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My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey (Hardcover)

by Jill Taylor (Author)

4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)

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Product Details

Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: Viking USA (May 13 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0670020745
ISBN-13: 978-0670020744
Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 15.5 x 2.3 cm
Shipping Weight: 409 g

Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)

Amazon.ca Sales Rank: #3,312 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Popular in these categories:

#1 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Disorders & Diseases > Strokes
#2 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Disorders & Diseases > Nervous System
#4 in	Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Professionals & Academics > Medical

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Product Description

Book Description

A brain scientist's journey from a debilitating stroke to full recovery becomes an inspiring exploration of human consciousness and its possibilities

On the morning of December 10, 1996 Jill Bolte Taylor, a thirty-seven-year-old Harvard-trained brain scientist experienced a massive stroke when a blood vessel exploded in the left side of her brain. A neuroanatomist by profession, she observed her own mind completely deteriorate to the point that she could not walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life, all within the space of four brief hours. As the damaged left side of her brain - the rational, grounded, detail and time-oriented side - swung in and out of function, Taylor alternated between two distinct and opposite realties: the euphoric nirvana of the intuitive and kinesthetic right brain, in which she felt a sense of complete well-being and peace; and the logical, sequential left brain, which recognized Jill was having a stroke, and enabled her to seek help before she was lost completely.

In My Stroke of Insight, Taylor shares her unique perspective on the brain and its capacity for recovery, and the sense of omniscient understanding she gained from this unusual and inspiring voyage out of the abyss of a wounded brain. It would take eight years for Taylor to heal completely. Because of her knowledge of how the brain works, her respect for the cells composing her human form, and most of all an amazing mother, Taylor completely repaired her mind and recalibrated her understanding of the world according to the insights gained from her right brain that morning of December 10th.

Today Taylor is convinced that the stroke was the best thing that could have happened to her. It has taught her that the feeling of nirvana is never more than a mere thought away. By stepping to the right of our left brains, we can all uncover the feelings of well-being and peace that are so often sidelined by our own brain chatter. A fascinating journey into the mechanics of the human mind, My Stroke of Insight is both a valuable recovery guide for anyone touched by a brain injury, and an emotionally stirring testimony that deep internal peace truly is accessible to anyone, at any time.

About the Author

Jill Bolte Taylor is a neuroanatomist who teaches at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Bloomington, Indiana. She is the National Spokesperson for the Mentally Ill for the Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center (Brain Bank) and the Consulting Neuroantomist for the Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute. Since 1993 she has been an active member of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). Her story has been featured on the PBS program Understanding Amazing Brain, among others. She was interviewed on NPR's Infinite Mind and ABC News, and was named one of The 100 of the World's Most Influential People of 2008 in Time Magazine.

Inside This Book (Learn More)

Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt

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Customer Reviews

11 Reviews

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

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4.0 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)

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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Transcendent Power of Neuroplasticity, Aug 25 2008

By	Bohdan Sirant - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey (Hardcover)

This is Dr. Taylor's gripping account of her own "neuroplastic" rehabilitation, very accessibly described --as only a neuroanatomist and neuroscientist could describe it.

Dr. Taylor gives hope to all who have suffered, not only stroke, but any loss of mental function --such as the tragic brain damage that follows inhalant abuse by vulnerable children and adolescents.

Dr. Taylor describes beautifully her personal growth and sublimation that followed her stroke-induced transcendental experiences.

Her mother's loving and untiring therapy -- which masterfully and intuitively engaged the healing power of brain neuroplasticity-- was truly inspirational.

I highly recommend this wonderful story of Dr. Taylor's healing journey to all mental health workers.

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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The "Singin' Scientist" reveals her story of having and recovering from stroke, Oct 22 2008

By	Stephen Pletko "Uncle Stevie" (London, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

XXXXX

"The story that follows is my stroke of insight into the beauty and resiliency of the human brain. It's a personal account, as seen through the eyes of a neuroscientist [or brain scientist, which the author is], about what it felt like to experience the deterioration of my left brain [that is, the author experienced a rare form of stroke or cerebrovascular accident in the left cerebral hemisphere of her brain at age 37] and then recover [or survive] it. It is my hope that this book will offer insight into how the brain works in both wellness and in illness. Although this book is written for the general public, I hope you will share it with people you want to help recover from brain trauma [not just stroke patients] and their caregivers."

