Product Description

On the morning of the 10th December 1996, Jill Bolte Taylor, a thirty-seven-year-old Harvard-trained brain scientist experienced a massive stroke when a blood vessel exploded in the left side of her brain.

A neuroanatomist by profession, she observed her own mind completely deteriorate to the point that she lost the ability to walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life, all within the space of four hours. As the damaged left side of her brain – the rational, logical, detail and time-oriented side – swung in an out of function, Taylor alternated between two distinct and opposite realities: the euphoric Nirvana of the intuitive and emotional right brain, in which she felt a sense of complete well-being and peace; and the logical left brain, that realized Jill was having a stroke and enabled her to seek help before she was lost completely.

In My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey, Taylor brings to light a new perspective on the brain and its capacity for recovery that she gained through the intimate experience of awakening her own injured mind. The journey to recovery took eight years for Jill to feel completely healed. Using her knowledge of how the brain works, her respect for the cells composing her human form, and an amazing mother, Taylor completely repaired her mind and recalibrated her understanding of the world according to the insight gained from her right brain that December morning.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #82066 in Books
• Published on: 2008-07-10
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 192 pages

Review
'This book is important for everyone . . . I love this book' (Oprah Winfrey )

About the Author
Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D. is a neuroanatomist affiliated with the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. She is the national spokesperson for the mentally ill at the Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center (Brain Bank) and the consulting neuroanatomist for the Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute.

Jill Bolte Taylor will be part of Oprah’s Soul Series starting on 12th May 2008.

She lives in Bloomington, Indiana.

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Customer Reviews

Everyone should read this book
This book is excellent on so many levels. Jill Bolte Taylor is a Brain Specialist who at the age of 37 had a stroke. This book begins by explaining the way the brain works clearly and simply from a functional point of view. It also provides a valuable insight as to what a stroke victim experiences and is a must read for anyone working with or caring for a stroke victim.

But this book is also much more than that. As Jill walks us through the process of her stroke, which shut down her left brain function and gave her an uninterrupted view of the right brain in action the book opens out to give us an experience of the amazing and boundless potential of the human as a being at one with and in direct connection with which she describes as the life force power of the universe.

There are so many books trying to describe the human condition both from the perspective of science and biology and from the spiritual perspective. In this book both perspectives meet and back each other up. My reaction to this book was "At last! A scientist who not only understands the mechanisms that allow us to experience the full potential of our nature as spiritual and human beings but who, through her direct experience of it, can testify to the fact that we all have the capacity to be at one with all that is, right here right now while we are still alive and inhabiting the genius structure that is the human body."

As a writer myself, my book Dance with Life is an experiential journey through what it means to be alive and the ways of 'unlearning' all the concepts which block us from having a full experience of our place as awakened beings in a friendly and beautiful universe. Too often I've been asked if this is really possible, if everyone really has the ability to do this. Now I'm delighted to be able to say go read Jill Bolte Taylor's book and you'll find all the explanation and proof that you need. In fact I'd recommend that her last chapter should be required reading for anyone who wants to further their inner exploration as it paves the way to really understand and get the most from what all the spiritual journey books say.

Humanity at It's Best
I had seen Jill's video on the web site "Ted" and was blown away. I then borrowed a friend's copy of this incredible book so that I could delve more deeply into Jill's written account of her stroke and miraculous 2nd chance at her life. How incredible for us to share Jill's witnessing of her own stroke...describing the event moment to moment... amazing. I came away after reading this book with the incredible insight of how wondrous our bodies truly are.

Jill writes of how her left (logical) and right (intuitive) sides of her brain came into play in the moments of her stroke. And when Jill writes of how she was disconnecting from her brain chatter, feeling peaceful and euphoric I was reminded of Ariel and Shya Kane's writings. The Kanes present a transformational approach to living, where no matter what life circumstances arise you can maintain a sense of well being. I highly recommend this touching, humorous book and all of Ariel and Shya Kane's cd and books including,"Working on Yourself Doesn't Work: A Book on CD about Instantaneous Transformation","Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment" and "How to Create a Magical Relationship."

A Gift of Insight!
Jill Bolte Taylor has gifted the world with her knowledge and experience. She explains that the left side of the brain is where our thought processes chatter about our past experiences, and worry about our potential futures. When a blood vessel exploded on the left side of Dr. Taylor's brain, she learned the meaning of simply "being". She shares her blessing in disguise as she got to experience the nirvana of living in the moment, without the chatter that usually occupies one's mind when both brain hemispheres are functioning properly. She is an amazing and courageous person.

Jill Bolte Taylor discovered that the feeling of nirvana is never more than "a mere thought away". I have also experienced this truth by reading awarding winning books, Working on Yourself Doesn't Work: The 3 Simple Ideas That Will Instantaneously Transform Your Life, How to Create a Magical Relationship: The 3 Simple Ideas that Will Instantaneously Transform Your Love Life, and Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment, written by Ariel & Shya Kane. By reading the Kanes books I have learned how to live in the moment and experience the feeling of nirvana, even as the chatter in my mind continues endlessly. If you want to check out their style, listen to their internet radio show called "Being Here" on The 7th Wave Network channel on Voice America. Dr. Taylor and Ariel & Shya Kane have written the road maps to living life in the moment. Check them out!