The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science Paperback – 7 Aug. 2008

This is a terrific book. I highly recommend it.The book focuses on neuroplasticity (the terrific functional flexibility of the brain), and very often is able to tell the story of the latest ideas in that field whilst relating them to particular human stories. It is written in a clear, thoughtful, engaging way. It's an important book because it is popularising important new ideas. I rather agree with the reviewer who says that Doidge overstates his case and tends to explain everything in terms of neuroplasticity, ... but I am very impressed by the quality and clarity of the book as a whole.I have had a stroke, and I read with interest chapter 5 (which deals with stroke). I felt it was well written and convincing. I found the basic message (that the brain's ability to recover from injury is enormously greater than conventionally understood) tremendously encouraging. That is not to say that my problems of hemiplegia have been solved, but my understanding of the potential for recovery, and how to achieve it, has been improved.As I read the book, I felt that important insights and clues to research were sometimes introduced briefly with little fanfare. E.g. 1) I think the discussion about neuroplastic change and evolution should lead us to question further the orthodoxy about how species evolve, that is natural selection is not the only force at work; and 2) isn't it a puzzlement that in a plastic environment anything is stable and solid? I wonder if the plastic brain is analogous to a fly-by-wire aircraft?

What people endure to break the establishment order & allow human kind to progress is amazing. A book crafted from a deep sense of belief.So if you want to know about our wonderful brain....your not a Dr not a scientist then STOP thinking you know STOP thinking they must right... read this amazing enlightening book Cheers Michael

A very readable introduction to brain plasticity. The book is full of examples about how the brain adapts to damage and changing circumstances and requirements of the body. Mr Doidge lambasts the long held view of brain "localization" (specialised areas for different functions, e.g. Broca's area), through case studies of autism and stroke treatments amongst others.Unfortunately the book lacks any critical analysis of its subjects. All Dr Doidge's subjects are heroes who battled for years against mainstream science. One example is the Fast ForWord learning program - a quick Google shows that the program is maybe not as successful as the author claims (or has been commercialised into areas for which is less suitable).There is a chapter on Psychoanalysis using one of Dr Doidge's former patients as a case study, which didn't seem to fit the theme of the book (and reminded me of Frasier!)Dr Doidge has no moral doubt about the use of animals (even cute ones) for experiments. As a lay reader, I found the casual description of brain surgery and permanent disability inflicted on monkeys a little shocking. The experiments have value, but the monkey's rights shouldn't be dismissed quite so completely.Still, a very interesting book.

This book will almost certainly do more than any other (to date) to change how you think about yourself, your life, and the impact of your early-life upbringing determining who you are and how you think. Equally or even more significantly, it outlines your capacity to change and determine much of your future life - including fending off much of the threat of age-related decline (physical and mental).Additionally, if you or anyone you know has suffered any kind of brain damage/trauma (whether from birth, or incurred at any later stage of life), the various case histories outlined in the book will almost certainly instil more hope and motivation than many orthodox medics - including even experienced (for which sometimes read "fixed attitude") neurologists.The style, though packed with mind-grabbing information, is thoroughly readable, and rather like Oliver Sack's "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat", nothing is lost by going to the chapter(s) that first catch(es) your attention.No other book has provoked the "Wow!" response for me on so many page turns - or even per paragraph.Yes, you need to keep hold of your normal level of reasonable critical faculties. There is not always a great deal of "on the other hand" argument on some of the as-yet not fully tested or proven therapies, but even then the opening of minds to new thinking is in itself well worthwhile, even inspiring.And no, I have no connection with the author or any of the largely unsung heroes of medical research and development referenced in the book. But I'd love to have them round my dinner table!

This book has changed my life in that what I have read of scientically proven experimentation with subsequent results is totally mind blowing. I have this on my coffee table and re read certain sections which recount the work of medical professional people who through their endeavours break down barriers and ultimately help people suffering from various disorders. This is an easy to read book which I would recommend to anybody with a curiousity of life.