Livewired: The Inside Story of the Ever-Changing Brain
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- Create Date：2021-07-27 02:16:17
- Update Date：2025-09-24
- Status：finish
- Author：David Eagleman
- ISBN：1838851003
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
From the best-selling author of
Incognito
and
Sum
comes a revelatory portrait of the human brain based on the most recent scientific discoveries about how it unceasingly adapts， re-creates， and formulates new ways of understanding the world we live in。
The magic of the brain is not found in the parts it's made of but in the way those parts unceasingly reweave themselves in an electric living fabric。 And there is no more accomplished and accessible guide than renowned neuroscientist David Eagleman to help us understand the nature and changing texture of that fabric。 With his hallmark clarity and enthusiasm he reveals the myriad ways that the brain absorbs experience: developing， redeploying， organizing， and arranging the data it receives from the body's own absorption of external stimuli， which enables us to gain the skills， the facilities， and the practices that make us who we are。
Eagleman covers decades of the most important research into the functioning of the brain and presents new discoveries from his own research as well: about the nature of synesthesia， about dreaming， and about wearable devices that are revolutionizing how we think about the five human senses。 Finally， Livewired is as deeply informative as it is accessible and brilliantly engaging。
The magic of the brain is not found in the parts it's made of but in the way those parts unceasingly reweave themselves in an electric living fabric。 And there is no more accomplished and accessible guide than renowned neuroscientist David Eagleman to help us understand the nature and changing texture of that fabric。 With his hallmark clarity and enthusiasm he reveals the myriad ways that the brain absorbs experience: developing， redeploying， organizing， and arranging the data it receives from the body's own absorption of external stimuli， which enables us to gain the skills， the facilities， and the practices that make us who we are。
Eagleman covers decades of the most important research into the functioning of the brain and presents new discoveries from his own research as well: about the nature of synesthesia， about dreaming， and about wearable devices that are revolutionizing how we think about the five human senses。 Finally， Livewired is as deeply informative as it is accessible and brilliantly engaging。
Reviews
Teo Karalis
，
Good book with interesting facts and gets an important point across the reader about brain's plasticity。 I rate it as 4* because there is too much repetition in the text。 Otherwise a very fine book。 Good book with interesting facts and gets an important point across the reader about brain's plasticity。 I rate it as 4* because there is too much repetition in the text。 Otherwise a very fine book。 。。。more
mouli
，
LivelyI've read a few books on neuroscience and this would rate as the most lucid and engaging book。 As an engineer I am intrigued by his suggestion to use "livewiring" as an approach to design of machines。 This requires a dramatic change in the way we engineers think and need to rewire our brains to wrap around such ideas。 I really liked the homonculus cartoon image showing large hands feet and stunted legs and arms :-） I am now moving on to his Incognito and hope to have a similar experience o LivelyI've read a few books on neuroscience and this would rate as the most lucid and engaging book。 As an engineer I am intrigued by his suggestion to use "livewiring" as an approach to design of machines。 This requires a dramatic change in the way we engineers think and need to rewire our brains to wrap around such ideas。 I really liked the homonculus cartoon image showing large hands feet and stunted legs and arms :-） I am now moving on to his Incognito and hope to have a similar experience of reading。 。。。more
Fern Adams
，
A fascinating read！ *Full review to be written later*
Happy
，
More of Retelling， seriously all these things have previously mentioned and discussed by him and other authors。。。except last few chapters the book is abhorring。
Elizabeth
，
