Into the Silent Land - by Paul Broks (Paperback)

About the Book

A neuropsychologist and a runner-up for the prestigious Wellcome Trust Science Prize, Broks writes with a doctor's precision and clarity in a series of narratives about the fascinating world of the neurologically impaired, delving not only into the inner lives of his patients but also into a deeper understanding of how they define who they are.

Book Synopsis

A finalist for The Guardian First Book Award, Into the Silent Land is a stunning look into how the human brain constructs a "self," or the essence of who we are as individuals. A neuropsychologist with twenty-five years' experience and a runner-up for the prestigious Wellcome Trust Science Prize, Paul Broks writes with a doctor's precision and clarity in a series of narratives about the fascinating world of the neurologically impaired, delving not only into the inner lives of his patients, but into a deeper understanding of how we define who we are. Fusing classic cases of neuropsychology with the author's own case studies, personal vignettes, philosophical debate, and thought-provoking riffs and meditations on the nature of neurological impairments and dysfunctions, Into the Silent Land is an illuminating study of neuroscience, and an extraordinary look into the unknown world of the self.

Review Quotes

"[A] thoughtful, accessible look into neuropsychology ... Bringing to his investigations an easygoing style enlivened with great enthusiasm, Broks entices readers to follow him further into the unknown region of human consciousness. His writing is leavened with wit and quirky personal tales that add a warm touch."

"Broks presents a humane and beautiful narrative about memory and personal identity, with certain passages so arresting they imprint themselves on your mind. We are told he is the new Oliver Sacks, and for once it's a justifiable comparison."

"The new Oliver Sacks ... knife-edge sharp and uncompromising. Brilliantly unsettling."