The Executive Brain: Frontal Lobes and the Civilized Mind

by Elkhonon Goldberg

Book Overview

The Executive Brain is the first book to explore in popular scientific terms one of the most important and rapidly evolving topics in contemporary neuropsychology, the most "human" and recently evolved region of the brain--the frontal lobes. Crucial for all high-order functioning, it is only in humans that the frontal lobes are so highly developed. They hold the key to our judgment, our social and ethical behavior, our imagination, indeed, to our...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195156307
• ISBN13: 9780195156300
• Release Date: December 2002
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 9.1" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Helpful to Understanding Brain Injury

I have a child with a brain injury and found that the material contained in this book helpful in understanding her processing difficulties and gave me ideas to put in place to help overcome some of those differences. The book provided me with a better understanding of how certain neuropsychological tests measure what they say they measure. The Executive Brain was so helpful to me that I purchased additional copies and gave them friends and teachers who either have or work with children with learning difficulties. The beginning of Goldberg's work takes place during the time of the Soviet Union. Having traveled in Russia, I found his account of events there facinating.

Thinking about the conductor...

Rarely is a serious scientific work, like this, which is accessible to lay people, so engaging and personal, while maintaining its scientific rigor. This is work well done. Neurologists might only appreciate the topic of focus, the brain's frontal lobes, but Dr. Goldberg delivers it in an engrossing and engaging manner. There is a wealth of information here for both the lay and serious reader. I recommend this work for its comprehensive details and readability. Dr. Goldberg's personal accounts are a wonderful bonus.

In appreciation of the frontal lobes

Most of us wander through our days without any conscious thought about the very organ that's directing our routine. But anyone who reads Dr. Goldberg's compelling, lively account of the brain's frontal lobes will come away with a newfound appreciation for their own gray matter. As Goldberg tells it, not only do the frontal lobes help us prioritize tasks and give us our awareness of ourselves and others, they also play a crucial role in creativity and talent, and are the reason they're as civilized as we are. (Next time I see someone toss their trash on the street, I'll think, Weak Frontal Lobes!) Although the book was written with both a general and a scientifically adept readership in mind, it's never so technical that the layperson can't follow the discussion. I found this book stimulating, witty, and illuminating.

Fascinating and Informative

I found the book to be extremely fascinating and informative. It was well written for a comprehensive understanding of the material. Most interesting was the case studies which brought a sense of reality to the scientific nature. The balance between research and personal experience allows for accessibility to a wide range of readers. It is something I will definitely recommend for others to enjoy.

An Executive Treat!

This book explores not just the frontal lobes but the brain from every angle.....from how we engage in complex mental operations to our social behavior. It's full of the latest discoveries in neuroscience and provides clinical vignettes to illustrate the author's vast experience with patients worldwide. The chapter on Social Maturity, Morality, Law, and the Frontal Lobes is exceptionally well-done and provides a keen insight into the behavior that has captured national headlines in recent times. This book should be required reading for all students of social science. Highly readable for every type of audience. The reader learns something new on each page. Very hard to put down....an excellent read!