My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor - Non Fiction - Paperback

Details
Condition: New
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780340980507
Publisher: Yellow Kite

Overview
On 10th December 1996, Harvard-trained neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor suffered a massive stroke that erased her ability to walk, talk, read, and recall her own life. My Stroke of Insight is her extraordinary first-hand account of watching her brain shut down piece by piece, and of the profound sense of peace she discovered as her rational left hemisphere fell silent. Part medical memoir, part guide to healing, this paperback edition offers a rare blend of scientific authority and deeply personal reflection that has resonated with millions of readers worldwide.

About the Book
Few books manage to make hard neuroscience feel intimate, but My Stroke of Insight does exactly that. Dr Taylor spent years studying the brain professionally before becoming, quite unexpectedly, one of its most compelling case studies. As a blood vessel burst in her left hemisphere, she experienced the gradual collapse of language, logic and linear thought, while her right hemisphere opened into a state of expansive calm and interconnectedness. Rather than simply recounting the medical emergency, Taylor uses her scientific training to explain, in accessible terms, what was actually happening inside her skull moment by moment, and why the two hemispheres of the brain produce such radically different experiences of reality. The book follows her eight-year recovery, detailing the physical, cognitive and emotional rebuilding required to reclaim her former life, and the surprising insights she carried back from the brink. Interwoven with practical reflections on rehabilitation, mindfulness and the brain's remarkable capacity for change, the narrative moves fluidly between hard science and spiritual wonder. It has been praised for reshaping how readers think about consciousness, resilience and the possibility of choosing peace over chatter, and it remains a touchstone text for stroke survivors, caregivers, students of psychology, and anyone curious about the mechanics of the mind.

• First-hand, scientifically literate account of stroke and recovery
• Clear, accessible explanations of left-brain and right-brain function
• Practical insight for rehabilitation, caregiving and mindfulness practice
• Widely used in psychology, nursing and neuroscience courses
• An uplifting story of resilience, hope and personal transformation

About the Author
Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D., is a Harvard-trained neuroanatomist and was formerly affiliated with the Indiana University School of Medicine. She served as national spokesperson for the Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center and was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World. Her TED talk on the events described in this book became one of the platform's most-watched talks. My Stroke of Insight remains her best-known work, drawing on both her clinical expertise and lived experience.

Why You'll Love This Memoir
Honest, hopeful and scientifically grounded, this memoir turns a personal medical crisis into a masterclass on the brain's resilience. It's an unforgettable read for science lovers, carers and anyone seeking perspective on healing.

Please Note: Dispatched with the UK ISBN and UK edition cover exactly as shown.