This award winning book by Professor David Linden explores the misconceptions and intricacies of neural function, and each chapter works toward discrediting the assumption that the brain constitutes engineering perfection. It is in fact an inefficient 'kludge' of parts, quite accidentally brought together over millions of years of evolutionary time. A fascinating read which is unfailingly relatable, and tries its best not to remove itself too far from the wiles of every day living.

Those who stuck with the sciences at least up until the end of high school, as many topics which cropped up touched upon those I had covered in my A Level curricula. It would have otherwise been a strenuous read.

I liked the conversational tone and the care taken when breaking down sometimes notoriously complex mechanisms so that the reader might actually be able to take something away after 254 pages of Neurology! Also, Linden addresses with detailed insight commonly asked questions such as, “Will playing classical music to my newborn really help his brain grow?” and, “Why can’t I tickle myself?”

It is sometimes necessary to re-read particular pages or paragraphs a number of times to absolutely grasp what is being explained. As a result this cannot be classed as a light read, but something to mull over, allowing yourself time to give each chapter your fullest attention. (Though this will depend on what degree of detail each individual reader wishes to retain.)

When I finished I wanted to write down everything I had learnt before I forgot it all and to clarify those things that I remembered vaguely by re-reading that specific section of the book. But mostly, I wanted to find someone to show off to.

It made me feel better informed and gave me confidence in regards to reading more non-fiction. Academically, I felt there was hope for me yet!

The author of the book is a professor of Neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He assumes the reader has at least some degree of scientific background, but does his utmost to cater for all. He may be a science nerd but his written word can also hold its own.

I recommend it because it is an intriguing read which seeks only to impart wisdom to whomsoever is interested.

I don’t recommend this book to those who are put off by the sciences without exception. I think everyone should give this a go, but it is true that some parts of the book did exert some pressure on my cerebral cogs.

A memorable quote: “The quirky, inefficient, and bizarre plan of the brain and its constituent parts is fundamental to our human experience.”

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Created Aug 20, 2009 at 7:49pm • Submit your own review...