“Transformative…[Taylor’s] experience…will shatter [your] own perception of the world.”—ABC NewsThe astonishing New York Times bestseller that chronicles how a brain scientist’s own stroke led to enlightenment 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 … 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 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, her stroke was a blessing and a revelation. It taught her that by “stepping to the right” of our left brains, we can uncover feelings of well-being that are often sidelined by “brain chatter.” Reaching wide audiences through her talk at the Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED) conference and her appearance on Oprah’s online Soul Series, Taylor provides a valuable recovery guide for those touched by brain injury and an inspiring testimony that inner peace is accessible to anyone.
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I read this book a long time ago, but mentioned it today on my podcast, First Cup of Coffee. (https://www.jeffekennedy.com/first-cup-of-coffee-november-30-2018/) This is an extraordinary story that’s obviously stuck with me. It gives great insight into the creative mind and how we balance that with the list-making and ambition side. Highly recommend.
This was a very informative book written by a neuroanatomist who had a stroke when she was only 37. She takes you through the beginning symptoms of the hemorrhagic stroke on the left side of her brain, how she finally got help even though she couldn’t figure out what in the world those swiggly lines on the phone were and how over the years she worked her way back to teaching.
It was fascinating reading her accounts of how she operated with only the right side of her brain and the awesomeness of being in the NOW and it’s transcendent feeling.
The only reason I didn’t give it a 5 star was because the chapters on neuroanatomy were a bit too technical when I really just wanted to get on with her experiences.
I must admit, I was timid to read this for fear I’d be depressed for weeks. But, I wasn’t; in fact, it was enlightening and taught me so much more about our brains. When I thought a stroke would be the worst thing to happen to someone I learned it may be but could and would be a blessing.
Even a brain scientist can be caught off guard by stroke symptoms as they are happening. Jill does a wonderful job of going back through the experience, moment by moment.
We are educated about the brain, about stroke, and about stroke survival and recovery all while being totally engrossed in her story.
I highly recommend this book!
The author, a neuroanatomist with the Harvard Brain Bank, experienced a massive stroke in which she lost all computational brain function. Unable to speak coherently or remember numbers, her life was at risk from a massive blood clot and she struggled to call for help. However, she was able to understand and remember everything that was occurring in her mind. This is the story of her long recovery to normal function. Anyone who has a family member who has had a stroke needs to read this book in order to understand what is happening to loved ones as they try to recover from the effects as well as anyone who might be at risk for a stroke so they can understand what is happening as get help immediately. Of particular interest to me was the mystical sense of connection to the cosmos which the author experienced at the height of the stroke and what that says about the goals of meditation. Today she is fully recovered but it took years. A great book illustrative of the triumph of the human spirit in the face of a great challenge
Just imagine one side of your brain being able to observe the other side of your brain! A stroke leaves Jill Bolte-Taylor with half of her brain dysfunctional and the other half in a unique observational mode. Fascinating and educating!
As a student physical therapist assist I found this book very valuable, not only for insight to what my stroke patients might be experiencing, but also as a portal to other literature that have made me a better therapist. I often recommend this book to my patient’s families and other therapists.
A transformative tale of turning challenges into opportunity. Brilliantly told in a fashion that lets a person see it is time to stop feeling sorry for yourself and buck up.
As a stroke survivor, this book was recommended to me by numerous people. I was starting to think it was recommended reading! Most people thought it was inspirational, I thought it was condescending. Jill Bolte Taylor is no doubt a genius in her field. She repeatedly reminded the reader of how smart she was throughout this book.
Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor was a 37-year-old brain scientist when she experienced a massive stroke to her left hemisphere in 1996. Remarkably, after years of intensive rehab, she fully recovered, and has written My Stroke of Insight to provide, well, insight, into the experience of both the stroke itself as well as the recovery.
The opening pages are slow going; even after a half-dozen neuroscience reads, I still find the detailing of neural activity centers dense and often dry. However, once Taylor transitions from the science to the memoir (i.e., what it felt like to have the stroke and how she recovered), my reading enjoyment rapidly increased. There was not much here that I found terribly new (a signal to me that perhaps I’m free to lay off the neuroscience, at least until the next big breakthrough in the understanding of the brain), but Taylor did reinforce that the traditionally-held limits on brain plasticity are only that – traditionally-held limits, and that her own brain plasticity far exceeded what she might have expected…and as a 37-year-old.
I also appreciated her articulation of the types of tasks that came more easily versus those that were a sapped her strength and energy. The closing chapters focused primarily on aspects of mindfulness, and I admit to skimming those in the same way that I skimmed the opening neuroscience. This is not a bad book by any means, but it is one that a personal interest in the subject matter is, IMHO, crucial to fully appreciating.
Three-and-a-half stars.
(This review was originally published at https://www.thisyearinbooks.com/2019/09/my-stroke-of-insight-brain-scientists.html)
A very interesting read. Kept me engaged through the entire book.
Clearly written and engaging, the author shares her experience of a serious stroke and the process of recovery and adjustment, in an inspiring and informative (dare I say, educational?) way. Not sad or a maudlin tear jerker, it will provide valuable insight for any one dealing with a person having mental adjustment challenges – in other words, everyone.
A book about the journey of a stroke survivor who also happens to be a neuroscientist. Excellent read for all who are interested in what happens when we have a stroke.
Very insightful. I learned a lot about brain function, even though I thought I know a fair amount.
I read this after watching the author’s TED presentation. Her story is unique and she tells it well, but a friend to whom I loaned my copy wasn’t thrilled with the medical/physiological bits — those sections were too tedious for their liking. I found those details an important component of the story and the message.
It was amazing to learn about the effects of a stroke from a stoke survivor who also happens to be a brain scientist. Wonderful read!
Anyone who has had a hemorrhage stroke or whose Spouse has had one should read this. There is so much information in this book that I wish I had had right after my husband had his stroke. It is encouraging to the survivor & caregiver.
Dr.Jill’s ability to describe her thoughts during and immediately after her stroke was amazing. Because of her training, she was able to power through and actually decide how to steadily, though slowly, recover far more than most people expect from a stroke. It brings hope to families of stroke victims, as well as good info for the medical community.
A fascinating account of the author’s experience while undergoing a stroke. She herself is a neuroanatomist.
Well written account of the author’s stroke and recovery.