I am a
trained neuroscientist. I was teaching and performing research at Harvard
Medical School when a blood vessel exploded in the left half of my brain. On
the morning of this rare form of stroke I became vegetative, an infant in a
woman's body in that I could not walk, talk, read, write or recall any of my
life. It took eight years for me to completely rebuild the left half of my
brain. During this experience,I gained true insight into the difference between our left and right cerebral hemispheres.
I wrote...
Whole Brain Living: The Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our Life
By
Jill Bolte Taylor
What is my book about?
At an anatomical level, we have two emotional and two thinking
modules of cells - one in each hemisphere. Each of these different groups of
cells results in not only very specific skill sets but comparable
personalities. While rebuilding my left emotional and left thinking cellular
networks, I learned that we have the power to choose moment by moment which of
these Four Characters we want to embody and let lead our lives.
We can use the tool I call the BRAIN Huddle to create a conversation between the different parts of our brain, thus allowing us to choose who and how we want to be. We have the power to step out of the emotionally reactive parts of our brain, giving us the ability to live our life on purpose.
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The Books I Picked & Why
The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World
By
Iain McGilchrist
Why this book?
This book
is a magnificent collection of what research has taught us about our left and
right brains over the last 70 years. It is a fascinating account of what we
know and how our brain has shaped the condition of our world.
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Of Two Minds: The Revolutionary Science Of Dual-Brain Psychology
By
Fredric Schiffer
Why this book?
This is a
fascinating exploration into the consciousnesses and personality differences
between our left and right hemispheres through the lens of our potential for
psycho-pathology. Dr. Schiffer is a psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School and
shares with us innovative ideas about how to unravel the complexity of our
psyche.
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Internal Family Systems Skills Training Manual: Trauma-Informed Treatment for Anxiety, Depression, Ptsd & Substance Abuse
By
Frank G. Anderson,
Martha Sweezy,
Richard D. Schwartz
Why this book?
This therapeutic technique is designed as an evidence-based treatment
program that trains the reader how they have the ability to not only recognize
the different parts of their brain but how they have the ability to embody
those different aspects of their character. This program is designed to help
people heal their injured parts so they can live a healthier life.
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Miss Rumphius
By
Barbara Cooney
Why this book?
This is
my favorite children’s book of all time. Miss Alice Rumphius is taught by her
loving grandfather that there are 3 things she must do with her life: She must
travel the world, live in a place by the sea, and finally do something to make
the world a more beautiful place. This book teaches children that a life well
lived is a life that contributes something beautiful to humanity and this is
something we can choose to prioritize in our lives.
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A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "a Course in Miracles"
By
Marianne Williamson
Why this book?
This is a
beautiful and inspiring book that helps us find our way into the right thinking
part of our brain that is focused on our ability to love one another. I truly
believe that our number one job in life is to love one another and we each have
that capacity if we choose to make it a priority. This book is designed to help
us find our way back into the consciousness of the best part of ourselves which
is to love.