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My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey Hardcover – May 14, 2008

by
Jill Bolte Taylor (Author)
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Jill Bolte Taylor (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 1,505 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 192 pages
  • Publisher: Viking Adult; 1 edition (May 14, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0670020745
  • ISBN-13: 978-0670020744
  • Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 0.8 x 9.3 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1,505 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #32,248 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsImportant
By David H. Peterzell PhD PhD on March 13, 2008
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
This is, indeed, a first-person description of stroke by a scientifically and dare I say it -- spiritually -- sophisticated person. The author describes a range of experiences that make sense given our knowledge of localization of function. I'm not sure that such a detailed and consistent report by a scientist is available anywhere else. As such, this story is unusual and important. Moreover the author reports how she turned her stroke into an opportunity for profound wisdom and insight. Amazing stuff! And this may save lives.

Personally, I don't share all the author's ideas about strict functional localization in the brain... but that is secondary and doesn't detract from my admiration of her remarkable contribution.

My enjoyment of this book was enhanced considerably by the material and links at the author's website. She has posted a number of video and audio presentations, radio shows, etc.
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5.0 out of 5 starsStroke of Brilliance!
By B. Madhu on December 2, 2008
Format: Hardcover
I first came across Jill Bolte Taylor, Phd when her speech at TED (an annual conference devoted to Technology, Entertainment, Design) went viral. In it, she describes how she witnessed herself having a stroke and the subsequent feeling of peace that enveloped her when her logical left brain shut down and her right brain became dominant. I became intrigued after watching the video and then read the book.

The book expounds on her experience while having the stroke and her subsequent recovery. It was amazing on many levels:
(1) She gives a 1st person narrative of her experience of the stroke and recovery but she doesn't portray it as something we should all pity and feel sorry for. Instead, she lays it out not unlike an explorer discovering new territory, full of suspense and wonder.

(2) She gives incredible tips on how to communicate with and care for stroke victims. For e.g., some people would yell at her after they saw she didn't understand what they were saying. However, she wasn't deaf. She could only process one word at a time. If those people would have spoken more slowly rather than loudly, she would have been able to understand them. This is something that would never have occurred to me if I hadn't read this book.

(3) She takes us on a tour of the 'mystical' right side of her brain which little is known about and whose capabilities in today's world seem to be dismissed. She says the right side of the brain is the gateway to enlightenment and nirvana. She shares tips on how to 'tend the garden of your mind' and to interrupt or stop those stories we all tell ourselves over and over again (usually about how we are deficient, not good enough, etc.). She calls them loops.

Dr.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsRequired Reading
By Dennis C. Brown on June 15, 2008
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
My wife is a "massive" stroke victim. Her survival and recovery themselves were miracles. We are very fortunate. But one of the god-given gifts that has not returned is her speech. And while as a husband of 45 years when asked how she is doing often facetiously say that her loss of speech "is not all bad", I feel for her occasional frustration as she stumbles in her attempt to convey her feelings - fortunately, it is only occasional. We were warned it would be much, much worse.

But the bottom line, this book has restored her faith in the possibilities of even further recovery. It should be required reading for all stoke victims whose speech was affected. Likewise, for all caretakers of those victims. For just to see the light shine in her eye as she showed me many passages in the book that still gave her hope was well worth the price and time involved.
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4.0 out of 5 starsValuable information about stroke; but the book has its flaws
By Gregory J. Casteel on August 2, 2008
Format: Hardcover
I debated over whether to give this book three, four, or five stars. The information that Dr. Taylor presents about the brain and stroke is worth five stars, without question. But I have a few complaints about how she presents this information; and lots of complaints about the "self-help" aspects of this book. I almost wish I could post two reviews of this book -- a five-star review for the information about the brain and stroke; and a two-star review for everything else about the book. I ended up giving the book a (somewhat charitable) compromise rating of four stars (but in some ways the four star rating is too low; and in others it is way too high).

Let's start with the positives: This book is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the human brain and how it functions, any health care professional or caregiver who deals with stroke patients, anyone who has a friend or family member who has had a stroke, and anyone who is concerned about the possibility that they might someday suffer from a stroke (a statistical possibility, since about 700,000 Americans will have a stroke this year). If you want to know about what it's like to have a stroke and to recover from it, this is the book to read. Dr. Taylor is a brain scientist who had a stroke and lived to tell her story of survival, recovery, and rehabilitation. The information she provides about her personal experience is priceless for anyone who wants to better understand what happens when someone has a stroke, and what is needed for recovery and rehabilitation. This information is also of extreme value for anyone who wants to better understand how the brain works to make us who we are. Five stars for the information on the brain and stroke.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsWonderful account of life changing trauma transformed into life...

Wonderful account of life changing trauma transformed into life changing awareness and growth expressed with beautifully flowing language! (Post aphasia to boot! Read more

Published 19 hours ago by tough but true
5.0 out of 5 starsBought for a gift

I bought this as a gift for a friend who recently had a stroke. She likes it very much.

Published 1 day ago by Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

offers an incredible view of an experience that everyone or someone dear to them may encounter

Published 2 days ago by Debra H Kennoy
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Excellent!

Published 4 days ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Extraordinary insight of right brain life. I am inspired.

Published 5 days ago by Kenneth P. Grosch
5.0 out of 5 starsA valuable medical memoir

This book covers three basic topics from the perspective of a stroke survivor whose career is teaching and studying the anatomy of the brain. Read more

Published 8 days ago by Barbara Searles
5.0 out of 5 starsWhat tremendous and interesting insight from an expert who actually...

What tremendous and interesting insight from an expert who actually experienced it- this book will change my nursing expectations and practice!

Published 8 days ago by Jan M Gannon
5.0 out of 5 starsInspiring

A truly inspiring book. Full of insights!

Published 9 days ago by Harry
5.0 out of 5 starsIt was hard for me to read this book

It was an absolutely correct blow by blow of my stroke. It was so overwhelming to relive that morning that I cried....hard. I had to walk away for awhile to prepare myself. Read more

Published 16 days ago by Lake Girl
4.0 out of 5 starsA story of hope

Dr. Taylor is a neuroscientist who suffered a left hemisphere stroke at age 37. This was a severe hemorrhagic stroke from an AVM that she likely had since birth. Read more

Published 16 days ago by Dr. Jackie

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