The above is found in this insightful book authored by Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D. Note that this book is a record of Taylor's "personal journey" of having and recovering from a stroke. She tells us:

"Every brain has a story and this is mine."

This book falls into four parts:

(1) Pre-stroke:

This part introduces the reader to who Taylor was before she had her stroke.

(2) Stroke:

Recounts the events of the morning she had her stroke. She provides a step-by-step account of the deterioration of her cognitive abilities, as seen through the eyes of a brain scientist.

(3) Recovery:

Here, Taylor shares chronologically her journey to recovery.

(4) What she has learned:

That is, what Taylor has learned about the brain after having and recovering from a stroke.

This book may be unique in that the person who had the stroke was a neuroscientist, neuroanatomist,
or brain scientist. Taylor was able to thus relate the cognitive deficits she was experiencing to the underlying biology.

Therefore, there are also labelled diagrams in this book. (I counted almost twenty.) Thus, the reader is never lost. As well, there is one dramatic black and white photograph.

What I personally found from reading this book is with regard to the cerebral hemispheres. The cerebral hemispheres are the two symmetrical (at least superficially--histologically they are known to be distinguishable in a variety of ways) hemispherical halves of the cerebrum or more generally but incorrectly, of the brain. The right hemisphere is associated with creativity, the mystical, the metaphysical, and inner peace while the left hemisphere is associated with logic and rationality. (Note that I have mentioned some differences--there are more.)

Finally, one appendix to this book is entitled "Forty Things I Needed Most [after my stroke]." I found this very interesting and informative. This information should be shared with anyone who may benefit from it.

In conclusion, this is a unique book authored by a brain scientist who had a stroke. I leave you with the words of "The World's Oldest Teenager," Dick Clark, who suffered a stroke late in 2004 :

"There is comfort in better grasping what has gone wrong and enlightenment for those around you when they grasp it too. None of us needs sympathy; what we do need is a helping hand and understanding. Someone like [Jill Bolte] Taylor provides that, helping a terrible blow become far less so."

(first published 2006; introduction; 20 chapters; main narrative 175 pages; 2 appendices; the Harvard Brain Bank)

<<Stephen Pletko, London, Ontario, Canada>>

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating insight - but not really a book, Aug 30 2009

By	Karl E. Hourigan "KH" (Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: My Stroke Of Insight (Paperback)

My Sroke of Insight raises some fascinating questions and provides two main insights:
1. our brains are much more flexible than we know, and it is possible to recover from traumatic brain injury
2. mystical experiences literally are in our heads - we're built to experience nirvana

Either of these two points are a great jumping off point for all kinds of discussion and exploration, and the author's experience makes for a poignant and highly interesting story.

As a book, this volume is pretty slim and a fairly quick read, but even at that it seems repetitive. A good editor could condense it down to a really good article or essay. Having said that, if you're interested in learning more about the brain, this is a good book to add to your reading list.

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Most recent customer reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Poor shipping
The product, once I received was great. However, I placed my order on Sept 27 and did not receive until Oct 27. Read more

Published 21 days ago by Leanne Norrena

4.0 out of 5 stars Sroke of Insight
Very interesting and quite enlightening as to what a person feels while undergoing a stroke. Has been borrowed many times from friends.

Published 1 month ago by Camilla Lawson

5.0 out of 5 stars a MUST read for any caregiver
This book really opened my eyes. I work with people with brain injuries and this book has become a resource for me and my coworkers. Read more

Published 1 month ago by A. Kurth

5.0 out of 5 stars My Stroke of Insight
This is not a book I would not usually read. I purchased this book because of close family members whom had strokes. Read more

Published 2 months ago by Ronna Leppard