My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey

I recommend this book for anyone who has had a stroke or who lives with someone who has.. We saw Dr. Taylor on the Oprah show and were greatly impressed by her story and who she was..

There are a couple of chapters that are difficult to read as they are quite technical, but the rest is very informative..

A Stroke of Insight is a fascinating book that helps you to better understand the physiology of the brain and, more importantly, the power of the brain. Jill's journey brings hope to those enduring the often long road to recovery of a brain injury and is highly recommended to any medical caregiver who deals with these types of patients.

Everyone with a stoke victim in their family should read this book. I think every Doctor who comes in contact with stroke victims shoud have to read this book. Much of what they have learned in Medical School is incorrect.

If you ever wondered how you brain (and "you") really works, this is a book to explore.
The experience of a stroke seen from the view of a neuroscientist is presented in a dispassionate but deeply personal manner. Dr. Bolte Taylor writes clearly and simply but I was enthralled. She presents enough "science" to inform, but without putting off non-scientists.
That said, the heart of the book is what she discovered beyond the science of the experience: the marvelous and miraculous universe that exists in us all, if we just connect to it. And she expands that universe beyond the personal without any particular religious bias, but through that same objective/scientific viewpoint.
Another facet of the book are her observations and recommendations about how to better understand and support those who have suffered a stroke or other neurological accident. They are invaluable. And obviously, she knows what she is talking about.
The book is short, but compelling and packed wiith material.
As an aside, I would recommend that you view the video of her that is accessible either through her website or just by Googling her name. Hearing and seeing her talk about the experience heightens and deepens your appreciation of her and what she shares.
I highly recommend you read this if you are a curious and open minded person. It is a book that can change your life.

As a neuro ICU nurse, i could only bare to read about 75 pages of this book. If this woman was truly critical and believed that she was close to death (yeah right) and bleeding so badly that it encompassed (from what she was describing) about 1/3 of the left side of her brain, she would have been taken to the OR IMMEDIATELY, not sent home WITHIN A FEW DAYS without any intervention other than close monitoring. its obvious that she does not fully understand her own passion, the brain, when she complains about the nurses and doctors at the hospital checking up on her every couple of hours. Hello, lady. you had a ruptured AVM. they're monitoring for brain swelling, additional bleeding, midline shift, herniation (at the worst), whatever.

this woman is not only condescending to her audience (spelling out "ischemic" and "hemorrhage", like the general public doesnt know how to pronounce it or understand what a hemorrhage is) but she obviously thinks she can get away with pretty much BS.

Sorry, but this woman has proven that although i may not be a Brain Scientist from Harvard, i obviously know more about the brain than she does. Sad.

this book is fiction. or just a joke, period. theres a reason its not on the new york times best-seller list.