Tales from Both Sides of the Brain: a Life in Neuroscience

Publisher Marketing: Michael S. Gazzaniga, one of the most important neuroscientists of the twentieth century, gives us an exciting behind-the-scenes look at his seminal work on an unlikely couple the right and left brain. In the mid-twentieth century, Michael S. Gazzaniga, regarded as the father of cognitive neuroscience, was part of a team of pioneering neuroscientists who developed the now foundational split-brain theory: the notion that the right and left hemispheres of the brain can act independently from one another and have different strengths. In "Tales from Both Sides of the Brain," Gazzaniga tells the impassioned story of his life in science and his decades-long journey to understand how the separate spheres of our brains communicate and miscommunicate with their separate agendas. By turns humorous and moving, "Tales from Both Sides of the Brain" interweaves Gazzaniga s scientific achievements with his reflections on the challenges and thrills of working as a scientist. In his engaging and accessible style, he paints a vivid portrait not only of his discovery of split-brain theory, but also of his comrades in arms the many patients, friends, and family who have accompanied him on this wild ride of intellectual discovery." Review Citations: Booklist 12/01/2014 pg. 17 (EAN 9780062228819, Other) - *Starred Review Library Journal Prepub Alert 09/15/2014 pg. 46 (EAN 9780062228802, Hardcover) Booklist 12/01/2014 pg. 17 (EAN 9780062228802, Hardcover) - *Starred Review Kirkus Reviews 11/15/2014 (EAN 9780062228802, Hardcover) Publishers Weekly 12/22/2014 (EAN 9780062228802, Hardcover) Library Journal 01/01/2015 pg. 129 (EAN 9780062228802, Hardcover) Entertainment Weekly 02/27/2015 pg. 61 (EAN 9780062228802, Hardcover) New York Times Book Review 04/05/2015 pg. 30 (EAN 9780062228802, Hardcover) Contributor Bio:  Gazzaniga, Michael S Michael S. Gazzaniga is the director of the SAGE Center for the Study of the Mind at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is the president of the Cognitive Neuroscience Institute, a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Academy of Sciences. In addition, he is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and newly elected to serve on its Board of Directors. He is also past president of the Association of Psychological Science and served on the President's Bioethics Council from 2002-2008. The author of many popular science books, including Who's In Charge? (Ecco, 2011), Human (Ecco, 2008), Nature's Mind (Basic, 1992), and Mind Matters (Houghton Mifflin, 1988), he is featured regularly on Public Television and National Public Radio, and his research has been presented on NBC Nightly News and The Today Show. Gazzaniga lives in California with his wife. He has six children.