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Tales from Both Sides of the Brain: A Life in Neuroscience by Steven Pinker, Michael S. Gazzaniga
holodoxa's review against another edition
5.0
This was a revelatory read for several reasons: interesting neuroscience, science history, and personal memoir. The last aspect was really the most compelling aspect of Gazzaniga's book. I was completely unaware that Bill Buckley was a close personal friend to an eminent neuroscience. Gazzaniga's reflections on their relationship reveal a lively and close-knit community of intellectuals in the latter half of 20th century America, including relationships that spanned political, philosophical, and professional differences. In some ways this provoked a twinge of melancholy as it feels like a lost world. We'd be so much better off with luminaries like Gazzaniga shaping the elite social sphere than say the NYT op-ed page and various corners of Twitter.
The actual scientific insights in the work are well described in terms of providing a lot of context and rationale for the experiments, including details of the lives of the actual subjects of the experiment. However, there is some repetitions, especially of the observation that consciousness is not a unitary phenomenon individually as in both hemispheres can or do have separate conscientiousness. It would have been great if this book contained more of Gazzaniga's thoughts on the deeper implications of his findings and other findings in neuroscience on the nature of consciousness and on the question of human agency.
Overall, I heartily recommend this work.
The actual scientific insights in the work are well described in terms of providing a lot of context and rationale for the experiments, including details of the lives of the actual subjects of the experiment. However, there is some repetitions, especially of the observation that consciousness is not a unitary phenomenon individually as in both hemispheres can or do have separate conscientiousness. It would have been great if this book contained more of Gazzaniga's thoughts on the deeper implications of his findings and other findings in neuroscience on the nature of consciousness and on the question of human agency.
Overall, I heartily recommend this work.
aqualing's review against another edition
Too many personal anecdotes, not enough scientific narrative.
shawnwhy's review against another edition
5.0
very good look into the brain science profession and fun annecdotes on pinker and dan dannet
ashcomb's review against another edition
1.0
Finally, a new book review. I have been swamped with publishing, writing, and marketing. To the book. I was so excited to get this book, having an opportunity to see/read about the life of a neuroscientist. But this is the first time I have to say I hate a book. It is a sad moment in my life, and I'm not proud of my reaction. Maybe while I write my review, I have a more positive view.
This book is snobbish, elitist, and constantly name dropping and describing the perks of being and coming from a top University and being there at the right time. The writer is like my father-in-law who in a way knows a lot about the world and humans and still knows nothing about them. If I'm sure, they are from the same era. The golden age. Life has been so good that neither of them has been forced to stop to think and understand how the rest of the world lives and what are their struggles. That others are not as blessed. The words coming from my father-in-law's mouths are more than often enough demeaning, unhelpful, and downright stupid, and still, I know he thinks he is helping and does it out of the goodness of his heart. This book reminded me a lot of him. Even when the writer described his cancer, he shrugged it off as it never happened. Somehow he turned it into a merit. Something others can beat as easily.
This book... this book irritates me. The only time the book interested me was when he was writing about his involvement in cloning laws. Then his name dropping and bragging didn't make me want to tear my hair off. Then he rightfully made it clear how their decision making affected nationally and worldwide.
Not that this book is grammatically incorrect or that the structure is all over the place. It is just the arrogance.
I understand the man has a right and a good reason to be proud of his life, what he has seen and done, and been part of. He has done important things to our world and understanding of the human mind. But for the sake of reason his own religion teaches to be humble, and still, he goes on about the fine dining he has done, how chefs made them food especially, martinis, and so much more.
All this irritation might be about my jealousy. I was supposed to succeed in the University, and be part of making science, but life didn't work that way. (I'm not sad about that any longer.) And I apologize if that is the reason for my dislike for the book. If not, I apologize for nothing.
In conclusion, skip this book if you want to learn something about neuroscience other than about the culture in a top University(s). Read this if you want to understand what is it like to live a good elitist life. I guess there is nothing bad about that.
This book is snobbish, elitist, and constantly name dropping and describing the perks of being and coming from a top University and being there at the right time. The writer is like my father-in-law who in a way knows a lot about the world and humans and still knows nothing about them. If I'm sure, they are from the same era. The golden age. Life has been so good that neither of them has been forced to stop to think and understand how the rest of the world lives and what are their struggles. That others are not as blessed. The words coming from my father-in-law's mouths are more than often enough demeaning, unhelpful, and downright stupid, and still, I know he thinks he is helping and does it out of the goodness of his heart. This book reminded me a lot of him. Even when the writer described his cancer, he shrugged it off as it never happened. Somehow he turned it into a merit. Something others can beat as easily.
This book... this book irritates me. The only time the book interested me was when he was writing about his involvement in cloning laws. Then his name dropping and bragging didn't make me want to tear my hair off. Then he rightfully made it clear how their decision making affected nationally and worldwide.
Not that this book is grammatically incorrect or that the structure is all over the place. It is just the arrogance.
I understand the man has a right and a good reason to be proud of his life, what he has seen and done, and been part of. He has done important things to our world and understanding of the human mind. But for the sake of reason his own religion teaches to be humble, and still, he goes on about the fine dining he has done, how chefs made them food especially, martinis, and so much more.
All this irritation might be about my jealousy. I was supposed to succeed in the University, and be part of making science, but life didn't work that way. (I'm not sad about that any longer.) And I apologize if that is the reason for my dislike for the book. If not, I apologize for nothing.
In conclusion, skip this book if you want to learn something about neuroscience other than about the culture in a top University(s). Read this if you want to understand what is it like to live a good elitist life. I guess there is nothing bad about that.
avevale51's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
2.25
The research that was conducted on split-brain patients was very intriguing. I believe many would be fascinated by what was learned from the split-brain patients. However, keep in mind this is an autobiography, the majority of the book felt like it was dedicated to all careers and houses the author had. I would say the first half of the book is more or less dedicated to the split-brain research. But the author constantly went on tangents over his life, which in my opinion became rather boastful. One good thing I can say is that he does make an attempt to speak about the experiments and results in layman terms.
kawthar's review against another edition
2.0
As I'm very interested in the brain in general and the split-brain theory is particular, I picked this book hoping to find some interesting new information. However, all I got was endless names of scientists I could barely remember, many biographical info I hadn't signed up for (at times, it did sound like bragging), and few things that actually entertained me.
I literally dragged myself into finishing this book.
I literally dragged myself into finishing this book.
kayleigh_is_booked's review against another edition
1.0
This may be for people that already have a knowledge base regarding neuroscientists. Not neuroscience, but neuroscientists. Like, if you had grad school science program trading cards of some sort this is probably for you. The relationship between the hemispheres of the brain is something I was hoping to learn about, but this doesn’t really seem to be the book for that. (Suggestions welcome) I couldn’t get past the name dropping and anecdotes unrelated to the content the title and description seem to imply might lie within.
kawthar's review
2.0
As I'm very interested in the brain in general and the split-brain theory is particular, I picked this book hoping to find some interesting new information. However, all I got was endless names of scientists I could barely remember, many biographical info I hadn't signed up for (at times, it did sound like bragging), and few things that actually entertained me.
I literally dragged myself into finishing this book.
I literally dragged myself into finishing this book.
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