I bought this book not by seeing its title but by the author’s mastery in the field of neuroscience.
I am a software engineer and I absolutely no nothing about neuroscience. But I became interested in how the brain works and its hidden mysteries. I started by browsing the internet for some interesting talks on the brain. Most of them were very theoretical and "brainy"(no pun intended!).
Then I watched an amazing talk on the site https://ted.com.
That was my introduction to Vilayanur Ramachandram. https://ted.com/speakers/view/id/164.
I watched his talk on TED titled - "A Journey to the center of your mind". You can watch it here(https://ted.com/talks/view/id/184).
In this talk V.Ramachandran presents 3 case studies explaining in detail the reason for phenomenon like the "Phantom Limb" - an invisible hand where the patient can feel it and also hurts him when somebody accidentally bumps on his "invisible" hand.
In my research on the internet looking for interesting stuff on the human brain, I never came across such interesting talks ever. There are 3 case studies he explains in this talk. Very knowledgeable person and a great teacher who can also teach a child on neuroscience. I became a fan of this great person instantly.
This interested me to buy his most successful book(and also a BBC documentary) - "Phantoms in the Brain: Probing the Mysteries of the Human Mind"
In this book he discusses on the brain in detail(and in a very simple and story telling format.so that you can read it as a bedtime story). He discusses the interesting cases he has come across in his experience and how he put his "Sherlock Holmes" detective skills to finally zero in on the root of the problem.
He takes us through each of the case study in detail, so that you feel what the patient is going through and how the mysteries of the human brain are revealed as the case progresses.
I now feel very humble about the wonderful creation of nature and everytime I make a step when I walk, I know how much effort the brain puts to make that one single move - which we take it for granted in our everyday lives.
I strongly strongly recommend this book to everyone who is interested in knowing the wonders of brain and its hidden secrets and neuroscience.
I am keeping track of the author - V.Ramachandran - for his future works.
Have a great day ahead!