Short Synopsis
Drawing on strange and thought-provoking case studies, an eminent neurologist offers unprecedented insight into the evolution of the uniquely human brain.

Full Synopsis
V. S. Ramachandran is at the forefront of his field—so much so that Richard Dawkins dubbed him the "Marco Polo of neuroscience." Now, in a major new work, Ramachandran sets his sights on the mystery of human uniqueness. Taking us to the frontiers of neurology, he reveals what baffling and extreme case studies can teach us about normal brain function and how it evolved. Synesthesia becomes a window into the brain mechanisms that make some of us more creative than others. And autism—for which Ramachandran opens a new direction for treatment—gives us a glimpse of the aspect of being human that we understand least: self-awareness.

Ramachandran tackles the most exciting and controversial topics in neurology with a storyteller's eye for compelling case studies and a researcher's flair for new approaches to age-old questions. Tracing the strange links between neurology and behavior, this book unveils a wealth of clues into the deepest mysteries of the human brain.

"The Tell-Tale Brain is a veritable Voyage of the Beagle through the terrain of brain science and psychology." ---Nicholas Humphrey, author of Seeing Red

"The Tell-Tale Brain is Ramachandran at his best, a profoundly intriguing and compelling guide to the intricacies of the human brain." ---Oliver Sacks, author of The Mind's Eye

"Ramachandran is the modern wizard of neuroscience. In The Tell-Tale Brain, we see the genius at work, tackling extraordinary cases, many of which mark turning points in neuroscientific knowledge." ---Norman Doidge, M.D., author of The Brain That Changes Itself

"Boldly asserting, right off the bat, that Homo sapiens is 'no mere ape,' Ramachandran tells us why the day of neuroscience has dawned." ---Booklist Starred Review

"Actor/narrator David Drummond presents the material with much more verve than one might expect from such a specialized and technical topic." ---Library Journal Audio Review

"Narrator David Drummond has complete mastery of the neuroscience lexicon, never fluffing the pronunciation of a single complex structure or concept." ---AudioFile

"[Ramachandran] offers a fascinating explanation of cutting-edge-neurological research that deepens our understanding of the relationship between the perceptions of the mind and the workings of the brain." ---Publishers Weekly Starred Review

"Ramachandran produces an exhilarating and at times funny text that invites discussion and experimentation." ---Kirkus

Booklist Review

Publishers Weekly Review