by Sam Kean
First published 2014
In the 1800s, a daring new science emerged: neurosurgery. Sam Kean brings to life the fierce competition and colorful personalities behind its rise. From a young Italian doctor who revolutionized brain surgery to a driven American who attempted the first lobotomy, Kean weaves a captivating tale of the pioneers who risked everything to map the human mind. Their discoveries - and shocking mistakes - would change our understanding of the brain forever.
Genres: biography, science, medical, 20th-century, non-fiction, 19th-century, history-of-science
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: competition, discoveries
Setting: Maryland, New Guinea, Detroit, Philadelphia, Gettysburg, Melbourne, Papua New Guinea, Oxford, Seattle, Denver, Hartford, Connecticut
432 pages · Paperback · Back Bay Books