My Stroke of Insight

By: Jill Bolte Taylor

Narrated by: Jill Bolte Taylor

Length: 5 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

On the morning of December 10, 1996 Jill Bolte Taylor, a 37-year-old Harvard-trained brain scientist experienced a massive stroke when a blood vessel exploded in the left side of her brain. A neuroanatomist by profession, she observed her own mind completely deteriorate to the point that she could not walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life, all within the space of four brief hours.

As the damaged left side of her brain - the rational, grounded, detail and time-oriented side - swung in and out of function, Taylor alternated between two distinct and opposite realties: the euphoric nirvana of the intuitive and kinesthetic right brain, in which she felt a sense of complete well-being and peace; and the logical, sequential left brain, which recognized Jill was having a stroke, and enabled her to seek help before she was lost completely.

In My Stroke of Insight, Taylor shares her unique perspective on the brain and its capacity for recovery, and the sense of omniscient understanding she gained from this unusual and inspiring voyage out of the abyss of a wounded brain. It would take eight years for Taylor to heal completely. Because of her knowledge of how the brain works, her respect for the cells composing her human form, and most of all an amazing mother, Taylor completely repaired her mind and recalibrated her understanding of the world according to the insights gained from her right brain that morning of December 10th.

Today Taylor is convinced that the stroke was the best thing that could have happened to her. It has taught her that the feeling of nirvana is never more than a mere thought away. By stepping to the right of our left brains, we can all uncover the feelings of well-being and peace that are so often sidelined by our own brain chatter.

A fascinating journey into the mechanics of the human mind, My Stroke of Insight is both a valuable recovery guide for anyone touched by a brain injury, and an emotionally stirring ...

©2008 Jill Bolte Taylor (P)2008 Penguin Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Transformative...[Taylor's] experience...will shatter [your] own perception of the world." (ABC News)

"[Dr. Taylor] brings a deep personal understanding to something she long studied: that the two lobes of the brain have very different personalities." (The New York Times)

"Fascinating...invaluable...fearless...This book is about the wonder of being human." (Robert Koehler, Tribune Media Services)

Excellent depiction of a stroke victim's Journey

it's truly amazing that she was able to write this book after all that she had been through. I think the story itself is an excellent story and one that many people should read to understand how Strokes can affect someone's life and also understand how to deal with them emotionally and physically. Although at times it was difficult to stay fully engaged in the book given her steady tone throughout the book. With that said, I'm surprised that she is even able to record this audio book after all that she has been through.

Science confirms Spiritual side of humanity

What a miraculous story of survival and being given a second chance to observe our common humanity by just opening your eyes and heart and then living that new birth by choice.
Jill Bolte Taylor's sharing of the joy she experienced from being "reborn" to the same woman (her mother GIGI) took my breath away. This book was a perfect follow up after reading Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth.
I so loved her enthusiasm. And yes I plan on donating my brain to science (but not until I am done with it) Thank you for sharing this beautiful story.

Highly Recommend

Loved it! I am a physician so naturally was interested in the science aspect but the experience, recall, and personal development component of the book is fascinating. I highly recommend this book.

this Book was a big help to me the info on point

I love it,I finish it in a day , I had a stroke it help me as soon as i got hospital ,thank you for this book
I read over and over again

must read for survivors and caregivers

I reallyenjoyed this book. as a stroke survivor myself. I can't remember all thiswas helpful.

This was a life changing experience for me

I enjoyed Jill’s moment by moment description of what she was thinking when she experienced a stroke. The way she combined her knowledge of what was happening in her brain because of her expertise and what her limitations were as it played out was simply amazing. The perseverance she showed to obtain her recovery has given me such hope that people can recover from these types of events given the proper treatment. It’s also helped me understand how to help someone recover by showing compassion and believing in them.

More than a story, a lesson

This audiobook taught me more than what symptoms to look for but more importantly it shares what to expect in those crucial first few moments of a stroke. This is well worth the time and expense.

stroke survivors bible

gas a stroke survivor this wasa reat book. very valuable in understanding how to retrain your brain

Fascinating

This account of stroke, determination, recovery, and peace is amazing. Brilliant account of the workings of the brain and the differences between the left and right hemispheres.

Excellent description of stroke experience

I had a hemorrhagic stroke in 2002 and this book mirrored so many of my own experiences. I am so deeply thankful to Jill Bolte Taylor for her help in bringing some of my own memories back to me in a way that was very healing. In addition I gathered much strength from her thoughtful examination of the mind body connections. I am deeply grateful for her insight. We still have so much to learn.
It is a huge gift to have this book on Audioble for those of us who have had a stroke and still find reading print a laborious and slow task.