The human brain is one of the most difficult objects that existed
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Scientific books, especially those written by scientists, sometimes have a reputation as dry, boring and difficult. Perhaps they are considered as thinly disguised textbooks, something that needs to be learned in a structured way. Books in short -linter for the royal society of the science of science -book are evidence of the error of this point of view, and nothing more than the one that the judges chose as the winner of this year: Our brain, our Self Neurologist Masud Hussein.
I was lucky that I was the chairman of a group of six – all readers and lovers of books, including New scientistNews editor Jacob Aron, who had a difficult job of choosing a short -linter, and then a final general prize. Composed of passionate supporters of science, our discussions were wide and fascinating, as you could expect from a set of people who love both Science and booksField
We often disagree, always polite, and I rarely have been with a set of people who listened to opposite points of view so well. Our completely different starting points and life experience meant that we learned a lot, both about the books that we had the honor to read, and about reading itself.
There were many excellent scientific books among this year, but Our brain, our Self He stood out for a combination of a beautiful storytelling of stories, strict and advanced science, told in a generally accepted way, and, above all, her humanity. Hussein NeurobiologistBut also a doctor: seven stories of his patients are the heads of the book.
Their conditions differ – one person is overcome with apathy after survival iron; The other believes that she has an affair with her husband – but they all lead to deep changes. The book is an excellent study of how pathological problems in the brain can lead to the fact that people become completely different, so society rejects them.
The gold thread passing through the book is the concept of “I” and how the brain affects who we are. This is very sensitive, told in a beautiful and very personal point of view. Science also has everything there – much of this, based on Hussein’s own studies, all this is very clearly explained, with what we do not know, are still clearly allocated. This is what I appreciate. Too often we expect science that all the answers will have, but in fact the best science is a science that encourages us to ask the next exciting question.
Format Thematic research of clinical practice It may seem proven and truthful, but the difference here is that the gold thread with a really individual touch. Have you ever felt excluded from belonging? The stories of these patients with brain disorders force the reader to think about identity and concept of himself, as well as that “belonging” means to us as individuals and as members of society.
This idea found a response to us as a panel. We all examined what it means to belong? Some of the people we meet in the book are members of immigrant communities (like the author himself), who had to overcome prejudices, resentment and sometimes even violence belonging to the society in which they found themselves. Since our world is becoming more and more related, it seems logical that our fear of the difference should decrease, but, unfortunately, it seems that this is not so.
Our brain, our Self really makes the reader think about how brain disorders It can cause deep changes so that they no longer belong, but also how cognitive functions contribute to our own identity. Our brain really determines who we are. This very compassionate book not only without effort teaches the reader about science, but also full of incredible human kindness.
Sandra Button This is a taxonomist of the plant in the Museum of Natural History, London. She headed the Judicial Prize Group of the Royal Society of Triedi Science Book this year. The winner of the prize Our brain, our SelfLast choice for Book Club of a new scientistField
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