【Eng-Book Report】A Very Short Tour of the Mind

Pic from: http://goo.gl/4jiojE

Title: A Very Short Tour of the Mind

Author: Michael Corballis

Publisher: Duckworth Overlook

Book Summary:

Why do we remember faces but not names? If your brain were cut in half would you suffer more than a splitting headache? How does your dog remember where it buried its bones but you can’t find the keys? And do we really only use ten percent of our brains? In this book, the writer answers these questions and more. The human mind is argubly the most complex organ in the universe. Modern computers might be faster, and whales might have larger brains, but neither the sheer intellect or capacity for creativity that we humans enjoy. In this gem of a book, the writer introduces us to what we’ve learned about the intricacies of the human brain over the last fifty years. Leading us through behavioural experiments and neuroscience, cognitive theory and Darwinian evolution with his trademark wit and wisdom, Corballis (the writer) punctures a few hot-air balloons; “Unleash the creativity of your right brain!” and explains just what we know – and we don’t know – about over own brains/minds.

Review:

Why did I pick it?

I pick this book because it looks interesting to me. And to compare with the other books, there are more pictures in it. Also, I would like to know more about human brain in a non-fiction book.

What did I learn?

This is exactly what the title says it is. A very short tour of the mind. It’s essentially a collection of author Michael Corballis’s magazine articles on subtopics related to mind and behavior. The articles are fun, interesting and short.

The writer believes the evolution created a bridge between gestures and speech. The advantage was not linguistic but practical, he writes. “Speech allows communication at night, or when the line of sight is impeded. Speech requires much less energy...”

In addition to brains, I get the answers from this book. Is our brain the largest? No, larger animals have larger brains. Is it the largest in relation to body size? No, mice and small birds do better. Corballis turns up measurements that place the human brain at No.1 but admits that the most impressive act is that we are the only species investigating the problem. The usual myths fall by the wayside. No one knows who first claimed that we use only 10% of our brain, but no imaging study detects areas that remain silent as if waiting to perform. The belief that our right brain governs creativity while the left sticks to boring rationality is not likely to disappear, despite Corballis’s skepticism. He explains why humans are skilled at recognizing faces but not shoulders, feet or names.