Welcome to Your Brain: Why You Lose Your Car Keys But Never Forget How to Drive and Other Puzzles of Everyday Life

by Sandra Aamodt and Sam Wang

Book Overview

- When I drink, am I killing my brain cells?- Does cramming for an exam work?- Why can't you tickle yourself?- Can you improve your brain with video games?- Why is looking at a photograph harder than... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1596912839
• ISBN13: 9781596912830
• Release Date: March 2008
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 2.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 7.7" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Very Entertaining!

Who would have guessed that two neuroscientists could write such an entertaining book about brain function? I knew I was going to enjoy this book when I got to page 10 and, in a discussion of which movies portray brain disorders accurately and which don't, I read: "Another offender is the movie 50 First Dates (2004), which portrays a pattern of memory loss that never occurs in any known neurological condition. Drew Barrymore plays a character who collects new memories each day and then discards them all overnight, clearing the way for a brand-new beginning the next day. In this way she is able to tolerate more than one date with Adam Sandler." Written with humor and chock-full of real and practical information about your brain, this book is a worthwhile read for anyone. Interspersed with the chapers are "snippet boxes" of "Did you know?" "Myth" and "Practical tip" sections where you will learn things like: why we sometimes sneeze when we look into a bright light, why we yawn, why we can't tickle ourselves, that listening to Mozart WON'T make your child smarter, but learning to play an instrument will, how to overcome jet lag, how to hear better on your cell phone in noisy situations. You'll find sections on how your senses work, how your brain changes as you age, how your brain affects your emotions - even a chapter on how drugs affect your brain. Very interesting reading, from start to finish

Brainy, fascinating fun

"Welcome to Your Brain" examines the kinds of questions that got me interested in neuroscience 20 years ago when I was a college student fascinated by Oliver Sacks. The tour of our mental landscape is presented in very short chapters that are punctuated by "Did you know?" "Practical tip" and "Myth" pullout boxes. The scientifically-accurate, up-to-date information covers details about how the brain works, while also providing a plethora of fun dinner-table conversation starters. "Welcome to Your Brain" provides a great entry point for curious students and anyone interested in learning more about science. It's unusual to find a book that covers both the biological details as well as the science and society issues related to the brain. So if you are curious why you can't tickle yourself, what the Dalai Lama thinks about reaching enlightenment through "artificial" means like drugs or surgery, and how brain function is related to prejudice, you'll want to check out "Welcome to Your Brain."

Fun to read and good for you, too

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Of all the popular science brain books on the market, few are as credible, readable, or entertaining. The point of departure for most topics as they are introduced is to debunk common myths and misunderstandings about the brain. These authors actually know what they're talking about and they manage to convey their message in a fluid conversational style rather than getting bogged down in technical jargon or worse---they never lapse into the psychobabble found in too many self help type neuroscience books. Grounded in common sense, yet authoritative and up-to-date---it's a great read!

Dispelling myths about the brain

This book by two neuroscientists is an outstanding, fun and smart introductory guide to the function of the brain . They explain how the brain does all sorts of cool things for us (what makes you a morning person vs. a late-night person, how your brain complicates trying to lose weight). The books also explains the origin of common myths (do you really only use 10% of your brain? can a knock the head restore memories?) and whether they are true (in these cases, they are not). The great and unusual thing about this book is that they do this based on real neurobiology but they make it accessible to all adults, no matter their educational background.

Everything you've wanted to know about your brain (but were afraid to ask)

I've always wanted to know more about our brains but I wanted to make sure I had the latest research, a book from 20 years ago will not do. This book helps you catch up with the latest research and a lot more. It engages you with useful ways to come to an understanding of how your brain works. This is good for us people who want a simple way to visualize what is going on. The best part about this book is the authors have created a book that is witty and entertaining. This makes an already interesting subject fun. I'd recommend it for libraries and schools.