The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science

Easy to understand!

This book is the best book that I have read on neuroplasticity. The Author maintains your attention and interest by combining his personal stories with real research in an easy to understand format. I would recommend it to anyone who is even remotely interested in neurology or psychology.

7 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

A book that will be equally enjoyed by skeptics and those seeking hope.

"To put this review in context, I have an interest in science, but not the level of understanding to read and comprehend the literature that real scientists read. This book gave me the feeling that I was eavesdropping on conversations with leading pioneers of brain science, and Doidge's writing style helped me to understand what was being said.

This book is a fascinating journey into the field of neuroplasticity which is based on a wave of significant discoveries beginning in the 60's that has overturned a belief held for centuries--- that brain functions were fixed at certain parts of the brain (localization). The new understanding of the brain is that it "can change its very structure with each different activity it performed, perfecting its circuits to a task at hand."

Although this is not another new-age self help espousing repackaged Norman Vincent Peale, a New York Times review aptly frames a key takeaway as "The power of positive thinking finally gains scientific credibility...Straddles the gap between science and self-help."

The author, Norman Doidge, doesn't approach this science theoretically, but rather through focusing each chapter on a specific area of psychiatry, medicine, and education, and telling the stories of practictioners that are using the theories of plasticity to revolutionize the how we diagnose, treat, and further the understanding of the human potential. With each story, he provides a relevent history lesson on significant experiments and scientific pioneers whose work preceded and either advanced or derailed the scientific understanding of the brain.

The book opens with the story of Cheryl, whose sensory organ that controls our sense of balance failed her. She had a perpetual sense of falling and couldn't even walk without clinging to a wall. The conventional view had been that cases like these were hopeless and often resulted in suicide. We learn how sending electrical impulses to her tongue rewired her brain to understand when she was upright. The treatment, "cured" her.

Then there was a story of a women who was regarded as disabled used the concepts of neuroplasticity to overcome what had been previously understood as limitations. This followed with stories on how plasticity has changed the way we view causes of deafness, dsylexia, autism, cognitive decline related to aging, sexual attraction, love, obsessions, addictions, and many other areas where the brain plays a central role in our functioning.

One unexpected personal takeaway of this book was a new understanding of Sigmund Freud and psychoanalysis. I was an undergraduate psychology major in the 70's when the humanistic movement prevailed and Sigmund Freud and his theories on fixations were only brought up in my psych classes for humor and entertainment purposes. In various chapters, Doidge points out the parallels of Freud's theories and plasticitity. It really shook the foundation and successfully shattered the rigid opinions I held on Freud.

As a person whose ability to make a living depends on a fairly decent functioning brain, I was hoping to get out of this book some words of encouragement that the economic value of my cognitive function could be extended to compensate for the years I will be shortchanged by my 401K. I was not disappointed. Although that's not what the book is about, I learned enough about the leaders in this field to separate the genuine from the quacks.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

A MUST READ

stimulating, compelling, incredibly interesting and relevant...a must read for all particularly as we age and lose sight of the power of the brain.

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

A book that changed my life.

Through case studies and current research, Doidge's facinating, well-written and well-researched book explains the miraculous human brain with its almost unlimited potential. I'm asking everyone I know to read it.

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

A bit technical, but interesting

I am a nurse and have worked on Neurology floors in hospitals, as well as on a stroke and brain damage floor in a rehab hospital.I have always been interested in the brain so I buy "Brain Books".We were taught that the brain is basically hard-wired and cannot recover from brain damage readily,but this book sets straight the fact that the brain is very adaptable and in fact, is capable of remarkable recovery. Not all the stories grabbed my attention, but most did and I skipped around if one, or another story did not interest me. The book takes a lot of focus, as it is technical. I liked the book and I sometimes refer back to it as a reference type book.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Wonderful book about brain plasticity!

Dr. Doidge writes an incredibly fascinating book about brain plasticity; he promotes his belief and findings that one's brain is not static or fixed; i.e., that one can change the neurons and thus, change/make new neurological synaptic connections.
His examples are touching, because he is talking about patients and his experiences, which buttress his tenet on plasticity.
A definite read for the philosopher and physicist. A book that all should read; it will alter your perspective about finite world, which we do not live in by the way...
Moreover, I enjoyed this book so much that after buying the original in paperback, I gave it to a friend, recommended to three others, whom read it and professed its positiveness, and I bought a hard copy to put in my collection/library.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Great

Read this

Wonderful read

I have read quite a few books on the topic of neuroscience and this is by far my favorite. It is easy to read and understand even if you have a limited understanding of how the brain works. This is one of the books that really inspired me to go on to study neuroscience and psychology in my education. I highly recommend it.

Should be required reading for every teacher!

This is a wonderful book! It is not too technical and full of interesting stories of real patients and how their brains "learned" to change. Particularly interesting is the girl who was born with half a brain and how her half brain took over most of the jobs of the missing half. I have recommended this book to a lot of people, including a psychologist and parents with autistic children. Everyone should read it!!

Inspiring!

With the aging baby boomers and as a survivor of childhood trauma, this book offers much hope for healing and health. I'm glad that the researchers and medical field are heading in this direction. I'm so inspired that there is progress in how the brain heals. The individual stories of the people in the book are inspiring. Its amazing how people whose lives were so tragic have been restored to health. AMAZING STUFF!

Engaging and inspiring

Super interesting book about our ability to change our own brains through neuroplasticity. Offers a lot of insight into the way people think and develop, and it also has a lot of touching stories of success and hope for people with mental issues from blindness to OCD.

A Book for the Ages

The subject matter of this book is nothing short of fascinating. The implications of what this means for the future with regards to brain/body health is incredible. This book brings hope to those suffering with various disabilities.

Excellent book.

I have been amazed with this book, it is a book that has brought to my mind new thoughs and new beliefs about what we can do with our brain, and how we can change our lives and our quality of life knowin better our own brain.

I really enjoyed the chapter about love and attraction.

Very good.

Eye Opener!

The brain is an extraordinary organ, this book opens the reader's mind as to the innerworkings of the brain in plain language.

Good introduction to neuroplasticity

This was one of the first books I've read on the topic of neuroplasticity. Since then, I've read everything I could get my hands on, and this book by Doidge remains a strong favorite. His enthusiasm for the topic, and interesting examples and history of the underlying science, should get much credit for 'hooking' me on this field of research.

Life changing

Well written for non-professionals. Real life applicability. Really made me more introspective.

This book is a real eye opener that dispells commonly accepted facts about the brain's ability to change.

My wife first checked this book out at our local library for me because she knows I enjoy the topic. There is so much information that can be acted upon in daily life to improve our brain functions. The information contradicts much of what we have learned in the past, but the authors give proof and sources of the proof. I am how in the process of coaxing my brain to change itself. I bought the book at Barnes & Noble, and sent it to my brother, whose son was in a truck accident. He was in a coma for several months, and lost a significant part of his brain. This book should convince he and his wife that there is still hope for their son.

Enjoyable and informative reading

This book was very, very interesting. It would be a good 'review' for psychology students (parts of the brain, studies etc.) and the examples were about real people and events...which were uplifting.

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