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Unthinkable
Unthinkable: An Extraordinary Journey Through the World's Strangest Brains | Helen Thomson
23 posts | 16 read | 50 to read
Award-winning science writer Helen Thomson unlocks the biggest mysteries of the human brain by examining nine extraordinary cases Our brains are far stranger than we think. We take it for granted that we can remember, feel emotion, navigate, empathise and understand the world around us, but how would our lives change if these abilities were dramatically enhanced or disappeared overnight? Helen Thomson has spent years travelling the world, tracking down incredibly rare brain disorders. In Unthinkable she tells the stories of nine extraordinary people she encountered along the way. From the man who thinks he's a tiger to the doctor who feels the pain of others just by looking at them to a woman who hears music thats not there, their experiences illustrate how the brain can shape our lives in unexpected and, in some cases, brilliant and alarming ways. Story by remarkable story, Unthinkable takes us on an unforgettable journey through the human brain. Discover how to forge memories that never disappear, how to grow an alien limb and how to make better decisions. Learn how to hallucinate and how to make yourself happier in a split second. Find out how to avoid getting lost, how to see more of your reality, even how exactly you can confirm you are alive. Think the unthinkable.
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Ephemera
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Pickpick

The author of this book traveled to many different countries in order to speak with and interview people with unusual brain disorders. Like Sharon, whose world sometimes shifts and leaves her totally disoriented to the point where she gets lost. Or Graham, who was convinced he was dead. Or Joel, a doctor who feels the emotions of those around him and even physical sensations. The brain is a fascinating organ. Five stars.

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erickahhh
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Mehso-so

This book was interesting, especially as it discussed interesting ways others brains can work differently. I had heard many of these stories before, which is why I gave this book such a low rating. This would be a great book to introduce someone into neuroscience and the plasticity of the brain. If someone is already familiar with the way the brain operates, they may find it boring. The book was well written and the case studies were fascinating

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shanaqui
Pickpick

Nothing too surprising for me -- I've heard about most of these exact cases -- but Thomson is good at gently interrogating what some of these conditions/experiences are like.

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shanaqui

By this point, much of this isn't strange to me -- I've read too many “oOoOo the human brain is weird!!“ books. I think I've even read about most of the examples so far before! But there's something restful about seeing things from a new angle.

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Simona
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Pickpick

In this book Helen Thomson talks about nine extreme and rare conditions caused by brain disorders. Permanent deja vu, being constantly lost (even in your home), walking corpse disorder ... She interviewed people with those rare conditions and their stories are fascinating, in some cases - very sad. #nFnov ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#TIL that human brains are self-aware. From the book:”We have different kind of conscious ... brain know about itself.”

Clwojick 9 pt. 5y
59 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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CuriousG
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Pickpick

This book had me from the start, and not a single section let me down. Although spending an entire book talking about the bizarre ways in which the human mind can go off the typical track, it always manages to view the people as just that, people. The lack of sensationalist nonsense is exactly what makes this a true pick, and not just a so-so #humandiversity #extraordinary

17 likes2 stack adds
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CuriousG
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Filling my afternoon with reading about the brain - both the wild and wacky ways they can differ, and the methods to calming and harnessing our power #brainpower #justbreathe

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CuriousG
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A good start to the morning, coffee and Unthinkable. Now a morning without coffee, *that* is truly unthinkable 😆# coffeeandbooks #gogojuice #winterreading

18 likes1 stack add
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MarriedtoMrT
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Popping in to say that I HAVE been reading, mostly romance, but I‘ve been poor at reviewing. Wah, wah. (Though I‘ve mostly kept up on GR so my yearly goal counter doesn‘t say I‘m behind).

That said, I‘m listening to this book on audio (a pretty well done production read by the author) and it is FASCINATING and accessible. I can‘t stop telling everyone about it (my parents, my husband, my coworkers) so I have to let you know as well.

CoffeeK8 Yes, I read this as an audiobook! It was fascinating 6y
45 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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alyssthebooksniffer
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Pickpick

Thompson quotes Ian Stewart: “If our brains were simple enough for us to understand them, we'd be so simple that we couldn't.” This is a fascinating exploration of bizarre brain conditions and what they can teach us about consciousness. From Cotard‘s Syndrome to extreme personality changes after injury to hypersensitive empathetic synesthesia, I could not put it down!

