Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor loves brains! Her amazement and wonder at the intricate workings of the human brain come through on every page of this very personal record of the massive stroke that almost took her life 13 years ago today. And to top it off, she doesn’t seem to regret a single aspect of that debilitating injury.
Dr. Taylor spends much of the first part of the book talking about the anatomy of the brain, emphasizing the differences in the functions of the right and left hemispheres. Her stroke caused loss of function in much of the left side, leaving her to experience almost unfettered the blissful, euphoric Nirvana that is the realm of our right brain. She lost her ability to communicate, her memories, language, concentration, motor skills and so much more; on the other hand, she gained an insight into the sense of oneness with the world, compassion, and well-being that is accessible to all of us if we can still the noise of the world and listen to our right brain.
Dr. Taylor’s story has invaluable insights for those caring for a stroke victim or who have suffered a stroke, but is also a calling to find that inner peace, to rejoice in the miracle of life and to choose to live the moment–and, oh yes, when it’s over, donate your brain to science so others may benefit!
–cary
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