The Brain: A Book Review

 Are you curious about the great lump of mush that sends electricity throughout your body? 'The Brain' - created by the NewScientist - spans 14 chapters that discuss neuroscience and neuropsychology. In other words, it is a summary of how the brain works. Or - as NewScientist has put it - 'A user's guide to the supercomputer inside your head.'

I was eager to read this book as it was first published in 2018. Science develops rapidly and I was aware it could not be long until something new was discovered and the contents could have become outdated. The topics discussed were fascinating (more on that later!) and I appreciate the use of accessible language; the definitions of technical terms were easily integrated into the flow of the literature. However, it was not an easy book to read. Despite my interest in the subject I found it difficult to engage, often willing myself to pick up the book and to read another page. As 'The Brain' is, essentially, a collection of journal article summaries, it is very long and tedious. In fact, every chapter was about 30 pages long! Perhaps shorter chapters and including engaging analogies would have made it more of a page-turner.

Throughout the book it struck me how little we really know about the brain. 'The Brain' contains more theories than concrete statements. I was disappointed as this 'guide' could have been more developed by waiting for further research to support its theories or by focusing on what we do know about the brain. Each chapter could have been its own novel; 'The Brain' contains many interesting topics, but lacks the space to elaborate fully and draw in the reader. As a result, it was rather lacklustre.

Perhaps my favourite chapter was Sleep and Dreaming (chapter 12). It explored the importance of sleep and answered common questions like can naps make up for lost sleep. Sleep facilitates a deep clean of the brain, washing away plaques related to Alzheimer's, and it allows short-term memories to become long-term memories. It was particularly fascinating to learn that having too much sleep has negative effects on health as well as too little sleep - including, but not limited to, a shorter lifespan. This chapter almost fully explores how to maximise your sleep to benefit your overall health.

'EAT YOUR WAY TO DEMENTIA' is a brief note in chapter 14 (Unlocking Your Potential). It mentions that Alzheimer's disease could be a version of diabetes. It is an intriguing concept, which I would have liked to read more about in 'The Brain'. I am curious to see the results of studies that test this hypothesis in the future. If it is true it would provide an entirely new perspective to a disease that many currently view as inevitable.

In conclusion, 'The Brain' isn't ideal for a bit of light reading. If you're interested in how the brain works this book is a good place to start. The range of topics provide something for everyone. It can give you some understanding of your own thoughts, feelings and responses. Although it will likely be a few years - at least - until we have some definitive answers to the workings of 'the supercomputer inside your head'.

Want to buy a copy? NewScientist The Brain: Everything You Need To Know (2018) https://biblio.co.uk/book/brain-everything-you-need-know-new/d/1626647122?srsltid=AfmBOorSw_fsVuI7I4ZGp3j63prxlAmq0LxyQHA-AdjV3K-52moO7S80m34&__cf_chl_tk=TmLVc1vYTMjyUtEk8TIDsRMJ.TUgO5N57rRvlOzP44M-1756632665-1.0.1.1-BD8w5kB6qNN4ZuLykInIeh1gRLajabwWzTdE.QX0SJY

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