Wednesday, May 6, 2009

More Amazing Brain Development Information

Ok. If you have a few hours to kill in a car (like I always seem to...) let me recommend listening to this radio show. It is from one of my favorite podcasts, "Ideas" on CBC.

This feature, The Brains of Babes, especially episode one, has some fascinating discussion about studies linking heart disease and diabetes to fetal/early childhood health as well as pre-pregnancy maternal health.

And while we are on the matter of fetal/early childhood development can I also mention that the two most recent books that left my jaw on the floor were, "The Brain that Changes Itself" by Doidge and "In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts" by Mate. Really, if these books don't fascinate you to the point where everyone around you rolls your eyes when you begin yet another sentence with "so I was reading today..." then send me your copy and I'll send you the money for it. :)

My apologies if I've mentioned these books before on Asystole, but listening to those features on Ideas just reminded me and I wanted to give them the props they deserve.

So there you have your summer light reading list.

Oh, and add "Book of Negroes" by Hill to that. Finished it today.

Wow. What a book.

(I know that is the weakest review of a book ever, but seriously...just read it.)

7 comments:

Dragonfly said...

TBTCI is on my library request list. Now just to wait for the 93 people in front of me to read and return however many copies they have.

Albinoblackbear said...

Oh excellent! Too bad about the long wait...I could just mail you a copy! :) I am going to pick up another one this week anyway...

I think you will really be amazed. Reading it made me want to go into neuro research (what? yeah).

simmers said...

I couldn't get into "the brain that changes itself"...I'd return it to you but there are a few hurdles...first, it was your copy and second, you probably sold it for a quarter and would argue that's what I'd get from you so it wouldn't be worth the postage.

Albinoblackbear said...

Simmers--Really? I think I remember you saying that before...which still surprises me...it seems like the kind of thing you'd like. I guess there is no accounting for taste :P

Dragonfly said...

I have just read "My Stroke of Insight" and "The Man who Mistook his wife for a hat". It makes me want to grab the nearest neuro book to me (not here...I sold mine :-), it wasn't the best text anyway) and read it. Absolutely fascinating.

simmers said...

no taste, ouch!

--insert teeth clenching, teeth exposing short, rapid inhale in the style of "You're Carrie Bradshaw, 'sshhhhht'"---

Albinoblackbear said...

Woah woah woah there Simmers! I never said you had no taste!! :)

I said there was no 'accounting' for taste...meaning there is no rhyme or reason for peoples' tastes! You're a cerebral guy, I figured you'd like a read about brain function....

BTW--NICE WORK with the SITC quote. Nice. This time you've outdone yourself! ahhahahahah Great episode also...ohhh..the FACE!