sincerelymendacious's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
emuprofessor's review
informative
slow-paced
2.75
This book has really good information it's just a bit of a drudge to get through. The narrator almost sounds robotic in a sense which makes it a struggle to finish.
salpat's review
2.0
A moderately interesting book about the neurophysiological changes that accompany psychiatric treatment for OCD, combined with a ghastly and absolutely illogical appeal to quantum physics for the existence of free will.
I read this shortly after having read. 'The Brain that Changes Itself'. In some ways, I preferred parts of this book because rather than being based on single case studies, this book seemed to present summaries of results from larger studies. Thus, I expect the more evidence-supported claims in this book will hold up better than those in Doige'a book. Changes in activity in the frontal regions of the brain through successful treatment of OCD is really interesting. However, to claim from "successful psychiatric treatment changes brain function" that "free will exists" is logically flawed (at least in the way the arguments are made in this book, such as they are).
Any successful treatment of any psychiatric disorder necessarily entails change to brain function: that is where behavior comes from (even if you include secondary effects of hormonal systems elsewhere in the body).
I read this shortly after having read. 'The Brain that Changes Itself'. In some ways, I preferred parts of this book because rather than being based on single case studies, this book seemed to present summaries of results from larger studies. Thus, I expect the more evidence-supported claims in this book will hold up better than those in Doige'a book. Changes in activity in the frontal regions of the brain through successful treatment of OCD is really interesting. However, to claim from "successful psychiatric treatment changes brain function" that "free will exists" is logically flawed (at least in the way the arguments are made in this book, such as they are).
Any successful treatment of any psychiatric disorder necessarily entails change to brain function: that is where behavior comes from (even if you include secondary effects of hormonal systems elsewhere in the body).
cameliarose's review
2.0
Review in Sep 2020:
I read The Mind and the Brain: Neuroplasticity and the Power of Mental Force a few years ago. The book gives insight to patients with OCD and the subsequent treatment. In the second half of the book, the author sets out to use quantum physics to explain brain and mind, or how brain "creates" mind and mind "influences" brain, which is mind blowing to a layperson like me. In recently years I've read more about quantum physics and quantum computing. Although I am still very much a layperson, I know now that the brain can not be a quantum computer, because the physical conditions required for quantum computing can not be found in our biological brain, therefore there is no physical basis for speculating brain as a quantum machine.
I read The Mind and the Brain: Neuroplasticity and the Power of Mental Force a few years ago. The book gives insight to patients with OCD and the subsequent treatment. In the second half of the book, the author sets out to use quantum physics to explain brain and mind, or how brain "creates" mind and mind "influences" brain, which is mind blowing to a layperson like me. In recently years I've read more about quantum physics and quantum computing. Although I am still very much a layperson, I know now that the brain can not be a quantum computer, because the physical conditions required for quantum computing can not be found in our biological brain, therefore there is no physical basis for speculating brain as a quantum machine.
thepermageek's review
5.0
This was an epic tour-de-force of some of my favourite topics - neuroscience/neuroanatomy, philosophy of free will, the psychology of attention, willpower, & concentration, quantum physics, and the Buddhist & secular roots of mindfulness meditation. If yr a fan of any (or all) of these topics, then do yrself a favour and give it a whirl on yr headphones!
danielgwood's review
3.0
Presents some fascinating ideas - how quantum theory and the mind may be related is nothing short of fascinating - and the author has achieved great things with OCD patients. It's also interesting to see neuroscience and neuroplasticity related to wider philosophical questions, and Buddhism.
Despite these insights though, I found it a bit repetitive. As brilliant as the author's groundbreaking work with OCD patients was, this was brought up on what felt like every other page throughout the entire book, so by the end I was losing interest.
Despite these insights though, I found it a bit repetitive. As brilliant as the author's groundbreaking work with OCD patients was, this was brought up on what felt like every other page throughout the entire book, so by the end I was losing interest.
davidr's review
5.0
This is an excellent book. I learned how people with severe conditions can sometimes overcome the debilitating effects of stroke, OCD, and so on.
Toward the end of the book, the author describes how quantum mechanics may be a key component to volition and free will. But, I am not completely convinced of the connection with quantum mechanics. I understand how the act of observation of an atom can resolve its (previously probabilistic) state. And the analogy between "observation" and "attention" is striking. But doesn't this just beg the question, what is the mechanism for the mind/brain to show attention to something?
Toward the end of the book, the author describes how quantum mechanics may be a key component to volition and free will. But, I am not completely convinced of the connection with quantum mechanics. I understand how the act of observation of an atom can resolve its (previously probabilistic) state. And the analogy between "observation" and "attention" is striking. But doesn't this just beg the question, what is the mechanism for the mind/brain to show attention to something?