WOW。 This was so good， who wants to talk about it right now？？Really amazing， and revolutionary work on neuroscience and how our brains "think"。 Really mind-blowing summary of studies， case examples and generally fascinating information about how our control centers develop adapt and continue to work until the day we die。 The book is a bit dense， but digestible。 Eagleman got a little crazy at the end as he tangentially went on about how we need to build better robots to be more like the human bra WOW。 This was so good， who wants to talk about it right now？？Really amazing， and revolutionary work on neuroscience and how our brains "think"。 Really mind-blowing summary of studies， case examples and generally fascinating information about how our control centers develop adapt and continue to work until the day we die。 The book is a bit dense， but digestible。 Eagleman got a little crazy at the end as he tangentially went on about how we need to build better robots to be more like the human brain， but it didnt take away from the amazingness。 I am smarter， I am entertained and I am in absolute awe of the brain。 。。。more
Arezoo Gharib
，
خوندن این کتاب در ژانر علمی، با توجه به اطلاعات، مطالعات ،تحقیقات جدید که به زبان ساده و قابل فهم ارائه شد،مفید بود،مسلما ایگلمن میتونست همین دستاورد‌های علمی بزرگترین دانشمندان رو خیلی پیچیده توضیح بده و نه در فهم همه افراد،و این امتیاز دادن باید با کتابهای جدید در همین نوع در نظر گرفته بشه。کسر یک ستاره بابت یک اشتباهه که در کتاب وجود داره،（در گشت و گذار در goodreads و خواندن مطالب در مورد این کتاب متوجه شدم که کلمه قرنیه به جای لنز به کار رفته） و در موردش از یک پزشک اطلاعات کسب کردم و این ایرا خوندن این کتاب در ژانر علمی، با توجه به اطلاعات، مطالعات ،تحقیقات جدید که به زبان ساده و قابل فهم ارائه شد،مفید بود،مسلما ایگلمن میتونست همین دستاورد‌های علمی بزرگترین دانشمندان رو خیلی پیچیده توضیح بده و نه در فهم همه افراد،و این امتیاز دادن باید با کتابهای جدید در همین نوع در نظر گرفته بشه。کسر یک ستاره بابت یک اشتباهه که در کتاب وجود داره،（در گشت و گذار در goodreads و خواندن مطالب در مورد این کتاب متوجه شدم که کلمه قرنیه به جای لنز به کار رفته） و در موردش از یک پزشک اطلاعات کسب کردم و این ایراد تایید شد。 کتاب رو با ترجمه قاسم کیانی مقدم خوندم،حدود یک فصل رو با کتاب زبان انگلیسی مقایسه کردم ،و بشخصه مشکلی با ترجمه کتاب نداشتم。ایرادی که توسط خیلیا گفته شده:（تکرار جملات بود）،ولی بنظرم در پشت این تکرارها نکته هست،مسلما ایگلمن کلی جمله و نکته میتونست به کتاب اضافه کنه،ولی نباید از جادوی "تکرار حرف"گذشت،تکرار ها باعث تثبیت میشن و نهادینه شدن در ذهن。در کتاب مغز پویا تاکید رو اینه که مغز منابعش و بر اساس آنچه اهمیت داره توزیع میکنه،و اشاره به توکیو داره،توکیو بعد از جنگ،همونکاری رو کرد که مغز انجام میده،یعنی منعکس کننده چالش و اهداف خودشه،اگه چیزی رو نیاز داره و نداشته باشه ،خودش اون و شکل میده。و پایان کتاب مغز پویا، مجددا تاکید شد "اینکه شما چه کسی هستید برخاسته از همه ی چیزاییه که باهاش تعامل دارید،دوستان، دشمنان،محیط،روزگار و 。。" 。。。more
Marna Tisdel
，
APTCA Book Club。 Our brains are ever changing and reacting to the input it receives。
James
，
I had really liked Incognito but I didn't find this as interesting， from the same author。 This did cover different topics so it was far from a rehashing， but there was a lot of speculation rather than hard science。The general theme was that the brain can adapt and evolve to fit each individual， but since we are so fundamentally similar we can talk of brain regions as there is near-universal overlap。 Eagleman then used special case studies to illustrate how this is not quite universal and some of I had really liked Incognito but I didn't find this as interesting， from the same author。 This did cover different topics so it was far from a rehashing， but there was a lot of speculation rather than hard science。The general theme was that the brain can adapt and evolve to fit each individual， but since we are so fundamentally similar we can talk of brain regions as there is near-universal overlap。 Eagleman then used special case studies to illustrate how this is not quite universal and some of the surprising changes as a result。 There was revealing insight but while staying within understandable language， there was also quite a bit of abstract and speculative content on what this could mean， and it was difficult to know what was likely and what was very optimistic。Despite being written in fairly accessible language I did find it quite wordy when drawing analogies and explaining fairly basic concepts， and as a result I did skim read the last half。 This was a bit disaapointing as there were a lot of interesting findings， but as a whole book I didn't find myself gripped as I'd hoped。 I don't know whether he'd covered the best stuff in previous books or I just didn't have the right frame of mind to take it all in。 。。。more
Susan
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I thoroughly enjoyed this book。 It was indeed written for the average layperson with interest in the field to understand without being the least bit patronizing。 This I appreciated。 The author is knowledgeable and experienced and yet continues to ask the questions that promote continued exploration and discovery of the mysterious working of our brains。 I don’t think he is at all like the ‘old physicists’ in the saying being weighed down by all the things they know。 I see new ideas and learning i I thoroughly enjoyed this book。 It was indeed written for the average layperson with interest in the field to understand without being the least bit patronizing。 This I appreciated。 The author is knowledgeable and experienced and yet continues to ask the questions that promote continued exploration and discovery of the mysterious working of our brains。 I don’t think he is at all like the ‘old physicists’ in the saying being weighed down by all the things they know。 I see new ideas and learning in these pages and the ones not yet written。 。。。more
