Did you know that there are people in the world who have had one hemisphere of their brain removed… yet they still function normally and don’t lag behind those without such an operation? It’s time for another book recommendation – I’ve just finished reading “The Brain: The Story of You” by David Eagleman, and I can already say that it’s definitely worth picking up.
This isn’t a book with a narrow focus: while it does concentrate on the human brain (and not just that), it touches on so many topics and interesting facts that it’s impossible to get bored. It helps you understand the phenomenon mentioned at the beginning: the incredible adaptability of the human brain, its flexibility, its potential for development… but also its tendency towards laziness, as it tries to save energy whenever possible and often puts us on autopilot.
The book also raises questions that can easily be called philosophical. Once we learn how our brain works, how it analyzes stimuli received through various external tools, we realize that… we truly know nothing about the world around us. The way we see something is just a matter of interpretation, and the same goes for hearing and other senses. What’s the reality? No one really knows. The studies presented in the book also help explain why time sometimes seems to flow in slow motion, or conversely, why things happen so quickly that we don’t even realize it.
And that’s not all. Through Eagleman’s book, we learn where human relationships come from, why our species was able to conquer the planet – and even leave it. The author not only unveils the mechanisms of how the brain works but also presents some visions of the future: future humans as hybrids, a blend of machines and biological brains. And beyond that… perhaps only virtual beings that don’t need a physical body to function. What will happen? We don’t know, but I can honestly say that this book is a fantastic read.
The Brain: The Story of You – Quick Review
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