The Secret Life of the Brain

"Life is a journey through which we must all travel. During this journey our brain, unlike any other organ, continues to develop, mature and adapt from the moment of conception until we take our final breath. This notion of 'plasticity' is the premise on which this book, and the preceding television series, is based.

Richard Restak, a neurologist and neuropsychiatrist in Washington DC, took the original format from the television series and has expanded and elaborated. As noted by David Grubin, Executive Producer, the television series was restricted by time. In preparing this book the author was able to explore in greater depth issues only briefly considered previously. Therefore, the book not only recounts the details from the television series but also adds to them.

This book has five chapters, which guide us chronically through the brain's evolutionary journey. The first chapter takes us from conception and through the early development of the brain. Subsequent chapters explore the child's brain, the adolescent brain, the adult brain and the aging brain. Within each chapter the brain's continuing journey is explored in the context of real-life situations, which brings a unique meaning to the discussion. In addition, many excellent diagrams and photographs support the easy to read text.

I am sure this book will have a wide readership in light of the current growth of interest in popular science publication. For those with a more developed interest in the neurosciences it might best be described as light bedtime reading that gives the science a human face."
~ Written on 2002-06-14