Livewired: The Inside Story of the Ever-Changing Brain
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- Create Date：2021-06-06 09:53:14
- Update Date：2025-09-07
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- Author：David Eagleman
- ISBN：1838850996
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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
Al Wright
，
Inspiring and informative for all us non-neuroscientists。
Leigh
，
Wicked interesting。。。
Jose
，
Easy to read， interesting book on brain capabilities and how it works
Jordan Lei
，
Eagleman describes the brain in a way that is accessible and easy to understand。 The key idea of the book is that instead of being hardwired， our brains are 'livewired' and capable of adapting to a wide range of new contexts， scenarios， and challenges。 The idea comes across well， but I felt that at times Eagleman is a bit heavy-handed about the idea of the brain being 'livewired' without providing enough specificity into how the brain might achieve these dynamics。 I wish the book had a bit more Eagleman describes the brain in a way that is accessible and easy to understand。 The key idea of the book is that instead of being hardwired， our brains are 'livewired' and capable of adapting to a wide range of new contexts， scenarios， and challenges。 The idea comes across well， but I felt that at times Eagleman is a bit heavy-handed about the idea of the brain being 'livewired' without providing enough specificity into how the brain might achieve these dynamics。 I wish the book had a bit more of an explanation into the mechanisms from which this livewiring would arise in biological systems， and what implications it has for the future of neuroscience。 。。。more
Sushil Borah
，
This book deals with the fascinating human brain。 Although so much is researched， there are still miles to go when it comes to knowing the human brain。 With al the exercises of replicating sight， calculations etc of the human brain via deep learning， this book shows us that we are only scratching the surface of the brain。 The elasticity and plasticity of the brain is much beyond what we can comprehend with todays research。 Fascinating case studies have been cited。 Few include where one of the he This book deals with the fascinating human brain。 Although so much is researched， there are still miles to go when it comes to knowing the human brain。 With al the exercises of replicating sight， calculations etc of the human brain via deep learning， this book shows us that we are only scratching the surface of the brain。 The elasticity and plasticity of the brain is much beyond what we can comprehend with todays research。 Fascinating case studies have been cited。 Few include where one of the hemispheres in the brain is surgically removed。 Also a case study where someone who had sight loses it。 Some books （How to build a Human Brain - Ray Kurzweil） show us the map of the brain with regions for sight， hearing etc。 However the truth is much more complicated than that。 Loved the quote that if a young person asks you what will tech be like in 50 years answer that it is right behind your eyes。 。。。more
Arun Verma
，
🧠 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙬𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮。🌟🌟🌟 I am a fan of David Eagleman’s books and it’s my 4th book of this author。 It’s a stupendous read。 🌟🌟🌟🧠 The main purpose of this book is to show the plasticity of the brain。 The brain is Livewired。 It is a dynamic system， constantly altering its own circuitry to match the demands of the environment and the capabilities of the body。 Who you are owes as much to your surroundings as it does to the DNA inside you。❓ You will find answe 🧠 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙬𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮。🌟🌟🌟 I am a fan of David Eagleman’s books and it’s my 4th book of this author。 It’s a stupendous read。 🌟🌟🌟🧠 The main purpose of this book is to show the plasticity of the brain。 The brain is Livewired。 It is a dynamic system， constantly altering its own circuitry to match the demands of the environment and the capabilities of the body。 Who you are owes as much to your surroundings as it does to the DNA inside you。❓ You will find answers to many interesting questions。 Some of those are: what drug withdrawal and broken hearts have in common？ Why is the enemy of memory not time， but other memories？ How can a blind person learn to see with her tongue or a deaf person learn to hear with his skin？ Why is the world’s best archer armless？ Might we someday control a robot with our thoughts， just as we do our fingers and toes？ What if you could take the current senses and make them better， wider， faster？🧠 The magic of the brain is not found in the parts it’s made of， but in the way those parts unceasingly re-weave themselves in an electric， living fabric。 The brain is always hungry for new sources of information。 Whatever data the brain receives， it makes use of。🧠 The book presents new discoveries from Eagleman’s own laboratory， from synaesthesia to dreaming to wearable neurotech devices that revolutionise how we think about the senses。If you find my review helpful。 Follow me on Instagram。 Instagram handle- @getsmarterwithbooksInstagram link- https://www。instagram。com/getsmarterw。。。 。。。more
