Book Reviews

I have read the following two books on plane trips over the last couple months. Although they have basically the same title, they cover the topic of the mind from very different approaches. Each was well written and held my attention. If you have not previously read much about the brain you may want to read just a chapter at a time rather than poring through them at one sitting.

1. "Mapping the Mind" by Rita Carter, University of California Press,copyright 1998.

Rita Carter has worked as a medical and science writer for the last ten years and has twice received the Medical Journalists Association Award. At this time she is pursuing a number of art-science projects intended to increase public knowledge of the brain. Her book, "Mapping the Mind," is an elegantly illustrated story of brain exploration. She invites the reader to join in her journey to look at the social implications of the discoveries of neuroscience. Along the way, questions arise regarding the meaning of the mind as well as the creation of memory, the development of language, the complexities of sensations, the genesis of emotions and the occurrence of behavioral eccentricities. These questions are addressed using a variety of techniques: 1.) clearly labeled and explained visual representations, almost three dimensional in character, 2.) thoughtfully laid out text, 3.) specific and fascinating sidebars and 4.) excerpts from the authors of recent research efforts.

The book is both thought provoking and entertaining. In it, Ms. Carter readily admits that, ".these are the early days of mind exploration and the vision of the human brain we have now is probably no more complete or accurate than a sixteenth century map of the world." However, in spite of that limitation, there is so much covered in such a delightful manner that it would be a shame not to join her in the trip.

Reading Level: Appropriate for high school to adult, could be used as a resource for motivated middle school students.


2. "Mapping the Mind - The Secrets of the Human Brain and How It Works" by Joel Davis, A Birch Lane Press Book, copyright 1997.

Joel Davis in an award winning science writer and Washington State resident. In his book, "Mapping the Mind," he uses a conversational style to tell the story of cutting edge research related to the brain's mysteries: learning, memory , language, mechanisms for the brain's control of the body, emotions, thoughts, how the brain processes, stores and uses data from our senses and the mechanisms that cause different physical and mental breakdowns. He gives careful attention to the invention and use of machines that allow researchers to peer into the living brain in the first section of his book, The Territory and the Maps.

Section 2, Mapping the Brain, addresses brain plasticity, long term potentiation and the nature and theories of learning and memory. In the third section, Mapping the Mind, the emotional brain is explored in detail, along with the mysteries of language and the nature of the mind. Each chapter of this book was like a gourmet meal. There was so much to savor! I found myself wanting to go back for more, taking time to slowly digest its impact. An excellent selection of references on the brain appears at the end of the book, for those who want to go even further.

Reading Level: Appropriate for high school to adult, could be used as a resource for motivated middle school students.