Vengatesh Muralidharan
，
Excellent book on how the brain processes information from sensory organs， controls motor organs， and stores memories and mental models。 I loved the simplicity of the explanations and the references to how computing works in technology products。 Case studies， whacky futuristic scenarios around bionics and AI， as well as the evolution of the human brain made the book very rich and easy to understand。 A very interesting non-fiction book。
Valentina Tan
，
An insightful read。 Really enjoyed the anecdotes and the storytelling to dive into the brain， how it works and how it evolves。 I think I need to read it again。
Mrs J M Sandford
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Interesting and informative。
Dawn
，
I listened to this book on audible whilst following the hard copy book。 I have an interest in neuroscience and especially brain plasticity since touching on the subject whilst studying for my psychology degree， so was really looking forward to reading this book。 Overall I found the book to be very interesting， and it highlights how amazing our brains really are。 I particularly enjoyed reading about how the brain rewires itself after serious illness or injury e。g。 stroke and amputation。 I was als I listened to this book on audible whilst following the hard copy book。 I have an interest in neuroscience and especially brain plasticity since touching on the subject whilst studying for my psychology degree， so was really looking forward to reading this book。 Overall I found the book to be very interesting， and it highlights how amazing our brains really are。 I particularly enjoyed reading about how the brain rewires itself after serious illness or injury e。g。 stroke and amputation。 I was also interested in and enjoyed learning about the prospective technological advances that could happen in the future and the way in which these could help many people。 Although many reviews on this book have mentioned how its written in layman terms， i still had to look up many a word throughout which was a little annoying。 The only other disappointing thing I found from reading other reviews esp from those who work in the field of neuroscience is the fact that Eagleman makes several claims that are incorrect。 Hence why i am only giving this book 3 stars。 All in all though an enjoyable and interesting read， and one that really will make you appreciate the brain and its capabilities。 If your interested generally or professionally in the brain， neuroscience， psychology， biology etc。 then this is definitely worth a read。Finished Friday 9th July 2021。 。。。more
Arianne Padilla
，
While sometimes this got a little too "science-y" and went over my head， I really enjoyed learning about our livewired brains。 I also liked the parts about education and learning obviously。 I didn't love the ideas of livewired technology because that can be a little scary， but still overall an interesting read。 While sometimes this got a little too "science-y" and went over my head， I really enjoyed learning about our livewired brains。 I also liked the parts about education and learning obviously。 I didn't love the ideas of livewired technology because that can be a little scary， but still overall an interesting read。 。。。more
Elisabeth
，
Highly enjoyed this book telling the miracles of a brain and its plasticity especially during the early years。 It gives many examples of cases where the brain rewires itself to match the different sensory inputs or lack of appropriate area in the brain otherwise。 It explores the capacity of the brain to keep on learning and creating new connections。 Very fascinating science told in a language a layperson can understand and gain much knowledge from。One point which highly resonated with me， is how Highly enjoyed this book telling the miracles of a brain and its plasticity especially during the early years。 It gives many examples of cases where the brain rewires itself to match the different sensory inputs or lack of appropriate area in the brain otherwise。 It explores the capacity of the brain to keep on learning and creating new connections。 Very fascinating science told in a language a layperson can understand and gain much knowledge from。