The Book Mistresses
"On December 10, 1996, Jill Bolte Taylor, a thirty-seven -year-old Harvard-trained brain scientist, experienced a massive stroke in the left hemisphere of her brain. As she observed her mind deteriorate to the point that she could not walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life-all within four hours- Taylor alternated between the euphoria of the intuitive and kinesthetic right brain, in which she felt a sense of complete well- being and peace, and the logical, sequential left brain, which she recognized she was having a stroke and enabled her to seek help before she was completely lost. It would take her eight years to fully recover.For Taylor, the stroke was a blessing and a revelation. It taught her that by "stepping to the right " of our left brains, we can all uncover feelings of well- being that are often sidelined by "brain chatter. In My Stroke of Insight, Taylor provides a valuable recovery guide for those touched by brain injury and an inspiring testimony that inner peace is accessible to anyone.
"My Stroke of Insight"
by Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D.
January 2013 - Book # 104
Chosen by Julia
Excerpt from cover:
Summary of "My Stroke of Insight" by Jill Taylor.
"My Stroke of Insight" is the first hand story of Dr Taylor's stroke , her recovery and her spiritual awakening as a result. The fact that Jill Taylor not only experienced a stroke but is also a brain pathologist gives her the scientific knowledge to explain what was going on with herself neurologically during the stroke and her recovery following. The central ideas are stroke recovery, left and right brain differences and using the right side of the brain to attain peace and wholeness.
The subject of how the brain works is fascinating and the authors knowledge of the subject makes this book more than a survival story . Our consensus was that the author's perspective from the patients point of view of stroke recovery makes this an excellent book to read for anyone that is dealing with a stroke patient. The third part of the book is more "New Age" self help than science. This is the part of the book that got the most severe criticism from book critics but during group discussion though some lost interest with in this part of the book or thought it was respective or " out there", it did lead to interesting introspection for some.
The Book Mistresses' Review: