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Ramachandran asks throughout his new book the modest question: Is the human brain qualitatively special or do we simply have a hyped-up version of a primate's brain? In other words, is man “an angel” or merely “an ape”? And from his envied position as one of the world's most celebrated cognitive neuroscientists, he inspires the reader to look beyond the simple reductionist viewpoint and marvel at the wonder of the uniquely self-aware human brain.
Using examples of his and others' experimental research, Ramachandran explores the evolution of consciousness with an elegance that appeals to neuroscientists and armchair enthusiasts alike. This book is therefore an important tool to bring any reader up to date with the latest knowledge about his fascinating subject. But perhaps its most remarkable aspect is that it is written with a zest and humility that puts other neuroscientists in the shade.
I am probably biased, but one distinct advantage Ramachandran has over many other similar writers is that first and foremost he is a clinical doctor. So although his journey takes the reader through many weird and wonderful areas of experimental neuroscience that extend far beyond the consulting room—into evolutionary theory, language development, multimodular perception, through to aesthetics, art, and, obviously, postulating frameworks for understanding consciousness development—he continually returns to his favorite subject: his patients. He describes the immense privileges extended upon the medical profession, imbuing into the text the joy of the detective story that accompanies medical history-taking and clinical examination. To Ramachandran, the patient is a fascinating enigma to be listened to and explored, but simultaneously respected and cared for. I was transported back to fond memories of medical school by his quirky remarks and was left wishing that V. S. Ramachandran had been my neurology professor all those years ago—I might then have listened more closely.
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