What Makes You Tick?: The Brain in Plain English

By Thomas B. Czerner

Book Overview

What is consciousness? Is there really such a thing as free will? Is there a physiological basis for an eternal soul? In What Makes You Tick?, Thomas Czerner's elegant and accessible introduction to brain research, you'll encounter the scientists and discoveries that have exponentially increased our knowledge of the brain and its functions, most significantly in the last few years. Here, Czerner has translated the arcane language of scientific journals into a highly readable Baedeker of the brain, outlining all that is known about the modern brain and the amazing promise this understanding holds for the future. In addition to tracing the vast web of cerebral roadways, Czerner deftly follows the larger historical detective story that stars neurologists and their forebears, from philosophers Descartes and Kant, to twentieth-century polymaths Francis Crick and Edwin Land, to computer scientists, who have found that the brain's parallel circuitry offers an ideal design model for microprocessors. By shining a light on the darkest recesses of our own minds, What Makes You Tick? illuminates the greatest gifts the world of science bestows, in addition to touching on the ethical dilemmas facing us as we begin to alter ourselves on the cellular level. Above all, What Makes You Tick? will forever change the way you think about thinking.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0471371009
• ISBN13: 9780471371007
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc
• Length: 228 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 0.8" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

Like Lifting the Veil

Even though it was written eight years ago, this book still has information useful for today. Describing the processes of the brain on a neuronal and electrochemical level, as well as the history of the research and people that made the discoveries, Thomas Czerner masterfully weaves metaphor with hard science to illuminate even the most ephemeral qualities of our mind, such as consciousness, personality, and preferences. He writes as a grandfather sharing his lifetime of wisdom and knowledge with his grandchildren. His passion flows through his words, inspiring my own research passions and firing off memory-inducing neurons to store this knowledge. After reading this book I feel I have gained a slight upper hand in life (at least for a while) in that I have much more self-awareness of my thoughts. I know that my brain (and my children's brains) works on a simple premise: those neurons that are fired repeatedly get strengthened and those that don't fire just wither and die. Simple praise and smiles and patience are the best tools for achieving success.

Clear, practical and entertaining

For quite some time I have been searching for a book that explains 'how' the brain works in simple although not simplistic terms. Too many books spend too much time on tangents of debatable psychology or hotly contentious theories currently in vogue. This book hits the nail on the head. It provides enough historical information to put the subject matter in context. It describes enough of the current theories to give the reader an idea of the current state of research. It uses wit and humour in such a way as to make the subject matter easy to relate to. It answers the questions such as 'what exactly happens when we see things' by following the chain of events from the point at which a photon reaches our eye and then provides an understandable, yet scientific / biological / mechanical explanation of the series of events that follow. Significant detail (down to the molecular level) is provided without boring the reader and is also presented in the context of 'the big picture'. Other science writers should read this book and learn from Czerner's writing style. A tasteful blend of biology, chemistry, psychology, philosophy and wit. This book will make you want to read more on the subject. My only disappointment is that Czerner hasn't published more!

What makes you tick?

Dr. Czerner brings us up to date about the discoveries and theories laymen need to understand about the brain. The fascinating result is just what he promises, that we can never think the same way again about how the brain thinks. Indeed, there is much more mechanical stuff there than is to be believed. He interweaves a lot of difficult science with a light touch and friendly air. All scientists and science writers need to learn to write like this, taking the jargon out while preserving the mysteries, miracles, and majesty of the brain and the neuro-scientists who have learned so much about it during the past fifty years.

Neuronal electrochemical music explained in words

Contrary to conventional wisdown, thousands of new neurons arrive at your frontal lobes every day. Our daily experiences can literally change our mind, rerouting paths which were once believed to be hard-wired. As the author puts it (pg 3), "Sadly, reports of this research are relished almost exclusively by a small community of neuroscientists." And as he quotes (pg 173) Daniel Dennett , "vision requires expectations". A professor of Ophtalmology in San Francisco, his writing is not only clear and vivid, but also his breadth of knowledge and his insights are among the things that makes this book a delight to read. There will be so many fascinating things you will learn from this book that I could hardly recommend it more. Your neuronal paths will not remain the same.