Our Brains, Our Selves

[An] emotionally powerful book [that] delves deeply into the nature of individual human identity and how this relates to our belonging to a supportive social group * * Financial Times * *Each story is fascinating in its own right; together, they form a thought-provoking book that exposes the precariousness of our sense of self. If Husain’s writing is an indication of his clinical care (which I suspect it is), then he is an intelligent, empathetic and perspicacious doctor * * New Scientist * *

[A] funny, fascinating book … Above all, the book is a reminder of how mysterious the workings of the human brain are [and] builds a powerful case for supporting people whose brains havebecome unruly, rather than isolating them

* * Daily Mail * *An extraordinary book - one of a kind - as beautifully written as it is deeply humane and scientifically fascinating. This book is as brilliant as anything written by Oliver Sacks, a real-life medical detective story that is life-enhancing and beautiful – IAN ROBERTSON, author of HOW CONFIDENCE WORKSThis masterful book, written by an internationally eminent neurologist, combines gentle humour with deep scientific insight. If you have any interest in the brain and the structure that makes us what we are, this is an essential read. Through personal experience, fascinating case studies and the science of the brain, this book leads you gently by the hand through the most complex structure in the known universe – RUSSELL FOSTER, author of LIFE TIMEA beautifully written, moving story of how your brain creates and sometimes changes your sense of who you really are. Science writing reminiscent of the best of Oliver Sacks – CAMILLA NORD, author of THE BALANCED BRAINIn this wonderful book, Masud Husain brings readers on a journey through the many facets of the self, viewed through the lens of his first-person experiences as a neurologist. A masterful storyteller, Husain infuses this very personal memoir with scholarship and cutting-edge science, in the process, shedding light on the neural mechanisms that make us uniquely human – CHARAN RANGANATH, author of WHY WE REMEMBERNeurologist Husain writes an engaging medical memoir about his experiences with seven patients whose symptoms illustrate the workings - and failings - of the human brain. At the same time he looks sympathetically at the way society treats people as their neural disorders progress and their behaviour changes * * Financial Times * *The human brain is the single most complex thing in the universe, and even its most minor hiccoughs can lead to terrifying conditions that are often still beyond the power of modern medicine to treat. In this beautifully written, very personal account of tales from his neurologist’s consulting room, Masud Husain reminds us just why we need to continue to probe the mysteries of how the brain works. I couldn’t put it down – ROBIN DUNBAR, author of THE HUMAN STORYA rare combination of elegant prose, captivating storytelling and academic rigour. Through his patients, and his own experiences of clinical medicine, Masud illuminates those aspects of the brain that define us and our place in the world – GUY LESCHZINER, author of SEVEN DEADLY SINS and THE NOCTURNAL BRAIN