Unthinkable

By Helen Thomson

This is a fast paced pop-sci book on neuroscience. It takes the established convention of explaining "normal" brains using about nine case studies of "maverick" brains.

The case studies she talks about are all utterly fascinating. She talks about..

Bob – He remembers every single day of his life like it just happened yesterday. Forgetting isn't really a thing for him.

Sharon – She gets lost all the time, even in places she's been a million times. Her brain just can't map out locations.

Rubén – He sees colorful "auras" around people, but it's actually a form of synesthesia, not psychic powers.

Tommy – A brain injury completely changed his personality, making him feel like a totally different person.

Sylvia – She hears music nonstop, even when none is playing. It's like having a broken radio stuck in her head.

Matar – He genuinely believes he turns into a tiger sometimes. His brain makes the transformation feel real.

Louise – She often feels like she's watching herself from the outside, like a character in a movie.

Graham – He was convinced he was dead for years. Yes, he really thought he was a walking corpse.

Joel – When he sees someone get touched, he feels it too—like his brain mirrors other people's sensations.

In the process of taking thru these case studies, the author explains how "normal" people's brains perform these same functions. Or what has actually gone awry in these cases.

Fascinating book!