Gearing up to delve into the fascinating world of the brain with your students? As we prepare to unlock the mysteries of this intricate organ, it's worth diving into some engaging books that can not only deepen our understanding but also help us convey the wonder of neuroscience to our eager learners.
Here's my curated list of books on the brain that are both enlightening and enjoyable:
The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons: The History of the Human Brain as Revealed by True Stories of Trauma, Madness, and Recovery by Sam Kean
I couldn't put this one down! Kean shares a history of neuroscience through remarkable true stories of individuals whose brain injuries and conditions have contributed to our understanding of the brain. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of brain science and tells a different story, each from different time periods and cultures. My favorite chapter told the story of Phineas Gage, who I've always taught briefly about in my psychology classes, so I loved learning more about what is known of his traumatic brain injury and his life after.
"As is evident from his case reports, Paré lived in an era of near-cartoonish violence: one day might find him treating a twelve-year-old girl mauled by the king's pet lion; the next might find him literally standing on a duke's face, to get enough leverage to yank a broken spearhead out."
Kean has an incredible ability to make complex scientific topics engaging and accessible to a wide audience. I highly recommend checking out anything he's written. If you're even just a little bit interested in the topic, he'll convert you into a full on enthusiast.
So You Want to be a Neuroscientist? by Ashley Juavinett
I'm guessing you don't want to be a neuroscientist (though if you do, that's amazing!), but you probably have students that want to pursue this career path. It was actually teaching a future-neuroscientist that encouraged me to learn more about the brain and beef up my content knowledge in this area, which further inspired my increased interest in brain...which you could probably call an obsession as this point. She kept asking really great questions that I had never considered with my limited knowledge of how the nervous system worked, and I found myself doing more and more research to keep up. I used to feel like I was treading water teaching this unit with just enough knowledge to get by and no depth of understanding. But now (thankful our students can inspire us as well!), I have an understanding much deeper than what's needed, so I can handle curious questions and I'm constantly learning more!
"The brain has been called everything from an enchanted loom, to an electrical storm, to a three-pound blob. It is the symbol of intelligence, the contrast to mind, the commanding organ of our bodies. The brain is oh-so many things."
Anyway, this is a great read for anyone intrigued by the brain or seeking advice on how to further their ambitions of studying it. It's also a good one to pass on to those inquisitive students to encourage their curiosities.
Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain by Lisa Feldman Barrett
I can't recommend this super short read strongly enough! It includes seven short essays plus a bite-size story about how brains evolved, hence the title seven and a half. And don't worry, if biopsych isn't exactly your thing, this is written in a way that's accessible to non-neuro-nerds! Challenging conventional beliefs about the brain, Barrett explores topics such as perception, emotions, memory, and consciousness, shedding light on the brain's dynamic nature. She introduces the concept of predictive coding, emphasizes the connection between the brain and the body, and challenges the notion of emotions as discrete categories.
"Your brain is constantly guessing what you're seeing, hearing, smelling, and tasting, and it constructs your experience of the world based on those guesses."
Barrett also presents memory as a constructive process and delves into the complexities of consciousness. With her expertise as a neuroscientist, Barrett offers readers a thought-provoking and accessible exploration of the brain, providing fresh insights that challenge our understanding of this remarkable organ.
And if you enjoy this one, check out her more in-depth exploration of emotion in How Emotions are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain. It's much longer, so not recommended as a quick read, but still excellent and will change how you think about and teach emotions.
The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson
I wasn't initially going to include this book because isn't actually about the brain, but it is a fantastic read. Though I do recommend reading the whole thing (and anything else by Bill Bryson!), for the purposes of teaching about the brain, head directly to chapter 4: The Brain. And if you're intrigued, stick around for the rest! In this book, Bryson covers a wide range of topics related to human biology and physiology. He dives into a lot of subjects we cover in psychology, such as sleep, hormones, the immune system, the brain, etc. He uses a combination of scientific research, historical anecdotes, and personal stories to make these complex topics accessible and interesting to a general audience.
"Where the human body is concerned, the details are often surprisingly uncertain."
Bryson's stories also help to foster a deeper appreciation for the marvels of the human body and the incredible complexity of our biology -- a way of thinking that I find very helpful when trying to inspire young minds!
As you prepare to teach about the brain, consider integrating these books into your curriculum or recommending them to your students for further exploration. Reading about the brain from various perspectives and through captivating narratives can make the subject matter come alive in the classroom.
Have you read any of these, or any other books about the brain?
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