Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, a Harvard-trained neuroanatomist and author of "My Stroke of Insight," shares her remarkable journey of recovery from a stroke that left her with a unique understanding of brain function. She discusses her new book, "Whole Brain Living," which introduces the four characters of our brains and how they influence our choices. Jill delves into the duality of the left and right hemispheres, illustrating their roles in identity and emotion. Emphasizing mindfulness, she offers insights on retraining our responses to enhance emotional well-being.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Brother's Influence
Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor's interest in the brain stemmed from observing her brother, who had schizophrenia.
This led her to become a neuroanatomist, studying how the brain creates our reality.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Stroke Experience
During a stroke, Dr. Taylor witnessed her left brain functions shutting down, resulting in the loss of language, memory, and self-identity.
This experience left her in a state of present moment awareness, similar to an infant.
insights INSIGHT
Loss of Self
When the left brain goes offline, the sense of individual self disappears, replaced by a blissful experience of unity with everything.
Dr. Taylor's experience reflects the Buddhist concept of no-self, a state of being free from ego.
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The Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our Life
Jill Bolte Taylor
In "Whole Brain Living," Jill Bolte Taylor expands on her previous work by introducing a framework for understanding the four distinct characters within the brain. She explains how these characters—two from the left hemisphere and two from the right—influence our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Taylor provides practical strategies for integrating these characters to achieve greater self-awareness and emotional regulation. The book emphasizes the importance of understanding the brain's structure to improve mental well-being. It offers a unique blend of neuroscience and self-help, empowering readers to take control of their mental and emotional states.
My Stroke of Insight
A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey
Jill Bolte Taylor
On December 10, 1996, Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, a thirty-seven-year-old Harvard-trained brain scientist, suffered a rare form of stroke in the left hemisphere of her brain. This event led to a complete deterioration of her cognitive functions within four hours, yet she alternated between the logical left brain and the intuitive right brain, experiencing euphoria and a sense of complete well-being. The book chronicles her eight-year recovery and the profound insights she gained into the brain's functioning and the potential for inner peace. Taylor's experience has been widely acclaimed, including a viral TED talk and recognition as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2008.
The master and his emissary
The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World
Iain McGilchrist
This book argues that the division of the brain into two hemispheres is essential to human existence, allowing for two incompatible versions of the world. The left hemisphere is detail-oriented, prefers mechanisms to living things, and is inclined to self-interest, while the right hemisphere has greater breadth, flexibility, and generosity. McGilchrist takes the reader on a journey through the history of Western culture, illustrating the tension between these two worlds as revealed in the thought and belief of thinkers and artists from ancient to modern times. He argues that the increasing dominance of the left hemisphere in today’s world has potentially disastrous consequences.
Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor is a Harvard-trained and published neuroanatomist. In 1996, Jill experienced a severe hemorrhage in the left hemisphere of her brain, causing her to lose the ability to walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life. Her memoir, My Stroke of Insight documents her experience with her stroke and her 8-year recovery and it spent 63 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Her new book is Whole Brain Living: The Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters that Drive Our Life.
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In This Interview, Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor and I Discuss Whole Brain Living and …
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