One point which highly resonated with me， is how elderly people with responsibility to lead an active life， teach and look after others had a healthy brain with no degradation as perhaps observed in many others who upon reaching higher ages do not need to look after anything and lose their cognitive capabilities by watching TV endlessly。 Similar to an example in his other book， how giving plants to look after in a care home resulted in fewer cases of dementia compared to control group where the carers looked after the plant （that's what I remember， don't quote me on the details）。 To me it just shows how continuously learning and developing our lives to improving skills will keep the brain healthy long term。 Never too late to pick up a new hobby！ But if you want to speak languages without accents or be a musical virtuoso， then starting before the age of 8 is a good idea。 。。。more
Jessie
，
In the words of Troy Barnes， "This is wrinkling my brain！" This was something I couldn't help but think when I finished this book。 I learned so much about the brain， things that I never even thought of questioning！ The way our brains work is so mind blowing！ I've been talking about this book with a lot of people and I know that I'm probably coming across a little manic in my excitement。 The way our brains will rewire itself to continue to gain information is fascinating as is how we recall that In the words of Troy Barnes， "This is wrinkling my brain！" This was something I couldn't help but think when I finished this book。 I learned so much about the brain， things that I never even thought of questioning！ The way our brains work is so mind blowing！ I've been talking about this book with a lot of people and I know that I'm probably coming across a little manic in my excitement。 The way our brains will rewire itself to continue to gain information is fascinating as is how we recall that information。 I don't want to go into detail about this book because I don't want to ruin anyone's experience of learning this information for the first time， but I will say that I was especially fascinated by the chapter on what our brain does when we lose a sense （or area of information input such as sight or even a limp） and how our brain filters information， including what information we are even aware of gaining。 Just fascinating， definitely a recommendation for anyone that enjoys learning about our own minds。 。。。more
Jenny Nelson
，
3/5
Daniel Bertz
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This is a must book！ 1） I had no idea how our brain works。 Now I have a little and it is fascinating。 2） Most of our brain is still a mystery to science。 The book covers a complicated issue in a way that is both easy and enjoyable。 Bravo to the author！
Chris Miller
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This book started off strong， but it faded for me as I kept reading。 I found it hard to follow after a few chapters。 The general premise was there， but this book was perhaps less reader-friendly that I expected。
Lee
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I liked one of Eagleman's early books （Incognito， maybe？） and kept expecting him to repeat the performance but am just disappointed。 This is a smooth pop-science read but the material just isn't very interesting or original。 I liked one of Eagleman's early books （Incognito， maybe？） and kept expecting him to repeat the performance but am just disappointed。 This is a smooth pop-science read but the material just isn't very interesting or original。 。。。more
Grace Knight
，
This was a fascinating read。 Neuro plasticity is lifelong。 The way our brains have been created is incredible; always adapting， changing， growing， pruning。 What we think about and how we spend our time matters and it physically shapes our brains。 Another fascinating read about this topic is “My Stroke of Insight” by Jill Bolte Taylor: a neurologist who had a stroke and documents her recovery。
Peter Tillman
，
I was fired up by the rave WSJ review （9-5-20） but reader Sarah points out an egregious error， https://www。goodreads。com/review/show。。。As this is her field， I'm putting my plans to read the book on hold， unless I read something that convinces me otherwise。 A serious error by the author。 As she points out， how can you trust other 'facts' in the book you don't know as well？ And it's not like I don't have hundreds of other books on Mt。 TBR。Thanks， Sarah for pointing this out。 There's a long discuss I was fired up by the rave WSJ review （9-5-20） but reader Sarah points out an egregious error， https://www。goodreads。com/review/show。。。As this is her field， I'm putting my plans to read the book on hold， unless I read something that convinces me otherwise。 A serious error by the author。 As she points out， how can you trust other 'facts' in the book you don't know as well？ And it's not like I don't have hundreds of other books on Mt。 TBR。Thanks， Sarah for pointing this out。 There's a long discussion at her review， and not everyone agrees with her。 Read the comments and decide for yourself。 。。。more
