by V.S. Ramachandran

Norton & Co., $26.95, 357 pages

The Tell-Tale Brain is an insightful and intriguing look into some of the amazing ways the brain works. It looks at specific areas of the brain and some of the incredible ways it functions and adapts. From Synesthesia and phantoms limbs, to language and aesthetics, this volume is a must read for anyone who is interested in how the brain and the mind work. The only downfall to this book is that a basic understanding of the brain and its functions is helpful so that you can fully enjoy it. It takes a daring look at the brain in a way that makes us think carefully about what else it may be capable of. Challenging current concepts about how we view the world and how our brain uses and interacts with this, Ramchandran doesn’t look at the brain as separate and distinct departments but as a complex interconnected & interdependent system and this is clear throughout the book.

Overall, this book is a fascinating, well written and, in places, humorous accounting of the human brain and the many mysteries it holds.

Reviewed by Karen McGibbon