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The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons
The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons: The History of the Human Brain as Revealed by True Stories of Trauma, Madness, and Recovery | Sam Kean
The author of the bestseller The Disappearing Spoon reveals the secret inner workings of the brain through strange but true stories.Early studies of the human brain used a simple method: wait for misfortune to strike -- strokes, seizures, infectious diseases, horrendous accidents -- and see how victims coped. In many cases their survival was miraculous, if puzzling. Observers were amazed by the transformations that took place when different parts of the brain were destroyed, altering victims' personalities. Parents suddenly couldn't recognize their own children. Pillars of the community became pathological liars. Some people couldn't speak but could still sing. In The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons, Sam Kean travels through time with stories of neurological curiosities: phantom limbs, Siamese twin brains, viruses that eat patients' memories, blind people who see through their tongues. He weaves these narratives together with prose that makes the pages fly by, to create a story of discovery that reaches back to the 1500s and the high-profile jousting accident that inspired this book's title.* With the lucid, masterful explanations and razor-sharp wit his fans have come to expect, Kean explores the brain's secret passageways and recounts the forgotten tales of the ordinary people whose struggles, resilience, and deep humanity made neuroscience possible. *"The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons" refers to the case of French king Henri II, who in 1559 was lanced through the skull during a joust, resulting in one of the most significant cases in neuroscience history. For hundreds of years scientists have gained important lessons from traumatic accidents and illnesses, and such misfortunes still represent their greatest resource for discovery.
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Pickpick

Sam Kean is usually a low pick for me, a safe choice but nothing special. This surprised me positively. The narration is engaging, each individual story told with imagination and pizzazz, clearly fictionalized, but not excessively—just enough to engage. There‘s also a clear structure and a nice feeling of progression 👍.

Recommended if you like narrative-style #nonfiction.

4.0/5

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RamsFan1963
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1. Tagged book. Interesting story of the history of neuroscience.
2. 👍👍 Big Fan of Sam Kean.
3. Science Fiction & science/technology related non-fiction.
#wonderouswednesday @Eggs

Eggs Thanks for playing 🤗 3y
43 likes1 comment
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RamsFan1963
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Pickpick

I love Sam Kean's science writing. You're guaranteed plenty of weird stories, colorful characters and some gruesome outrageous medical/scientific procedures. It's amazing, in the 21st century, we still know so little about how the brain works, and what parts create consciousness and "the mind".

Twainy Did he write the Spoon book? Enjoyable! 3y
RamsFan1963 @Twainy Yes he wrote The Disappear Spoon. He also wrote The Violinist's Thumb which was great too. 3y
Twainy I think I have them all. YESS! 😁 3y
Ericalambbrown Oooh!!! I‘m always looking for good science writers! Thanks! 3y
48 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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starlight97
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Pickpick

If you like well-written, well-researched medical nonfiction, definitely give this book a try. It explains the workings of the human brain through the stories of neuroscientists' experiments, brain damage, tumors, conjoined twins — all this in a very understandable way even for laymen.
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

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rabbitprincess
Pickpick

A solid read, although I have read so many neuroscience books lately that I personally was not blown away, just pleased. I did like the new twist on the Phineas Gage story and Kean‘s usual clear writing.

19 likes1 stack add
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Kaila-ann
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Thanks @DaveGreen7777 for the tag. #7covers7days #7days7covers #covercrush.

Day 3 and 4 (got a little behind 😳) - each day post a picture of a cover that you love, no explanation needed. Tag a fellow litten to play along.

Feel free to join in if you haven‘t already 😊!

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Kaila-ann
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#junewrapup #junestats #june2019 #pagesreadgoal

Little bit of a slower reading month as life as kind of gotten in the way this month. Not terrible over all but definitely could have gotten a few more books in there I think. The tagged is my favorite from this month.

