The un book club met to discuss My Stroke of Insight by Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor. Dr. Taylor is a brain scientist who went through a stroke that impaired much of the left hemisphere of her brain. Her story of the stroke and complete recovery was rich in detail and provided us with much to discuss. The left brain is often considered the more rational, organized and responsible part with the right typified as its creative, unpredictable counterpart.
Dr. Taylor provided an in-depth analysis of the different yet complimentary functions of the brain as she took the reader through her healing process – an amazing and uplifting story. Any one reading this will be relieved to know that even as we get older our brains, thanks to neuroplasticity, continue to learn and fire new neurons or make new connections every day. The point that we all took away from the discussion was that we have to be mindful or deliberate in using both hemispheres of the brain. Feeling that we were heavy on left brain usage, the group considered ways to recognize and honor right brain functionality as well as achieve greater balance between the two.
The next book for the un book club is The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander. The next meeting is on March 9, 2009 from 12:00 to 1:00 in Kade. Remember, it’s not necessary to read the whole book to participate. Here is a TED Talk by the same author.
The TED clip was fantastic, as usual, but I’d like to look over the book before the meeting. Does someone have a copy I could borrow for just one day next week?
– Moyara
My copy of the book is spoken for but someone else might have one! I know that alot of the book is available on google books, http://tiny.cc/MrNd8
It’s also available in paperback for about $10 and might be available at the Monterey Public Library. It’s an amazing book so hopefully you can get at it and come to our next discussion. I usually bring some treats!