Quote:
Originally posted by CPTAUSRET
pulque:
The last time we PM'd one another you were all set to read Nancy's latest book "BROKEN BRAIN"...Got it done yet?
Terry
|
Terry, I read
Brave New Brain. I spent a large amount of time in the „mapping the genome“ chapter, as I am a grunt in that area (looking for those on-off switches for genes). I enjoyed Dr. Andreasens explaination for why the promise of the human genome is yet to be realized for complex illnesses. She is VERY effective in telling the story, and its clear how much work went into it. Overall, I have to say that BNB is one of the most well written science books I have ever read (any science book that mentions the Malleus Maleficarum, William Blake, and Hebbian plasticity is GTG with me!). I was grateful that she included both the historical science (anatomy, early brain-mapping, inheritance stuff), and a perspective on diagnosing mental illness within society.. distinguishing between „the bad and the mad“. She even listed some of the politicians who had mood disorders (Teddy Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln).
Perhaps most of all though, I am grateful that she got PTSD back in the manual, that she named it the way she did, and that she has the interest of the soldier at heart. [[I know SF dudes are supposed to be „more adaptive“ and less prone to PTSD, but its good the diagnosis is there for those in need (soldier or not)]].