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My Stroke of Insight

By: Jill Bolte Taylor
Narrated by: Jill Bolte Taylor
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Publisher's summary

On the morning of December 10, 1996 Jill Bolte Taylor, a 37-year-old Harvard-trained brain scientist experienced a massive stroke when a blood vessel exploded in the left side of her brain. A neuroanatomist by profession, she observed her own mind completely deteriorate to the point that she could not walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life, all within the space of four brief hours.

As the damaged left side of her brain - the rational, grounded, detail and time-oriented side - swung in and out of function, Taylor alternated between two distinct and opposite realties: the euphoric nirvana of the intuitive and kinesthetic right brain, in which she felt a sense of complete well-being and peace; and the logical, sequential left brain, which recognized Jill was having a stroke, and enabled her to seek help before she was lost completely.

In My Stroke of Insight, Taylor shares her unique perspective on the brain and its capacity for recovery, and the sense of omniscient understanding she gained from this unusual and inspiring voyage out of the abyss of a wounded brain. It would take eight years for Taylor to heal completely. Because of her knowledge of how the brain works, her respect for the cells composing her human form, and most of all an amazing mother, Taylor completely repaired her mind and recalibrated her understanding of the world according to the insights gained from her right brain that morning of December 10th.

Today Taylor is convinced that the stroke was the best thing that could have happened to her. It has taught her that the feeling of nirvana is never more than a mere thought away. By stepping to the right of our left brains, we can all uncover the feelings of well-being and peace that are so often sidelined by our own brain chatter.

A fascinating journey into the mechanics of the human mind, My Stroke of Insight is both a valuable recovery guide for anyone touched by a brain injury, and an emotionally stirring ...

©2008 Jill Bolte Taylor (P)2008 Penguin Audiobooks
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Editorial reviews

At the age of 37, Jill Bolte Taylor had reaped the benefits of a life passionately devoted to neuroscience. Motivated by her brother's struggle with Schizophrenia, Taylor often traveled to advocate for the donation of brains to science; and her work had paid off. She was successful, independent, and self-sufficient. So when she woke up on a seemingly ordinary day with a pain behind her left eye, it's little surprise that she attempted to go about her morning routine as usual. Taylor explains in detail the nuanced changes in her mental activity as her ability to grasp the world around her fades, and she slowly realizes she is having a stroke.

Taylor's narration of her memoir alternates from calm and steady to exuberant with insight. Her confidence and clarity as she recounts that morning in December of 1996 reflect her familiarity with the functioning of the brain. She articulates the gradual shutdown of her brain's systems, as her disposition transitions from indifference to panic. Taylor's description of the sensations of a brain losing its functionality is at once fascinating and utterly terrifying. To hear the terror unfold in her own voice makes this story especially intimate and moving. Taylor flickers between two contradictory modes of thinking; her left hemisphere, drowning from a ruptured AVM, tries to remind her she is suffering from stroke, while her right hemisphere, devoid of the normal chatter from the left-brain, experiences an increasing sense of nirvana and oneness with the universe. Taylor's narration reflects these opposing states of mind as her voice oscillates from a calm ambivalence to extreme distress and horror.

My Stroke of Insight is both an intense intellectual and spiritual work, with Taylor guiding her listener to a more self-conscious understanding of the way our minds construct our sense of reality. The book focuses on the morning of the stroke and the days and months following, with Taylor outlining what made her recovery possible. Undeniably the work of a scientist, Taylor remains as devoted to the study of the brain as she was before her stroke, while explaining the complexities of her subject with a clarity that makes it accessible even to those without a background in science. Her book is a rare look into stroke from the perspective of a woman uniquely qualified to describe it, and an inspirational and spiritual story of her journey to recovery. Erin Ikeler

Critic reviews

"Transformative...[Taylor's] experience...will shatter [your] own perception of the world." (ABC News)

"[Dr. Taylor] brings a deep personal understanding to something she long studied: that the two lobes of the brain have very different personalities." (The New York Times)

"Fascinating...invaluable...fearless...This book is about the wonder of being human." (Robert Koehler, Tribune Media Services)

What listeners say about My Stroke of Insight

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Incredibly interesting!

Absolutely fascinating to hear a first-person story of a young person who had a stroke and understood exactly what was happening. Great explanation of why she was totally unable to dial 911 when it happened.

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Insight.

I would recommend this book to anyone who knows someone who had a stroke and to the person who had a stroke. Only two chapters were more technical but she gave a warning before. Mindfulness, patience and practice are so important. Hope to listen to a few part again.

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Intruguiing and Educational

Any additional comments?

Jill has done an amazing job of sharing her journey and educating on the amazing plasticity of the human brain. Having survived a deadly brain bleed, Jill is able to take the reader on a journey from the moment it occurred through the many years of recovery. As a scientist, she lived the journey of right and left brain separation as though she had experienced a lobotomy. As her brain healed, she found a new personality. Her amazing ability to understand the function of the brain gave her the ability to understand what she needed to recover.
Why do we respond as we do? A great listen if brain injury has ever touched you life whether it be stroke, injury, cerebral palsy or otherwise. You will gain insight and wisdom to ponder.

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How to make your life better! Read this!

This book has contributed to making my life better. I am actively practicing gratitude. I have so much more clarity on how the two sides of the brain work. Insight is the right word to describe this book

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Jill's alive!

Would you consider the audio edition of My Stroke of Insight to be better than the print version?

Yes. The author is reading her own words.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jill is my favorite character because she is so focused and successful.

What about Jill Bolte Taylor’s performance did you like?

Her words make new knowledge easier to understand.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was floored when Jill was concious enough to realize she was having a stroke.

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Amazing story of rebirth!

Any additional comments?

I loved the entire book but can see how some listeners may not have been interested in all of the book. I was amazed at her description of the brain and what happens during a stroke. It gave me incredible insight into the brain's inner workings. I also loved that she was able to come into her life with a new perspective and make some amazing changes.

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insightful & interesting

Would you listen to My Stroke of Insight again? Why?

I would listen to this again in the future because in dealing with a person who has had a stroke it reminds me to be patient and teaches what to look for. I am sure there is more information that will be useful to me that was not immediately applicable in the first listen.

What was one of the most memorable moments of My Stroke of Insight?

One of the most informative insights was the admonition to allow for sleep so that the body and brain can heal. I had forgotten the restorative powers of rest & sleep and laughed thinking of the patients in hospitals and nursing homes who have to be woken up at the crack of dawn to get their day started. Although it is not comical it is funny that all they want to do is sleep until a reasonable hour.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, over many trips to and from the hospital.

Any additional comments?

Great book. Thanks for writing it. I hope doctors, nurses and other clinicians etc in rehab facilities read this and keep it on their shelves for reference. It is a unique perspective into the process of

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Eye opening!

For anyone who wants to know how the brain works, especially after having a stroke. It’s fascinating! Can’t recommend it enough. ❤️

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Life changing book

What an amazing, life changing find! This book is one of those that stands out as a beautiful gift to the world. The combination of personal experiences with factual science is really special.

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KFC

loved it..at a level most people can understand..very useful ad going along my spiritual journey

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