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The Man Who Wasn't There
The Man Who Wasn't There: Investigations into the Strange New Science of the Self | Anil Ananthaswamy
*Nominated for the 2016 PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award* *An NBC News Notable Science Book of 2015* *Named one of Publishers Weekly's Best Books of 2015* *A Book of the Month for Brain HQ/Posit Science* *Selected by Forbes as a Must Read Brain Book of 2015* *On Life Changes Networks list of the Top 10 Books That Could Change Your Life of 2015* In the tradition of Oliver Sacks, a tour of the latest neuroscience of schizophrenia, autism, Alzheimers disease, ecstatic epilepsy, Cotards syndrome, out-of-body experiences, and other disordersrevealing the awesome power of the human sense of self from a master of science journalism. Anil Ananthaswamys extensive in-depth interviews venture into the lives of individuals who offer perspectives that will change how you think about who you are. These individuals all lost some part of what we think of as our self, but they then offer remarkable, sometimes heart-wrenching insights into what remains. One man cut off his own leg. Another became one with the universe. We are learning about the self at a level of detail that Descartes (I think therefore I am) could never have imagined. Recent research into Alzheimers illuminates how memory creates your narrative self by using the same part of your brain for your past as for your future. But wait, those afflicted with Cotards syndrome think they are already dead; in a way, they believe that I think therefore I am not. Whoor whatcan say that? Neuroscience has identified specific regions of the brain that, when they misfire, can cause the self to move back and forth between the body and a doppelgnger, or to leave the body entirely. So where in the brain, or mind, or body, is the self actually located? As Ananthaswamy elegantly reports, neuroscientists themselves now see that the elusive sense of self is both everywhere and nowhere in the human brain. From the Hardcover edition.
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charl08
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I'm really interested in the topic of this book (what do medical stories of people experiencing an altered sense of self, eg dementia, mental illness) but finding it hard to concentrate.

50 likes1 stack add
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CSeydel
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@DGRachel #SharetheLitsyLove #100k #giveaway

Congratulations Rachel on your milestone!

How could I resist a chance to celebrate my favorite genre, #Science! Good science writing is as compelling and exciting as any novel. Fascinating stories abound—and they‘re true! A scientifically literate society will be more likely to care for the environment, make good public health decisions, and exercise rational thought.

Yay science!

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Shay
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Tallying up August and naming my top pick.

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Shay
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Pickpick

Fascinating and mind-bending neuroscience exploring what unusual conditions like Cotard's syndrome and body integrity identity disorder can tell us about the phenomenon of the self. Very sciencey and technical, but also pays a lot of attention to the lived experience of the people who have these conditions. Full review: goo.gl/ecXhYm

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Shay
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"Those of us who inhabit our bodies seamlessly and without disruption and feel and own our vivid emotions may not value what we have. You can't appreciate the self as much if you have been intimately connected to it your whole life."

brendanmleonard Wow - thank you for sharing: 8y
6 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Shay
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This book is breaking my brain in the best possible way. Prepare to question all of your assumptions.

9 likes2 stack adds
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ramyasbookshelf
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I thought I'd just peek to read the prologue before I put the book on my TBR pile and I'm hooked!! I love neuroscience related books.. This seems to be very Oliver sacks - ish. Anyone read this one??

Megabooks No, but I've heard great things about it 👍🏻 8y
CSeydel I haven‘t read it yet, but I know the author! We were classmates at science writing school. He‘s a very talented writer! 7y
32 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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ramyasbookshelf
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Book mail!

Sue Sounds amazing!! I'll be interested to hear what you think of it. 8y
34 likes4 stack adds1 comment