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CoffeeK8
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17 books total
13 library reads
4 audiobooks
15 books by women
#octoberstats

robinb I‘d like to read the Draven too! Love her writing! ❤️ 6y
CoffeeK8 @robinb it was my first book by her, but certainly not my last 6y
robinb @CoffeeK8 I‘ve read “Master of Crows” and the Wraith Kings duo (“Radiance” and “Eidolon”). Liked them all (and I don‘t read a tremendous amount of sci fi). 😊 6y
53 likes3 comments
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RealLifeReading
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Pickpick

A science journalist‘s interest in rare brain disorders takes her around the world as she meets people with lycanthropy, audio hallucinations, Cotard delusion or Walking Corpse Syndrome (ie thinking you‘re dead). I listened to the audiobook, read by Thomson herself, & I felt all the earnestness and hard work that she poured into her research as well as her fascination for the subject. #scienceseptember

Desha I chose this as my Amazon prime book for the month...I‘m glad to hear you give it a good review! ☺️👍🏻 6y
UrsulaMonarch Sounds *fascinating*! Stacked! 6y
93 likes13 stack adds2 comments
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CoffeeK8
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Pickpick

A fascinating and unique perspective on the way people with brains that work in unique ways can teach us about our own brains. #audiobook

britt_brooke Love the cover! 6y
RealLifeReading I quite enjoyed this too! 6y
CoffeeK8 @RealLifeReading it was really interesting, I find I‘m on a weird medicine/brain audiobook kick right now. 6y
59 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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CoffeeK8
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Went for a short #audiowalk and ran into a friend near my house. This was a little too close for both our comfort.

tpixie Surprise! Hi! 6y
tammysue Aww 🧡🦌 6y
69 likes2 comments
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RealLifeReading
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An exciting afternoon of swiffering and cleaning made even more exciting with this fascinating audiobook about people with unusual neurological issues.

mcctrish I need to buy new ear buds and get an audio book to listen to #maybeiwillstartcleanimgtoo 6y
Cathythoughts I love audio cleaning ... it flys by 6y
Reviewsbylola Usually audiobooks and/or podcasts are the only thing that motivate me to clean! 6y
RealLifeReading @mcctrish definitely is a motivation for me! 6y
116 likes7 stack adds5 comments
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RealLifeReading
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Did some #audiobaking this morning - I had made the oatmeal chocolate chip cookie dough last night and put it in the fridge so all I had to do was scoop them onto baking trays and bake.
Recipe from King Arthur Flour https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/chocolate-chip-oatmeal-cookies-recipe

Leftcoastzen Ooohhhhhh, yum yum! 6y
Pamwurtzler That‘s a good one - I‘ve used that recipe before. 6y
Loric Yummy 6y
See All 10 Comments
wordslinger42 King Arthur is the best! Those look delicious 😍 Might have to do some baking of my own! 6y
CoffeeAndABook Yummm... 😋😋😋 I‘m literally drooling 🍪🍪🍪 6y
tracey38 Those look super yummy. 6y
RealLifeReading @Pamwurtzler first time I‘ve tried this recipe! It‘s a keeper! 6y
RealLifeReading @wordslinger42 I love King Arthur flour‘s recipes! And this was such a good one! 6y
111 likes10 comments
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RealLifeReading
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I feel like I haven‘t been reading much since school started. It‘s been quite a hectic week. The second grader is in regular full-day schedule but this week is all minimum days (830-120). Kindergarten is half-day and my boy is in the PM session (1130-3). So it‘s back and forth to school four times a day! It‘s making me tired and last night all I wanted to do was watch Netflix... but I‘ve also been listening to this in the car when I‘m alone

DivineDiana I would love this cover framed! ❤️ 6y
billythegreat That's the reason I don't want another kid... My daughter alone kinda drives me crazy everyday... 6y
RebL Been there. You do what you can do when you can do it and you are compassionate with yourself the rest of the time. 6y
104 likes4 stack adds3 comments
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mr_annie
Pickpick

Helen Thomson travels the world to meet some of the people behind the unusual brains she has read about for so long in scientific journals. She talks to them about what it‘s like to live with their different perceptions and experiences - which to them are the only normal they‘ve ever known. A great mix of scientific research and compassionate journalism, Thomson takes us inside the heads of nine fascinating people.

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rabbitprincess
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July 2018 recap: 19 books read.
Fave: Unthinkable: An Extraordinary Journey Through the World's Strangest Brains, by Helen Thomson.
Two DNFs.

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rabbitprincess
Pickpick

I devoured this in a couple of hours. Thomson really highlights the humanity behind the medical cases and provides clear explanations and context. Highly recommended.

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rabbitprincess
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Started AND finished this book today! I couldn't put it down 😊

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rabbitprincess
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"It's not something you easily forget, the first time you see a human head sitting upon a table."

Talk about a great first line! ?

VioletBramble This book sounds interesting. Of course, now I'm having a scent memory of dissection lab at university. That's never good. 6y
rabbitprincess @VioletBramble Ew! And scent is the most powerful trigger of memories too 😖 I've already read two chapters of this and would recommend it. 6y
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balletbookworm
Pickpick

A well-researched book that fills up a little bit the giant hole left by the death of Oliver Sacks. Thomson is a science journalist with a degree in neuroscience, so it‘s a bit different tack than Sack‘s view as a practicing neurologist, but she covers twelve people with remarkable brain syndromes.

DrSabrinaMoldenReads Wow! My kinda book! 6y
17 likes1 stack add1 comment