The Amazing Brain

Robert Ornstein, Richard F. Thompson

Illustrated by David Macaulay

Houghton Mifflin Co., 1984

The Amazing Brain is a wonderful book that I used

in homeschooling my son, David.

Not only was it clearly written and easy to understand,

it was rather unique in it's presentation of the

material.

The authors liken the brain to a ramshackle old

house that has been added onto in a haphazard fashion

over a period of time. They first have a tour through

the major rooms, and then go deeper into explaining what

materials the rooms are constructed of.

The line drawings in the book are wonderful!

Not only are the parts of the brain depicted,

but construction sites, futuristic buildings

and walkways drawn with a surrealistic feel

illustrate the anatomy and functions of the brain.

One section about the visual system is deliberately

drawn upside down, since that is how images first

enter the eye.

The book is divided into three sections and has

eight chapters:

the Evolutionary Growth of the Brain

Part 1: The Ramshackle Brain: The Rooms,

Columns, Bricks and Chemicals

1. The Architecture of the Brain

2. The Sensory Brain: The Columns

of Experience

3. Neurons: The Building Blocks

of the Brain

4. The Chemical Brain: The Molecule

is the Messenger

A Young Man Recognizes His Mother, or a

Simplified Tour of the Visual System for the

Busy Reader

Part 2: The Brain, the Mind, and the World

They Create and Remember

5. Memory: The Changing Brain

6. The Divided Brain

7. The Individual Brain

8. The Brain: Our Health Maintenance Organization

A Modest Proposal, or the Planning, Construction,

and Use of a Giant Brain for the Edification and

Entertainment of Us All.

The authors cover everything---simple brain anatomy,

the mechanisms and processes of the brain, it's

chemical and electrical operations, and its

evolution.

It is a light and informative read with captivating

illustrations. It is a must-add to your library

shelf!

This article is an excerpt from my 2001 book, Make Your Kid A Genius! (Tools to Maximize Your Child’s Potential from the Womb Through College.) You can obtain a free copy in the "downloads" section of my website at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com