Our Brains, Our Selves: What a Neurologist's Patients Taught Him About the Brain
by Masud Husain
Summary
Through the case histories of seven patients at Oxford's neurology clinic, Husain examines how damage or disorder in specific brain regions can alter identity itself—leaving a person unrecognizable to loved ones or estranged from their own sense of self. Writing in a mode reminiscent of Oliver Sacks, Husain weaves cutting-edge cognitive neuroscience with compassionate storytelling, arguing that the brain is not merely the seat of cognition but the foundation of who we are. The judges praised the book for its combination of 'beautiful storytelling, cutting-edge science, and above all humanity.'
Historical Context & Significance
Husain, a practising clinician with over thirty years of experience, wrote his first book at sixty; the prize was renamed the Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize in 2024 following a new sponsorship.