Analysis of the Brain that Changes Itself by Norman Doidge - Book Report/Review Example

Book Review “The Brain that Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science” by Norman Doidge Table of Contents Introduction 2 Summary and Contents of the Book 3 The Tactics of the Author and its Contribution to the Mankind 5 Anatomy of the Book 6 Likes and Dislikes of the Book 8 Purpose of the Book 9 Conclusion 9 Bibliography 10 Introduction Human brain is the most complicated organ formed out of evolution. Probably for this reason, there are myriad theories and interpretations pertaining to the neuro science. Since ages, scientists, doctors and psychiatrists have relentlessly worked to unfold the dark abbeys of human mind and brain to resolve the myths and mysteries. Books that can be really granted as a value adding material is rare and when it is concerned with human brain, it becomes rarest of the type. The book by Norman Doidge among thousands of other books on human brain stands out of the queue for its innovative research content and enlightening facts that are worth food for thought. The book, “The Brain that Changes Itself” by Norman Doidge is a path breaking research material that focuses on the myths concerned with the care and cure of human brain. The myth that has continued percolating through the minds and knowledge of mankind is that, human brain is a machine and any damage to a particular part can be fatal without any means of replacement. Doidge, who is a veteran research psychiatrist and psychoanalyst at Columbia University and at the University of Toronto, delicately weaves each page of this precious book to unfold the mysteries and like a true doctor, takes the initiative to cure our myths regarding almost every facet of human brain. Summary and Contents of the Book The New York Times rightly commented that “The power of positive thinking finally gains scientific credibility. Mind-bending, miracle-making, reality busting stuff ...Straddles the gap between science and self-help”. These lines clearly hint at the content of the book. Brain is the most complicated organ. It regulates and controls the entire body. It is quite evident that resolution of myriad myths pertaining to this complicated organ is obvious and always under trial and error. This is the reason why there are many facts and beliefs pertaining to the operating and functioning of the brain which changes the perspective from time to time. With the development and advancement of neuro science, many unknown and bewildering facts came out curing the myths related with it. These facts were completely different from our cognition and turned our pre-occupations upside down. The book is a self-help which indicates that Norman Doidge used this book for the common mass that possess mostly general idea about human brain and its function and are largely guided by intuition and pre-occupation. The book is basically designed for them and the scholars of the field as well. To strike a balance between these two extreme ranges of readers and catering both their needs was not at all a piece of cake. Doidge’s extreme expertise and thorough research endeavour enabled to establish such an enlightening book on a complicated subject like human brain. Knowledge is not for captivation. It should be generated and percolated into the myriad mind. Doidge, as a true educator keeping the fact in mind, has written a book that is quite comprehensive and can be picked up by any lay man. To comprehend the book, one does not need to be a scholar in the subject as the content of the book is culminated with proper research material and presented systematically. The book is presented like an evolutionary history related to the development of neuro science. With the step-wise development of the story, Norman Doidge keeps on telling the true stories of the people who have been benefited from the discoveries. The author intends to show that there is no reason to view human brain as a machine and believe in the myth that the longevity of the brain wires out with growing age. The recent researches have resulted into innovative findings where the secrets pertaining to the powerful plasticity and lifelong adaptability of the brain can be implemented. Norman Doidge travels across the globe to collect the testimony of scientists who are at the cutting edge of a total new era of innovation in brain science and the patients who are benefited from it. As the author travels he picks up various arenas of treatment and facts pertaining to human brain and with cases that illustrates them. This way each story becomes fascinating and compelling. For example, the author gives the evidence in form of a case where the scientists were able to teach a lady whose inner ears were damaged completely. For more than five years that lady had a sense of falling perpetually. She regained her sense of balance with the help of a sensor on her tongue. In another case, the author points a case where a stroke victim regained the ability to walk after the loss of 97% of the nerves from the cerebral cortex to spine. And slowly reminiscing the detailed study of Oliver Sachs, Norman Doidge in a very interesting and engaging tone points out to some of the facet of the human brain that are least understood. The Tactics of the Author and its Contribution to the Mankind It is not feasible for general people outside the cannon of science to have a keen ear for scientific invention. Neither it is possible for the common man to possess a scientific bent of mind nor it is possible to appreciate it without comprehending mostly. Under this general observation, the author picks up a very innovative way of retelling science with a blend of narration. The book, “The Brain That Changes Itself” is a scientific book that easily reaches our heart because it presents some critical cases and their details in a very simple way. The purpose of an awarding book is to relate more people and this can never be achieved without clarity of thought, simple presentation and relative perspective. All these virtues are present in this book which makes it so relative. Anyone can be benefited from this book as lucidity is the poignant strength of the book. The book, “The Brain That Changes Itself” focuses on the diseases like strokes, cerebral palsy, schizophrenia, learning disabilities and obsessive compulsive disorders. People who have any query regarding these diseases are widely benefited from the information and updated research