Product Description

For decades, the conventional wisdom of neuroscience held that the hardware of the brain is fixed - that we are stuck with what we were born with. But recent pioneering experiments in neuroplasticity reveal that the brain is capable not only of altering its structure but also of generating new neurons, even into old age. The brain can adapt, heal, renew itself after trauma and compensate for disability.In this groundbreaking book, highly respected science writer Sharon Begley documents how this fundamental paradigm shift is transforming both our understanding of the human mind and our approach to deep-seated emotional, cognitive and behavioural problems.These breakthroughs show that it is possible to reset our happiness meter, regain the use of limbs disabled by stroke, train the mind to break cycles of depression and OCD and reverse age-related changes in the brain.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14251 in Books
• Published on: 2009-02-26
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Review
There are two great things about this book. One is that it shows us how nothing about our brains is set in stone. The other is that it is written by Sharon Begley, one of the best science writers around. This is a terrific book. - Robert Sapolsky, author of Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers

It is very seldom that a science in its infancy is so skilfully unpacked that it reads like a detective novel. --Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Coming to Our Senses

Brilliant. --Health Writer

About the Author
Sharon Begley is the science columnist for the Wall Street Journal and was previously the senior science writer at Newsweek. She is the co-author of The Mind and the Brain.

Customer Reviews

The most fascinating book I have read in a very long time
This is one of the most fascinating books I have ever read. Anybody who is interesting in how the brain/mind works, how people perceive and interact with the world and how the norms of neuroscience has been over-turned in the last 10/20 years should read this book. Even if you are not religious or spiritual in anyway (don't be put off by the Buddhist aspects to this book) the science is utterly fascinating. People who want to make their world a better place: "... I have a choice in how I react, that who I am depends on the choices I make, and that who I am is therefore my responsibility..." - if this is ringing any bells for you, should read this book. Anybody who is interested in how words and thoughts actually manifest the world around you because the labels you use to describe your world alter your perception of it, should read this book. It describes how thoughts (good or bad) can manifest in habits, which can be changed, it illustrates that there is the potential for brain damage caused by illness (strokes) to be alleviated, or how some aspects of dyslexia can be reduced. And presents them in easy to understand chunks. The intro could put some people off, and the chapter on how adolescent minds/brains work is a bit heavy, but it is well worth persevering. And it shows how some 'established' truths of how we as humans function, is in fact completely wrong... I can't recommend it highly enough.

Clearly written guide to the neuroscientific evidence for our ability to train our minds to create health and happiness
This book presents, clearly and factually, the growing evidence for our ability to train our minds to bring about lasting changes in physical and psychological health and wellbeing.

Read about fascinating research into the neuroscience of 'mindfulness', instigated by the Mind Life Institute, which encourages dialogue between meditators and the scientific community.

The concept of 'neuroplasticity' - the ability of our brains to create new neural pathways - has enormous hope for the treatment of depression and for recovery from stroke and other traumas.

More importantly, it has implications for the way that we use our brains in everyday life and for the current trend towards a 'science' of happiness.

interesting blend of science and spirituality
Filled with interesting stories, quotes, and ideas about Buddhism and the evolution of the field of neuroscience, this book is truly a pleasure to read. My field of study as a graduate student at Johns Hopkins, the somatosensory areas of the brain that are responsible for our sense of touch, is described in some detail. Indeed, much of what we know about neural plasticity comes from studies of the somatosensory system, including the work of Merzenich, Sur, and others that is described in this book. I also think the reader comes away with the feeling that neuroscience and Buddhism are not mutually exclusive ways of understanding the brain and the mind, but are actually complementary. And, as Francis Collins has pointed out, science and spirtuality in general are not mutually exclusive. Author of Adjust Your Brain: A Practical Theory for Maximizing Mental Health.