a reference, but you'll find that the writing is so engrossing that minutes or hours will pass by inefficiently while you browse and take in the world of the brain as we know it. --Rob Lightner

From School Library Journal

YA-What is the mechanism by which we see? How do we remember things, and why do some people recall things that never happened? Why do some people dazzle us with their intelligence while others struggle with the most basic learning tasks? Are male and female brains the same? Is homosexuality biologically based? Can Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases be prevented? For readers who wonder about the brain and the roles it plays in all human endeavors, this collection of articles on various aspects of research offers fascinating answers while raising new questions, both scientific and philosophical. It's worth noting that more than half of the articles were written before 1995 and have been culled from past issues of Scientific American magazine; given the pace of recent discoveries, the book may not represent the "waterfront of contemporary neuroscience" claimed in the introduction. Its wide range does offer students a smorgasbord of topics to explore and discuss. Surprisingly, it offers no resources for further study. Nevertheless, it's a worthwhile purchase for any high school in which advanced psychology and biology are studied.
Jan Tarasovic, West Springfield High School, Fairfax County, VA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 360 pages
• Publisher: The Lyons Press; 1st edition (November 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155821965X
• ISBN-13: 978-1558219656
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #654,750 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Book Worthy Of Your Consideration, November 4, 2000

By 

"ronlv" (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Scientific American Book of the Brain (Hardcover)

Let us be fair to this book. It is the reprint of 28 articles from Scientific American that spanned the seven years prior to the publication of this book. The magazine is not designed to publish ground breaking research for the accomplished person in that specific field. True to its tradition, it makes subjects accessible to the generalist that may not other wise be read or found. Many of us by reading Scientific American, have had important new areas opened up to further study. Decades ago its article on smoking and cancer was an important public service. These articles on the brain, consciousness, intelligence, mind, memory and learning could help you find other avenues of further reading. As always, Scientific American makes it readable enough that you are not entirely lost in specialized vocabulary. Research on the brain is moving so fast that we will all want to know much more very soon. This is not the owner's manual for the brain it is a place to begin for the non-technical person.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Brain: A Great Collection of Readings, April 7, 2002

By 

John M. Gruda (Detroit, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scientific American Book of the Brain (Hardcover)

This collection of articles from Sceintific American about the human brain is fascinating to read, covering a range of topics, from Alzhiemers to sexuality to learning to mental disorders in a format that is provocative and timely. Although this book cover the biology of the human brain and how it affects the psychology of the human being, it rarely descends into too much technical jargon. Since we learn as much biology and neurology in this book as much as psychology, it is bound to surprise people how much about the human brain we do know --and how much more we have to learn. This is a book describing the not just how the brain operates, but how it operates in certain situations. This makes our learning both concerete and fascinating. We learn about genes and the brain, about memory and depression, about sexual identity and sexual selection, all in a format that is as gripping as it is well written. It is book that will enrich your brain with information about how it works. Can you be without that kind of information? I dare say this is a book any serious student of human behavior will want to have. It is a great collection of articles.

54 of 105 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Lacking originality, January 13, 2000

By 

Rhawn Joseph (The Brain Research Laboratory) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scientific American Book of the Brain (Hardcover)

There are a number of excellent and pioneering books on the brain. In my opinion, this is not one of them. If it is up to date, original, pioneering, and thought provoking material the reader is searching for, I would advise that they look elsewhere.