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shaqal's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing x 100000000
The author has amazingly explained the things modern neuroscience has found out about the brain and connected that with what that means from a top level. Great intuition combined with good writing. Leaves you hungry to learn more about the brain and the nature of consciousness itself.
The author has amazingly explained the things modern neuroscience has found out about the brain and connected that with what that means from a top level. Great intuition combined with good writing. Leaves you hungry to learn more about the brain and the nature of consciousness itself.
carmenna's review against another edition
5.0
L'uomo che credeva di essere morto è un interessantissimo saggio scritto dal neuroscienziato indiano Vilayanur Ramachandran.
Il titolo italiano si riferisce ad uno degli ultimi casi trattati, in realtà secondo me nemmeno il più interessante, ma sicuramente nella nostra lingua più accattivante della traduzione del titolo originale, The tell-tale brain, pressappoco "Il cervello rivelatore".
Gli argomenti trattati sono numerosi e vari, quali gli arti fantasma, la visione, il linguaggio, l'introspezione e sindromi che potrebbero sembrare a prima vista "bizzarre", come quella che dà il titolo al libro.
In particolare ho trovato molto interessanti i capitoli riguardanti l'autismo con l'intrigante teoria sui neuroni specchio, e quello sulla sinestesia, cioè la capacità di alcune persone di percepire colori nelle lettere o nei numeri.
Ancora, ho scoperto varie connessioni tra l'arte, l'estetica e il cervello, a cui ammetto di non aver mai pensato prima.
L'Introduzione al libro, in cui l'autore parla dell'essere umano come di un "fenomeno assolutamente unico e meravigliosamente nuovo nell'universo", è quasi commovente.
Lo stile è molto chiaro e asciutto (ahimè, qualche volta autocelebrativo), e lo scienziato tratta di esperimenti, aneddoti ed esperienze vissuti in prima persona, quindi di argomenti che conosce bene e di teorie di cui può illustrare lucidamente le ragioni.
Il libro è corredato da numerose illustrazioni e foto che aiutano a comprendere meglio il testo, nonché da un Glossario molto curato e utile.
http://iltesorodicarta.blogspot.it/2016/08/luomo-che-credeva-di-essere-morto.html
Il titolo italiano si riferisce ad uno degli ultimi casi trattati, in realtà secondo me nemmeno il più interessante, ma sicuramente nella nostra lingua più accattivante della traduzione del titolo originale, The tell-tale brain, pressappoco "Il cervello rivelatore".
Gli argomenti trattati sono numerosi e vari, quali gli arti fantasma, la visione, il linguaggio, l'introspezione e sindromi che potrebbero sembrare a prima vista "bizzarre", come quella che dà il titolo al libro.
In particolare ho trovato molto interessanti i capitoli riguardanti l'autismo con l'intrigante teoria sui neuroni specchio, e quello sulla sinestesia, cioè la capacità di alcune persone di percepire colori nelle lettere o nei numeri.
Ancora, ho scoperto varie connessioni tra l'arte, l'estetica e il cervello, a cui ammetto di non aver mai pensato prima.
L'Introduzione al libro, in cui l'autore parla dell'essere umano come di un "fenomeno assolutamente unico e meravigliosamente nuovo nell'universo", è quasi commovente.
Lo stile è molto chiaro e asciutto (ahimè, qualche volta autocelebrativo), e lo scienziato tratta di esperimenti, aneddoti ed esperienze vissuti in prima persona, quindi di argomenti che conosce bene e di teorie di cui può illustrare lucidamente le ragioni.
Il libro è corredato da numerose illustrazioni e foto che aiutano a comprendere meglio il testo, nonché da un Glossario molto curato e utile.
http://iltesorodicarta.blogspot.it/2016/08/luomo-che-credeva-di-essere-morto.html
etoiline's review against another edition
3.0
Sometimes I felt like I was forcing myself to finish this book, but it wasn't because I didn't like it; I just had other books I wanted to read more. But when I did pick it up, I really liked the insights into the brain that the author puts forth. The author strikes a good balance between scientific fact and anecdote; most people could follow this book without taking a neurobiology class. I'm certainly interested in reading more by this author, but it will be a while until I work through some more of my TBR pile. Intelligent folks with open minds will appreciate the subtle digs the author gets in on various human foibles.
morgan_blackledge's review against another edition
2.0
I love Ramachandran, I'm literally in awe of his scientific work. I even think he's a cool dude (based on the interviews and lectures of his I have seen). But his cornball humor pretty much ruined this book for me.
andrewgillsmith's review against another edition
5.0
VS Ramachandran has rightly been called one of the greatest scientific minds of our time. True, true. He's also hilarious and quite a brilliant writer.
What distinguishes Ramachandran from others in his field--aside from his sheer brilliance--is his method. He engages in "thought experiments." How quaint! A scientist still using the same methodology Einstein used to develop the theory of relativity. The practical outcome is that his work is so accessible, so intuitive that lay readers will immediately grasp his meaning.
This is truly one of the most influential books I've ever read. It inspired me in my own novel, Our Lady of the Artilects, and I continue to go back to it as a resource on the great mysteries of consciousness.
What distinguishes Ramachandran from others in his field--aside from his sheer brilliance--is his method. He engages in "thought experiments." How quaint! A scientist still using the same methodology Einstein used to develop the theory of relativity. The practical outcome is that his work is so accessible, so intuitive that lay readers will immediately grasp his meaning.
This is truly one of the most influential books I've ever read. It inspired me in my own novel, Our Lady of the Artilects, and I continue to go back to it as a resource on the great mysteries of consciousness.
the_mhurley's review against another edition
4.0
Overall, a great book. Ramachandran’s research has had an incredible influence on the field of neuroscience and everyone knows this. The only reason why I gave it four stars is because of several unnecessary jokes and comments that I assume were attempts to add humor, but felt oddly inappropriate and like they were aimed at a male audience. Just unnecessary.
dsmagacz's review against another edition
2.0
I really enjoyed the first few chapters of this book. There were interesting explanations (suppositions?) about phantom pain, chronic regional pain syndromes and then the normalizing responses of the brain achievable in stroke and dystonia.
The subsequent chapters got a little vague and talked about his research and published works.
I must admit I didn't finish the book. It started like a train and ended like a scooter.
The subsequent chapters got a little vague and talked about his research and published works.
I must admit I didn't finish the book. It started like a train and ended like a scooter.
leahlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a fascinating look at how the brain, unique to humans in its quest for understanding itself, can try to grow and learn about humanity, about how the brain itself works, how disorders are both heartbreaking and intriguing simultaneously, and how this brain researcher has set out to find answers. He is also a funny author, who throws in a few curve balls that sometimes make you laugh and sometimes make you roll your eyes and groan. I appreciate the "humanness" of his writing. This book was definitely an interesting read!