Arlene
，
While the introductory chapters were a bit repetitive and slow to introduce new concepts， later portions of the book were riveting！ I enjoyed thinking about the possibilities of enhanced perception by creating and adding new peripheral devices that could be tied to the brain。 I’d love to see in ultraviolet！ Can we make me post-human？ If so， sign me up！ As someone who reads continuously and is a dedicated lifelong learner， I also appreciated the discussion of neuroplasticity and of the possible t While the introductory chapters were a bit repetitive and slow to introduce new concepts， later portions of the book were riveting！ I enjoyed thinking about the possibilities of enhanced perception by creating and adding new peripheral devices that could be tied to the brain。 I’d love to see in ultraviolet！ Can we make me post-human？ If so， sign me up！ As someone who reads continuously and is a dedicated lifelong learner， I also appreciated the discussion of neuroplasticity and of the possible temporal effects of how information is handled。 I do wish this text had provided more detailed explanation of brain structures at all size points to display as visual aides when expositing these higher order theories。 I did find the author’s brief treatment of the topic of synesthesia to be over-simplified。 I’ve read a few academic articles linking color/letter grapheme to particular alphabet toys or posters in schools。 However， these linkages do not account for all manifestations of synesthesia of this kind。 I experience this particular blending of the senses， among several others， and I have yet to be able to trace these conflations of sensory data to particular exposures at a young age。 So I think there’s definitely more going on than just getting one particular association stuck to another。 It’s possible that there are other underlying mechanisms at work， （more neural connections？ faster speed at which information travels？） and experiments with altered states of consciousness can also produce new， and seemingly creative moments of synesthesia。 。。。more
Ajla
，
Too many futuristic concepts for my taste。 No， I actually don't want science to enable humans to move robots with their minds。But those parts aside， there were some interesting parts on senses， memory etc。 Too many futuristic concepts for my taste。 No， I actually don't want science to enable humans to move robots with their minds。But those parts aside， there were some interesting parts on senses， memory etc。 。。。more
Ravi Kumar
，
This is one of the best and obviously so as its written by the most 'brainy" scientist David Eagleman。 Lots of amazing details about the 2 and half kg of protoplasm like mass that has some greatest secrets lying deep in its folds ！I was thrilled at the sheer beauty of the most marvelous organ and am totally in awe of the master designer。 The great thing as Eagleman says is 。。。its good we didnt come with all the pre installed software。。。。we adapt and in the process learn， unlearn and adapt。 The b This is one of the best and obviously so as its written by the most 'brainy" scientist David Eagleman。 Lots of amazing details about the 2 and half kg of protoplasm like mass that has some greatest secrets lying deep in its folds ！I was thrilled at the sheer beauty of the most marvelous organ and am totally in awe of the master designer。 The great thing as Eagleman says is 。。。its good we didnt come with all the pre installed software。。。。we adapt and in the process learn， unlearn and adapt。 The bit about Nelsons arm and the one on neural prosthetics is simply awesome ！ Recommend this one。 。。。more
Erin Moloney
，
Amazing exploration of the plasticity of the brain and an interesting discussion about the future influence of evolution on technology！
Ren Sato
，
so so good， blew my mind many times
Paul Ransom
，
One of the most revealing and engaging books on the brain and neuro-science ever aimed at the non-expert。 Lively， personable and rich with exciting ideas， 'Livewired' is a genune eye-opener （for those who like that kind of thing）。 If at times the author seems a tad missionary， his enthusiasm is always understandable and backed by decades of research。 One of the most revealing and engaging books on the brain and neuro-science ever aimed at the non-expert。 Lively， personable and rich with exciting ideas， 'Livewired' is a genune eye-opener （for those who like that kind of thing）。 If at times the author seems a tad missionary， his enthusiasm is always understandable and backed by decades of research。 。。。more
Al Wright
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Inspiring and informative for all us non-neuroscientists。
Leigh
，