Descartes' Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain

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Binding: Paperback Dewey Decimal Number: 612.8232 EAN: 9780143036227 ISBN: 014303622X Label: Penguin (Non-Classics) Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics) Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 336 Publication Date: 2005-09-27 Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) Studio: Penguin (Non-Classics)
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Editorial Reviews: Since Descartes famously proclaimed, "I think, therefore I am," science has often overlooked emotions as the source of a person’s true being. Even modern neuroscience has tended, until recently, to concentrate on the cognitive aspects of brain function, disregarding emotions. This attitude began to change with the publication of Descartes’ Error in 1995. Antonio Damasio—"one of the world’s leading neurologists" (The New York Times)—challenged traditional ideas about the connection between emotions and rationality. In this wondrously engaging book, Damasio takes the reader on a journey of scientific discovery through a series of case studies, demonstrating what many of us have long suspected: emotions are not a luxury, they are essential to rational thinking and to normal social behavior.
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Descartes' Error Comment: This book was a required read for my psychology class-and I really enjoyed it. At first I wasn't too sure what it was about, but upon completion I had learned a lot about how mind, and body, and brain are all connected and don't just function as a whole. Damasio has an approach to this fact that describes in detail every bit of information and gives thorough examples for each piece of information. It is a very informative book. Customer Rating: Summary: Neuroscience of Decision Making Comment: I recommend this book for any cognitive neuroscientist interested in emotion or decision making. Damasio goes through some neuroscience research history and some philosophical decision making research history to tell you about some classical views about decision making and consciousness. He then manages to flip that all around by citing some of his own convincing research on the subject, which proves that emotion is absolutely necessary in human decision making. I thought it was a really interesting read, and I used it for a final paper for a Cognitive Neuroscience class. Customer Rating: Summary: Wonderful Intro to Cognitive Neuroscience. Comment: This book served as my introduction to the world of cognitive neuroscience. Written in a hybrid story-explanation form unique to Damasio, this book shows how much is known about how our mind operates and how we know it. As indicated in the title, it also describes a more realistic view of mental processes than the old model, suggested by Descartes, that separated emotion and reason -a model that we must let go of if we want to comprehend ourselves. Customer Rating: Summary: Damasio is wonderful to read! Comment: While some parts of this book are repetitive, it is worth reading over and over. Customer Rating: Summary: The Three Amigos - Brain, Body and Mind Comment: If you are curious about how connected the brain, body and mind are without all the scientific and clinical gargon this book is it. Dr. Damasio has researched the workings of the frontal area of the brain for over 30 years and the talent to explain it well, plain and simple. Beware, this book will possibly enhance interest and knowledge of the brain to impress in casual conversations. The brain continues mystify researchers and scientist. A very good read. More Reviews