The Brain: A Very Short Introduction
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Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
Written By: Michael O'Shea
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 612.82
EAN: 9780192853929
ISBN: 0192853929
Label: Oxford University Press, USA
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 144
Publication Date: 2003-10
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Studio: Oxford University Press, USA
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Editorial Reviews for The Brain: A Very Short Introduction
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The Brain: A Very Short Introduction provides a non-technical introduction to the main issues and findings in current brain research and gives a sense of how neuroscience addresses questions about the relationship between the brain and the mind. Short, clear discussions on the mechanical workings of the brain are offered and the details of brain science are covered in an accessible style. Explanations of the more familiar implications of the brain's actions, such as memories, perceptions, and motor control are integrated throughout the book. It has chapters on brain processes and the causes of "altered mental states," as well as a final chapter that discusses possible future developments in neuroscience, touching on artificial intelligence, gene therapy, the importance of the Human Genome Project, drugs by design, and transplants. Up-to-date coverage of the newest developments in brain research and suggestions for future research on the brain are also included.
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Consumer reviews:
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Customer Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Introduction for Outsiders
Comment: The vocabulary used in this book is quite friendly to the readers, who don't practice relevant subjects. People could imagine easily that the brain must be a complex organ without reading the book, but the book helps give a detailed view of how incredibly delicate the organ can be. I think everybody with a functioning brain, no matter how high or low an IQ is produced by it, should feel proud of owning the most complex unit on the earth.
Amazon shows that Very Short Introduction is a series of books, which I would like to try more of them later. I think it's a smart idea to publish such tiny and thin books, which are highly portable, and I am curious if the series has made good money, since it could be packaged as light-weighted reading stuff.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: A brainy introduction, but not picture perfect
Comment: O'Shea's book provides a very broad overview of the structure and function of the most complex object known to Man. The biochemical and physical interactions of neurons, the formation of memory, brain-machine interaction, and a range of other topics, are all touched upon in a readable and informative manner, pitched at the level of an intelligent beginner, and requiring just an elementary grasp of physics and chemistry. The book has one significant shortcoming: Most of the illustrations are copied from other publications, and are a poor match with the text. For example, on page 45 there is a diagram illustrating avoidance behavior in unicellular animals, a simple concept not requiring a diagram, let alone one that occupies almost an entire page and contains labels that are not referenced in the text. Yet when we come to the discussion of the large-scale structure of the human brain, in Chapter 4, which cries out for a detailed diagram, there is none. I was reduced to finding one online, to refer to as I read the text. I agonized long and hard about whether to deduct a star from the rating, because I do recommend this book, but in the end I decided I had to. I hope OUP reissue it with more relevant illustrations.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A great introduction
Comment: This is one of the best books in the VSI series, and I've read well over thirty by now. It gives a very good introduction to the basic neuroanatomy of the brain, and explains many important brain functions. The book is intended for laypeople, but even those (like me) who are familiar with the subject can benefit from reading it. Oftentimes neuroscience textbook overwhelm with details, and it is sometimes hard to see the forest from the trees. This book provides a good bird's eye perspective on the field, and its many references and recommended books make it a valuable reference. Very importantly, the book is up to date in some of the more recent discoveries, including some current controversies like grandma neuron, the idea that the brain has a neuron devoted just for recognizing each family member.
A good, well written and well organized book. I highly recommend it.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Good for nonscientists
Comment: I was somewhat disappointed by this book and did not think it was as good as most of the other volumes in the series. Most OUP "Very Short Intro" books go far beyond merely introductory material, but this book does not. It is truly written for the layman and not for anyone with a biological background. The best chapter was on memory; the parts on machine/brain interactions were also interesting. Overall, though, I got little from this book that I did not already know. If you have taken any neuroanatomy or neurophysiology classes (or even a good basic biology course), you will not get much out of this volume. However, If you know absolutely nothing about the brain, this is a reasonable introduction.
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More Information on The Brain: A Very Short Introduction
OUP: UK General Catalogue
The Brain: A Very Short Introduction. Michael O'Shea. Price: £6.99 (paper) ISBN-13: 978-0-19-285392-9 Publication date: 8 December 2005 144 pages, numerous halftones & drawings ...
Powell's Books - The Brain: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short ...
This text provides an accessible introduction to the main issues and findings in brain research, and addresses questions about the relationship between the brain and thoughts ...
Readerville Note:books | The Brain: A Very Short Introduction
Everyone's Notes There are no notes available for this book at this time.
Oxford University Press: Neurobiology
The Brain: A Very Short Introduction ... Welcome to our Neurobiology publishing program. Take a look ...
Waterstones.com: Scientific, Technical and Medical: The Brain: A Very ...
Scientific, Technical and Medical: The Brain: A Very Short Introduction - Very Short Introductions S. by Michael O'Shea (2005)
Table of contents for The brain
Table of Contents for The brain : a very short introduction / Michael O'Shea, available from the Library of Congress.
Erowid Library/Bookstore : Subject Index - Mind Sciences
The Brain: A Very Short Introduction: Michael O'Shea: The Human Brain: John Nolte: The Human Mind Explained: Susan A. Greenfield: Neuropolitique: Timothy Leary
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Powell's Books - Oxford Very Short Introductions
The Brain: A Very Short Introduction provides a non-technical introduction to the main issues and findings in current brain research and gives a sense of how neuroscience addresses ...
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The Brain: A Very Short Introduction - Very Short Introductions S.