Unthinkable: An Extraordinary Journey Through the World's Strangest Brains | 
pickThe 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.
so-soThis 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
pickNothing 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.
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.
pickIn 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.”
pickThis 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
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
A good start to the morning, coffee and Unthinkable. Now a morning without coffee, *that* is truly unthinkable 😆# coffeeandbooks #gogojuice #winterreading
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.
pickThompson 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!
pickA 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
pickA fascinating and unique perspective on the way people with brains that work in unique ways can teach us about our own brains. #audiobook
Went for a short #audiowalk and ran into a friend near my house. This was a little too close for both our comfort.
An exciting afternoon of swiffering and cleaning made even more exciting with this fascinating audiobook about people with unusual neurological issues.
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
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
pickHelen 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.
July 2018 recap: 19 books read.
Fave: Unthinkable: An Extraordinary Journey Through the World's Strangest Brains, by Helen Thomson.
Two DNFs.
pickI devoured this in a couple of hours. Thomson really highlights the humanity behind the medical cases and provides clear explanations and context. Highly recommended.
Started AND finished this book today! I couldn't put it down 😊
"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! ?
pickA 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.