Brian Clegg
，
Popular science book topics are a bit like buses - you wait ages for one on a particular topic/route and then a whole string of the turn up。 This is yet another title on the workings of the brain （though to be fair to David Eagleman it was already out in hardback， so he was at the start of the queue）。 Thankfully， Eagleman gives us a whole new way of looking at the human brain's capabilities， suggesting the reason Homo sapiens is so versatile and capable is down to the extreme plasticity of the h Popular science book topics are a bit like buses - you wait ages for one on a particular topic/route and then a whole string of the turn up。 This is yet another title on the workings of the brain （though to be fair to David Eagleman it was already out in hardback， so he was at the start of the queue）。 Thankfully， Eagleman gives us a whole new way of looking at the human brain's capabilities， suggesting the reason Homo sapiens is so versatile and capable is down to the extreme plasticity of the human brain - its ability to rewire itself on the fly， or livewiring as Eagleman calls it。This is a fascinating topic。 It's not that the idea of the brain as a self-patterning system that adapts and changes as inputs vary is new， but the sheer depth and speed of the phenomenon is only relatively recently understood and Eagleman gives us a very wide range of examples， from a young child who had half his brain removed， but developed normally， the remaining half taking on all the roles of the other， to the remarkably short term adaptations that enable us to cope with， for example， changes in lighting colour and intensity。 We also see some aspects where the initial plasticity locks in， restricting future development if children haven't， for example， developed language skills by a particular stage。Eagleman peppers the book with stories and examples - my absolute favourite was the way that in the late 70s and early 80s， people thought that the IBM logo on floppy disks had changed from white to red。 This was a result of one of these short term adaptations to compensate for an apparent oddity of the surroundings。 You need to read the book to get the details， but the cause was apparently due to the people handling the disks （on which the logo was made up of a set of white horizontal lines） spent a lot of their time staring at VDUs， which contained lots of horizontal green lines of text。 （My only slight doubt about this one is that I was a person who did this at the time， but I never noticed the effect， nor did I hear of it from anyone else。）The subject really grabbed my attention， and Eagleman is good at storytelling， but there were a couple of things about the writing style that irritated me。 Particularly in the first chapter， the writing was very jerky， suddenly changing topic， even telling half a story then abruptly switching to something else before coming back to the original subject again。 The flow could have been better。 The book is also overloaded with analogies， some of which simply get in the way。 For example， Eagleman spends two pages telling us why the English colonists beat the French colonists in the US simply to make the point that a part of the brain that no longer sends information loses territory。 Similarly， there's a bizarre reference many pages after telling us about Nelson's experience with his lost arm that out of the blue says 'Most visitor's to Admiral Nelson's statue in London's Trafalgar Square have probably not considered the distortion of the somatosensory cortex in the left hemisphere of that elevated head。' Well， yes。 That's probably because that elevated head doesn't have a somatosensory cortex。 It's a statue。Despite occasional issues with the writing （and a warning that if you're squeamish that there are quite a lot of medical details as a lot we learn about the brain is from the results of damage and surgery） this is one of the best brain books I've read this year。 。。。more
Lou
，
Every man if he so desires becomes sculptor of his own brain。— Santiago Ramón y CajalAnd so this book explores this truth and posits a future whereby machine utilizes the human brain's ability to livewire thanks to plasticity。 Every man if he so desires becomes sculptor of his own brain。— Santiago Ramón y CajalAnd so this book explores this truth and posits a future whereby machine utilizes the human brain's ability to livewire thanks to plasticity。 。。。more
Stephen Inoue
，
