Our Brains, Our Selves - by Masud Husain (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

'Powerful' FINANCIAL TIMES
'Thought-provoking' NEW SCIENTIST
'Fascinating' DAILY MAIL

WINNER OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY TRIVEDI SCIENCE BOOK PRIZE

Award-winning author and leading neurologist Masud Husain shares seven fascinating cases of brain disorders from across his career - and shows what they can teach us about our own brains

What makes us who we are?

Through the stories of seven of his patients, acclaimed Oxford University neurologist Masud Husain shows us how our brains create, change and can even restore our identity. Husain introduces us to a man who ran out of words, a woman who lost all inhibitions and another who believed she was having an affair with the man who was really her husband.

These compelling human dramas reveal how our identities are created by different functions within the brain. It will ignite new ideas about who we really are - and why we act in the ways we do.

Review Quotes

"[A] funny, fascinating book . . . Above all, the book is a reminder of how mysterious the workings of the human brain are [and] builds a powerful case for supporting people whose brains have

become unruly, rather than isolating them"

-- "Daily Mail"

"Husain perfectly balances compassionate and deeply
empathetic narratives with clear and expert detail of the inner workings of the
brain. Even when the science is complex, you never forget that these are not
simply case studies, they are real people, and Husain handles each with a real
sense of care and respect."

--Dr Sandra Knapp

"Both inspiring and deeply humane . . . Our Brains, Our Selves is more than a book about neuroscience - it is a profound meditation on what it means to be human"-- "Sri Lanka Guardian"

"Neurologist Husain writes an engaging medical memoir about his experiences with seven patients whose symptoms illustrate the workings -- and failings -- of the human brain. At the same time he looks sympathetically at the way society treats people as their neural disorders progress and their behaviour changes"-- "Financial Times"

"The book is rich and informative, drawing on [Husain's] medical experience, as well as his own authoritative knowledge of cognitive neuroscience. Told in an inviting and entertaining narrative style, Husain offers a compelling narrative that is easily in the same league as other great storytellers of neuroscience, like Alexander Luria, Antonio Damasio and Oliver Sacks"--DAVID BADRE, author of ON TASK

"Our Brains, Our Selves is a delight. Masud Husain writes with wit, wisdom and kindness, weaving deeply personal stories of lives transformed by brain damage with insights from the frontiers of modern neuroscience. By gently evoking details from his patients that expose the brain mechanisms that are beginning to go awry, he reveals that what really binds us all together is the fragility of our selves"--STEVE FLEMING, author of KNOW THYSELF

"[An] emotionally powerful book [that] delves deeply into the nature of individual human identity and how this relates to our belonging to a supportive social group"-- "Financial Times"

"A beautifully written, moving story of how your brain creates and sometimes changes your sense of who you really are. Science writing reminiscent of the best of Oliver Sacks"--CAMILLA NORD, author of THE BALANCED BRAIN

"A rare combination of elegant prose, captivating storytelling and academic rigour. Through his patients, and his own experiences of clinical medicine, Masud illuminates those aspects of the brain that define us and our place in the world"--GUY LESCHZINER, author of SEVEN DEADLY SINS and THE NOCTURNAL BRAIN

"An extraordinary book - one of a kind - as beautifully written as it is deeply humane and scientifically fascinating. This book is as brilliant as anything written by Oliver Sacks, a real-life medical detective story that is life-enhancing and beautiful"--IAN ROBERTSON, author of HOW CONFIDENCE WORKS

"Each story is fascinating in its own right; together, they form a thought-provoking book that exposes the precariousness of our sense of self. If Husain's writing is an indication of his clinical care (which I suspect it is), then he is an intelligent, empathetic and perspicacious doctor"-- "New Scientist"

"In this wonderful book, Masud Husain brings readers on a journey through the many facets of the self, viewed through the lens of his first-person experiences as a neurologist. A masterful storyteller, Husain infuses this very personal memoir with scholarship and cutting-edge science, in the process, shedding light on the neural mechanisms that make us uniquely human"--CHARAN RANGANATH, author of WHY WE REMEMBER

"The human brain is the single most complex thing in the universe, and even its most minor hiccoughs can lead to terrifying conditions that are often still beyond the power of modern medicine to treat. In this beautifully written, very personal account of tales from his neurologist's consulting room, Masud Husain reminds us just why we need to continue to probe the mysteries of how the brain works. I couldn't put it down"--ROBIN DUNBAR, author of THE HUMAN STORY

"This masterful book, written by an internationally eminent neurologist, combines gentle humour with deep scientific insight. If you have any interest in the brain and the structure that makes us what we are, this is an essential read. Through personal experience, fascinating case studies and the science of the brain, this book leads you gently by the hand through the most complex structure in the known universe"--RUSSELL FOSTER, author of LIFE TIME

About the Author

Masud Husain is Professor of Neurology and Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Oxford and Professorial Fellow at New College, Oxford. Unusually, he works across departments of neuroscience, brain imaging and psychology to understand cognitive functions in both healthy people and patients with brain disorders. Masud is Editor-in-Chief of Brain, a leading international journal of neurology. First established in 1878, Brain is widely considered to be the most influential publication in the field, with its monthly editorials being a key source of authoritative perspectives.

@MasudHusain masudhusain.org