The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science
“Fascinating. Doidge’s book is a remarkable and hopeful portrait of the endless adaptability of the human brain.”—Oliver Sacks, MD, author of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat
What is neuroplasticity? Is it possible to change your brain? Norman Doidge’s inspiring guide to the new brain science explains all of this and more
An astonishing new science called neuroplasticity is overthrowing the centuries-old notion that the human brain is immutable, and proving that it is, in fact, possible to change your brain. Psychoanalyst, Norman Doidge, M.D., traveled the country to meet both the brilliant scientists championing neuroplasticity, its healing powers, and the people whose lives they’ve transformed—people whose mental limitations, brain damage or brain trauma were seen as unalterable. We see a woman born with half a brain that rewired itself to work as a whole, blind people who learn to see, learning disorders cured, IQs raised, aging brains rejuvenated, stroke patients learning to speak, children with cerebral palsy learning to move with more grace, depression and anxiety disorders successfully treated, and lifelong character traits changed. Using these marvelous stories to probe mysteries of the body, emotion, love, sex, culture, and education, Dr. Doidge has written an immensely moving, inspiring book that will permanently alter the way we look at our brains, human nature, and human potential.
What is neuroplasticity? Is it possible to change your brain? Norman Doidge’s inspiring guide to the new brain science explains all of this and more
An astonishing new science called neuroplasticity is overthrowing the centuries-old notion that the human brain is immutable, and proving that it is, in fact, possible to change your brain. Psychoanalyst, Norman Doidge, M.D., traveled the country to meet both the brilliant scientists championing neuroplasticity, its healing powers, and the people whose lives they’ve transformed—people whose mental limitations, brain damage or brain trauma were seen as unalterable. We see a woman born with half a brain that rewired itself to work as a whole, blind people who learn to see, learning disorders cured, IQs raised, aging brains rejuvenated, stroke patients learning to speak, children with cerebral palsy learning to move with more grace, depression and anxiety disorders successfully treated, and lifelong character traits changed. Using these marvelous stories to probe mysteries of the body, emotion, love, sex, culture, and education, Dr. Doidge has written an immensely moving, inspiring book that will permanently alter the way we look at our brains, human nature, and human potential.
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Community Reviews
Most of it was interesting. There seemed to be a blurring of neurological, physical, and psychological issues in a way that I couldn't fully parse to decide if it is was appropriate to the discussion of neuroplasticity or not. Doidge is a psychiatrist, so I guess I can just take his word for it, but that's not how I usually approach my reading. Perhaps he oversimplified the concept of what is and isn't neuroplasticity.
I was a little traumatized by the entire porn and sex chapter. It was a lot, and it felt really awkward to just deal with that section from a purely neurological standpoint with very little acknowledgment of the social context.
I got a little bored with the repeated examples of the same concept: the brain can change itself. Though admittedly, some of the examples, like those about fantom limb, are pretty entertaining.
I was a little traumatized by the entire porn and sex chapter. It was a lot, and it felt really awkward to just deal with that section from a purely neurological standpoint with very little acknowledgment of the social context.
I got a little bored with the repeated examples of the same concept: the brain can change itself. Though admittedly, some of the examples, like those about fantom limb, are pretty entertaining.
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