LiveWired is the general reference guide everyone with a brain needs。 Understanding how the brain works does wonders for learning and remembering。 Learning how a brain can master new sensory inputs made me realize humanity is entering a new epoch。 The chapter on how AI and plug and play electronics should be modeled after the brain's ability to accept new sensory inputs is a whole new book that needs to be written。 LiveWired is the general reference guide everyone with a brain needs。 Understanding how the brain works does wonders for learning and remembering。 Learning how a brain can master new sensory inputs made me realize humanity is entering a new epoch。 The chapter on how AI and plug and play electronics should be modeled after the brain's ability to accept new sensory inputs is a whole new book that needs to be written。 。。。more
annika
，
i thought it was going to be more interesting - no more new information， felt like it was all about enhancing。 this was not it for me。
Jessie Rhines
，
Scientifically fascinating and also beautifully written—no small feat there。
Rudi
，
Boeiend boek ， ik heb zelfs genoten van de noten ， veel informatie en voor mij helaas ook weer een boel bijkomende vragen Voor een leek gemakkelijk leesbaar boek over de （aanpassings） werking van de hersenen
Mostafa
，
مغز پویا یک اثر به روز در باب نوروساینس است که مغز کلامش درباره ی خاصیت "نوروپلاستیسیته" مغز است。 ژنتیک تنها بخش تشکیل دهنده ی مغز نیست و این سیستم پویا توسط محیط شکل میگیرد و شگفتی آن در این است که به سان باکتری که در پی استفاده از گلوکز است، در پی کسب بیشترین اطلاعات از محیط خود است（اینفوتروپیسم）。 مغز انسان توانایی تطبیق خارق العاده ای با محیط خود دارد و زیبایی آن در همین امر است که طبیعت به جای تطابق از طریق ژن ها با محیط در پی نسل ها، سیستمی هوشمند به وجود آورده که خود راهش را در پی تطابق مغز پویا یک اثر به روز در باب نوروساینس است که مغز کلامش درباره ی خاصیت "نوروپلاستیسیته" مغز است。 ژنتیک تنها بخش تشکیل دهنده ی مغز نیست و این سیستم پویا توسط محیط شکل میگیرد و شگفتی آن در این است که به سان باکتری که در پی استفاده از گلوکز است، در پی کسب بیشترین اطلاعات از محیط خود است（اینفوتروپیسم）。 مغز انسان توانایی تطبیق خارق العاده ای با محیط خود دارد و زیبایی آن در همین امر است که طبیعت به جای تطابق از طریق ژن ها با محیط در پی نسل ها، سیستمی هوشمند به وجود آورده که خود راهش را در پی تطابق با محیط پیدا کند。 ورودی حسی به مغز بدهید، مهم نیست این ورودی نور باشد یا امواج الکترومغناطیس یا چیز دیگر، مغز خود راه تفسیر آن را خواهد یافت。 به بدن اندامی فراتر از چیزی که دارد بدهید، دست اضافه یا اندامی جدید یا هر چیز دیگر، مغز توانایی استفاده از آن را خواهد آموخت。سراسر کتاب در این مورد سخن گفته و با مثال ها و جدیدترین پژوهش ها در این زمینه مطلب را با جذابیتی مثال زدنی توضیح می دهد。 。。。more
Stephen Gilbert
，
He should have just called it plasticity。 Interesting in patches but frequently comes across as trying to take credit for existing ideas。
Don Harvey
，
Eagleman is much more than a neuroscientist。 Futurist， anthropologist， storyteller and more rolled into one one wonderful writer。 There’s nothing dry or textbook-like about this book。 I found it both insightful and enjoyable。
Georgie
，
3。5 Stars！
Lydia Schröder
，
A fascinating insight into the human brain。 Mindblowing。
Moriah
，
I'm claiming this as read， even though it was a chaotic read。 Flip through， read a section， flip again。 Then go back and read missing parts backwards。 And I skipped most of the endnotes。Anyways， cool about the new bionic tech and yay for brain plasticity and elasticity。。。 lots of interesting info about the brain and what our bodies can adapt to。 Shows how our brains have an imprecise， open structure that can be adapted to what our environment requires。 Nature gives the framework， and then nurtur I'm claiming this as read， even though it was a chaotic read。 Flip through， read a section， flip again。 Then go back and read missing parts backwards。 And I skipped most of the endnotes。Anyways， cool about the new bionic tech and yay for brain plasticity and elasticity。。。 lots of interesting info about the brain and what our bodies can adapt to。 Shows how our brains have an imprecise， open structure that can be adapted to what our environment requires。 Nature gives the framework， and then nurture makes the masterpiece。Evolution is given credit here and there， but one can easily disregard those comments and focus on how marvelously and creatively God has made us。 。。。more
Allan Kaster
，
This is an excellent book。 There are lots of anecdotes in this book that the author uses to great effect。 I learned a lot about a subject I know next to nothing about。 So I want to say one word about the ever-changing brain: plasticity。 The book is great fun！
Kit Martin
，
Eagleman provides an elegant overview of current development in the fields， and then he proposes a delightful new direction。 If the brain simply wires to the data we feed it， why not provide it new data streams？ His work into extending sensory perception， with a major focus on using the skin as an 'underused' sense could be very useful， and at the very least is quite thought provoking。 Anyone interested in how we learn， and make use of the world， will get a lot out of this book！ Eagleman provides an elegant overview of current development in the fields， and then he proposes a delightful new direction。 If the brain simply wires to the data we feed it， why not provide it new data streams？ His work into extending sensory perception， with a major focus on using the skin as an 'underused' sense could be very useful， and at the very least is quite thought provoking。 Anyone interested in how we learn， and make use of the world， will get a lot out of this book！ 。。。more
