The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons

The History of the Human Brain as Revealed by True Stories of Trauma, Madness, and Recovery

De: Sam Kean

Narrado por: Henry Leyva

The author of the bestseller The Disappearing Spoon reveals the secret inner workings of the brain through strange but true stories.

Early studies of the human brain used a simple method: wait for misfortune to strike -- strokes, seizures, infectious diseases, horrendous accidents -- and see how victims coped. In many cases their survival was miraculous, if puzzling. Observers were amazed by the transformations that took place when different parts of the brain were destroyed, altering victims' personalities. Parents suddenly couldn't recognize their own children. Pillars of the community became pathological liars. Some people couldn't speak but could still sing.

In The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons, Sam Kean travels through time with stories of neurological curiosities: phantom limbs, Siamese twin brains, viruses that eat patients' memories, blind people who see through their tongues. He weaves these narratives together with prose that makes the pages fly by, to create a story of discovery that reaches back to the 1500s and the high-profile jousting accident that inspired this book's title.

With the lucid, masterful explanations and razor-sharp wit his fans have come to expect, Kean explores the brain's secret passageways and recounts the forgotten tales of the ordinary people whose struggles, resilience, and deep humanity made neuroscience possible.

Reseñas de la Crítica

Longlisted for the 2015 PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award

One of Amazon's Best Books of the Year: Science

One of The A.V. Club's Best Books of 2014

A Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist: Nonfiction

"This is Sam Kean's finest work yet, an entertaining and offbeat history of the brain populated with mad scientists, deranged criminals, geniuses, and wretched souls. The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons is one of those books that will have you following your friends around, reading passages out loud, until they snatch the book away from you and read it for themselves. Good luck getting it back."—Amy Stewart, author of The Drunken Botanist

"Put your Netflix queue on hold. Sam Kean's The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons will command your full attention from the first page. It's not just an engaging guide to mysteries of existence; it's compelling story-telling for anyone with a taste for the bizarre and metaphysical."—William Poundstone, author of Rock Breaks Scissors

"In tale after tale, best-selling author Kean provides a fascinating, and at times gloriously gory, look at how early efforts in neurosurgery were essentially a medical guessing game.... Entertaining and quotable, Kean's writing is sharp, and each individual story brings the history of neuroscience to life. Compulsively readable, wicked scientific fun."—Kirkus

"Reading this collection is like touring a museum of neuroscience's most dramatic anomalies, each chapter taking us to a different place and time.... Kean's colloquial language and intimate voice bring all of this series of mini-histories to life -- all of which are sure to stimulate a wide range of brains."—Publishers Weekly

"[Kean] proves an able guide, connecting each story with the science behind it, always with an air of enthusiastic curiosity."—Kate Tuttle, Boston Globe

"[Kean's] strength lies in his storytelling, and in the humane combination of humor and compassion toward the strange life histories he pieces together.... Kean has a penchant for the kind of vivid description that makes one want to clutch one's head tenderly close."—Margaret Quamme, Columbus Dispatch

"To pick up one of these stories is to lose oneself in them. Where does the brain end and the mind begin? Curious readers will find both brain and mind fully revved up while engaging with this powerfully appealing and thought-provoking work of neuroscience history."—Donna Chavez, Booklist

"The author's skill in illuminating how the brain functions and malfunctions manifest themselves in people's lives makes for absorbing reading....These avowals ultimately raise weighty, compelling questions about the nature of identity and what it means to be human."—The Wall Street Journal

An amazing book. Epic and enthralling.

This is Sam Keens third book based on the history of biological sciences. I thoroughly enjoyed every second of this novel. I highly recommend it to anyone with a scientists mind.

Finally, I recommend you read this book at 1.5 speed.

Excellent!!

I'm so entertained by this book, I recommend it to anyone who thinks they might be interested!

Wonderfully told!

i could not put down this audiobook. It is a charming way to teach us abiut the mysteries of humans and other life forms.

Sam Kean is great story teller

I love all Sam Kean’s books, this one is as good as the others if not better

Colorfully Informative!

The narrator captured Sam Kean's tongue-in-cheek style of non-fiction perfectly. I binge-listened the whole thing in 2 days!

Outstanding!!

What made the experience of listening to The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons the most enjoyable?

There are very few books that merit a 5 star rating. There are even fewer narrations of books that deserve 5 star ratings. This book is that delicious juxtaposition of incredible narration and tight, well-paced writing.

What did you like best about this story?

I disliked that it ended so soon. I also wish the author had delved further into some of the cases to give the reader a deeper glimpse into the patients' regular lives

What about Henry Leyva’s performance did you like?

Excellent, well-paced narration. Neither breathy nor dramatic, Mr Leyva imparted just the right gravitas for the subject matter.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Other than a documentary, this book wouldn't translate into film.

Any additional comments?

This author and narrator have an excellent thing going. I hope they work together in future, and that the author write more on this topic. The author makes the subject matter accessible to regular minds like mine.

Do not listen while eating

Interesting history, graphically gruesome. Many cringeworthy moments. Reviews require fifteen words minimum so I'm still typing.

Another great one by Sam Kean

Sam Kean has a real knack for making what should be incomprehensible clear and relatable. Fascinating and thought provoking - highly recommend this book for anyone interested in medicine or the Hunan condition.

Excellent essays on the brain

From "kings to assassins" -- each chapter charts a different part of the brain with intriguing discoveries.

Great book and great reading

Very well done in all respects. Great listen, very interesting and well read. I highly recommend it.