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Well done! I like Burial Rites. 💖📖💖 5y
Kaila-ann @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego thank you! I liked Burial Rites too, I literally just finished it maybe half an hour ago. 5y
16 likes2 comments
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Kaila-ann
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Kaila-ann
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Pickpick

Very much enjoyed this book. It was very approachable while still being educational and informative. As the author describes it, the book starts with the basics and moves higher throughout the brain into what makes us human. I especially enjoyed that the author didn‘t come across as condescending nor did he dumb down the concepts. There is a happy medium and I definitely think Kean found it. I‘ve added the rest of his books to my list.

LauraJ My book club has read and enjoyed all of his books. Hope you like them too! 5y
Kaila-ann @LauraJ thanks 😊! This is my first one of his, so far so good lol. 5y
14 likes2 comments
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TaciturnWhenReading
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NF detour tonight: This one is filled with interesting “brainy” facts and history but still very readable. I think I‘m a Sam Kean fan. 🤔👍

LauraJ Sam Kean is right up there with Mary Roach. 6y
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Maude
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Pickpick

Very interesting, kept my attention the whole way through.

LauraJ Sam Kean is such a good science writer 🖤 6y
RamsFan1963 I read The Disappearing Spoon by Kean. I haven't heard of this one. I'll add it to my TBR. 6y
Maude I think Sam Kean is one of my favorite science writers, I really liked The Disappearing Spoon too, I read it awhile back so I may give it a re-read soon :) 6y
71 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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BarbaraTheBibliophage
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These Black Friday book sales have me feeling conflicted. One side is so excited, and then the other side remembers my book buying ban. Uh-oh ...

#bookhaul #audiobook #nonfiction #blackfriday #failedthebuyingban

Readerann I feel your pain! 😬🤔👍🤫 7y
Melissa_J I don‘t believe that book buying bans should count when such savings are to be had 😊 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Melissa_J I obviously agree with that! Savings negate discipline. 🤭 7y
See All 6 Comments
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Readerann We‘re not alone! 7y
Alicia I️ know how you feel! Glad to see I️m not alone! Also I️ ❤️ your bitmoji! 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Alicia You‘re not alone. Litsy makes the whole situation worse. Not that I‘d stop being here, but I hear about all the great books and sales. Thanks about the Bitmoji! 7y
116 likes6 comments
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kammartinez
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7 likes1 stack add
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kammartinez
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Pickpick

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ of 5 ⭐️s

Kean's really hit his stride since The Violinist's Thumb, which means this was really fun to read :D. Kean picks apart the complicated stuff in a way that's easy to understand, while still not diminishing the complexities of the topic at hand. Great intro text to the history of neuroscience and how the brain works.

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Ja_Mez
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Pickpick

The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons by Sam Kean.

The title might lure you in, but it's the content and the writing that'll keep you reading until the end. Kean describes the history of the human brain through stories and clever writing. Far from a textbook read, this will keep you enthralled as if you were watching a Shonda Rhimes medical drama.

If you love no fiction mini-histories, then definitely check this one out.

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kammartinez
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GoneFishing

Above all, we know that there‘s a physical basis for every psychological attribute we have: if just the right spot gets damaged, we can lose just about anything in our mental repertoire, no matter how sacred.

18 likes2 stack adds
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Kristy_K
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It was 7 months ago that I discovered Litsy. But I didn't really start using it until about 4. And I regret missing those 3 months in between! - #booktober (first Litsy post)

#Litsy

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L_shak
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I don't have a lot of time during the semester. But when I take a break, it's for reading and tea.

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L_shak
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When shopping always choose books 👌🏼

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Cookierooks
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Pickpick

Second time is the charm. Each chapter is a section of the brain with great stories. Disliked this the first time I tried, can't think why.

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ImaginativeMom
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Trying to pick from this TBR stack (as opposed to the Kindle one). Any recommendations? I'm realizing what an odd range it is!

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Kristy_K
Pickpick

This book is as entertaining as it is educational. With interesting historic anecdotes, Kean delves into the fascinating world of neuroscience and sheds light on the human brain.