Patrick
，
2。5 stars， rounded up for ideas， but nearly nearly rounded down for the author's ego。 There's enough interesting material for an extended New Yorker article， repeated and padded with often awkward metaphors that are supposed to help general readers （I presume） but that generally made me sigh， and occasionally cringe。 I heard an hour long interview that prompted me to read it， and yet that hour discussion pretty much covered the ideas。That's frustrating， because several of his ideas are truly int 2。5 stars， rounded up for ideas， but nearly nearly rounded down for the author's ego。 There's enough interesting material for an extended New Yorker article， repeated and padded with often awkward metaphors that are supposed to help general readers （I presume） but that generally made me sigh， and occasionally cringe。 I heard an hour long interview that prompted me to read it， and yet that hour discussion pretty much covered the ideas。That's frustrating， because several of his ideas are truly interesting （even if some are largely speculative）。 I found the endnotes essential， and wish there had been less pop prose and more serious discussion。 In the section on how language tends to fix in the brain， he talks about the difficulty for adults to get the accent in a new language right， not noting that many do， and ignoring the impact that exposure to second languages at a young age has on new language learning later in life。 There are a host of other examples like this。 Sigh。 I was struck that Thinking Fast and Slow is unmentioned and omitted from the reading list。 Not sure what's up with that。。。 。。。more
Suryapratap Babar
，
This book makes the reader realize that their brain is much more capable than they think。 The author with sheer simplicity is able to explain popular processes related to brain like data retention， analysis and output， motor output， sensory substitution， etc。 Most of the book is in form of proposals made by the author。 But these are substantiated by real life case studies which gives it a bit of authenticity。The concept of 'livewiring' is very well enunciated by the author。 He has proposed how t This book makes the reader realize that their brain is much more capable than they think。 The author with sheer simplicity is able to explain popular processes related to brain like data retention， analysis and output， motor output， sensory substitution， etc。 Most of the book is in form of proposals made by the author。 But these are substantiated by real life case studies which gives it a bit of authenticity。The concept of 'livewiring' is very well enunciated by the author。 He has proposed how this livewiring can help solve the challenge of hardwired robotic devices。 The author propounds the need of AI， IOT and Smart technologies to adapt to nervous system like functioning to get to the next level。Overall， it is an expository read for those who aren't aware of nervous system and its working。 。。。more
Yohan
，
One of the best books I've read， no doubt。 I've heard a fair bit and read some about neuroplasticity， but this book takes a much deeper dive into the latest research and mechanics， at time elegantly continuing to the realms of philosophy and science fiction。 An absolute pleasure to read， enlightening and thought-provoking。 One of the best books I've read， no doubt。 I've heard a fair bit and read some about neuroplasticity， but this book takes a much deeper dive into the latest research and mechanics， at time elegantly continuing to the realms of philosophy and science fiction。 An absolute pleasure to read， enlightening and thought-provoking。 。。。more
Naj
，
One of the best books I have read in years。 It is very well written。 It uses real world examples to illustrate。 Plasticity of the brain is the central theme。 The books offers some insight on how the brain might operate。 An example？Why do we dream？ The visual cortex is kept busy this way。 If inactive， it's area would be used by some other brainfunction， and you would wake up blind。 One of the best books I have read in years。 It is very well written。 It uses real world examples to illustrate。 Plasticity of the brain is the central theme。 The books offers some insight on how the brain might operate。 An example？Why do we dream？ The visual cortex is kept busy this way。 If inactive， it's area would be used by some other brainfunction， and you would wake up blind。 。。。more
Erlin
，
One of the best books I have read on the topic。 Especially intriguing is the theory of the role of dreams from the point of view of the conservation of the domain of the visual cortex。
Ben Faulkner
，
I thought this was a fun read。 The use of metaphors and analogies was helpful。
Connie Hall
，
For any true science-y person， I suspect this is a five star！ Mind blown。
Keane Neal-Riquier
，
An amazing book that puts human complexity in the foreground with understanding at the heart of it all。
Joe B。
，
Inspiring and informative！
Bee
，