works pertaining to these diseases. Apart from this, a major portion of the book is dedicated to improve the IQ and the memories that are mostly acceptable as these are general needs. In this way, a brief company of the book will tell the readers that how much it is essential for brain’s health and education regarding neurology and common mental illness which are widely misinterpreted or misunderstood guided by some useless myths and inhibitions resulting out of sheer ignorance. Anatomy of the Book The book “The Brain that Changes Itself” is a well – organized book with a unique presentation. The sections of the book come up with different story concerned with the development in the respective areas of brain science. The book begins with brilliant note to the readers followed by a brief preface. These two sections help in building the mind of the readers unknown to myriad perspectives of brain science and like a good literary piece hints on the upcoming contents of the book. The main section of the book contains eleven chapters. Each chapter contains a name and the subtitle is fully coherent with the name of the book being “Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontier of Brain Science”. The subtitle of the book indicates the main content and purpose of the book. Likewise the subtitles of the chapters also give a clear hint about the contents of the chapters. The Chapter with their subtitle contained in the book are as follows: Chapter 1 bears the name, “A Woman Perpetually Falling: Rescued by the Man Who Discovered the Plasticity of Our Senses”, Chapter 2 bears the name, “Building Herself a Better Brain, A Woman Labelled “Retreated” Discovers How to Heal Herself”, Chapter 3 speaks about redesigning the brain and bears the title, “Redesigning the Brain” and the subtitle of this chapter almost clarifies the subject content at the outset itself, “A Scientist Changes Brains to Sharpen Perception and Memory, Increase Speed of Thought, and Heal Learning Problems”. Chapter 4 bears the title, “Acquiring Tastes and Loves” and the subtitle is named “What Neuroplasticity teaches us About Sexual Attraction and Love”. Chapter 5 bears the name, “Midnight Resurrections” and deals with the therapy of Stroke victims, bearing the subtitle, “Stroke victims learn to Move and Speak Again”. Chapter 6 bears the name, “Brain Locked Unlocked”. This chapter speaks about the use of plasticity in checking worries, obsessions, compulsions and bad habits. Chapter 7 bears the title, “Pain” and this is the most compelling chapter of the book that speaks on the dark side of plasticity. Chapter 8 bears the title, “Imagination” with a beautiful subtitle, “How Thinking Makes It So”. This chapter focuses on the transformation of thoughts into imagination, a complex process of mind presented in a simplified way. Chapter 9 bears the title “Turning our Ghosts into Ancestors” and contain details about psychoanalysis as a means of neuroplastic therapy. Chapter 10 is the penultimate chapter of the book and Chapter 11 is the ultimate or the concluding chapter. Chapter 10 bears the title, “Rejuvenation” and a subtitle, “Discovery of the Neuronal Stem Cell and Lessons for Preserving Our Brains” and the ultimate chapter 11 bears the title “More than the Sum of Her Parts” and the subtitle is the most interesting of all other subtitles in the book leaving a hue of ambiguity, “A Woman Shows Us How Radically Plastic the Brain Can Be”. Apart from these eleven chapters there are two well knitted Appendices. First Appendix bears the title, “The Culturally Modified Brain” and the Second Appendix is named “Plasticity and the ideas of Progress”. The greatest virtue of the book is that all these chapters are culminated systematically and are presented coherently with the development in brain science. This coherent structure fascinates the readers and the systematic approach builds clarity of thought. The book becomes all the more engrossing and fascinating because of its systematic approach. Likes and Dislikes of the Book The book is not dull and complex like usual science books. It is compelling, relative and topical. The case studies are presented coherently with the invention in the sector of brain science which makes the book more appealing and easy to comprehend. The language is lucid and the author, Norman Doidge makes a point to use simple syntax and terms for quick and easy understanding of the neurological and psychological terms. The vivid and detailed explanation of the areas which are usually grey and apparently seem cliché for ordinary people outside the medical canon makes the book outstanding. The most interesting part of the book is that it encapsulates moments of pathos and triumphs. The book is so handy that it almost attains the level of a brain manual which educates people on every aspect of brain care and guides the procedure to maintain brain health and reasoning as one gains age. The book is a Bible for anyone who wishes to achieve triumph against all odds and the stories presented in the book are constant fuel to the hope for future brain health and development. The lacunas in any book are prevalent and the book by Norman Doidge “The Brain that Changes Itself” is not an exception in this regard. At some portions of the book the over exuberance of the author leads to exaggeration about the possibilities pertaining to the fixation of disability ranging from learning disability to blindness which is not always possible for the new brain science to fix. Purpose of the Book The book, “The Brain that Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science” captivates the true essence of its purpose in its subtitle. The content of the book is to create awareness and amaze common people who have little knowledge about the medical science with the help of true stories presented in the form of case studies. This procedure makes the book relative and the stories of recovery helps to rejuvenate people who are concerned with the same problem. Conclusion The book, “The Brain that Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science” to the truest essence of its title is capable of winning over hearts and brains of any reader going through the book.  Jessica Warner, senior scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health rightly commented on the book, “Buy this book. Your brain will thank you”. Bibliography Doidge, N. (2007). The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science. Viking Adult. Ed 1. Read More