Extraordinary Life

You were not the same person yesterday as you are today. Or were you? And what does the answer tell us about who we really are?

In this warm, revelatory and deeply human book, consultant neurologist Guy Leschziner takes us on an extraordinary journey through the one experience that every single one of us shares: the journey of a human life, as seen through the brain that lives it.
From the first flash of light at the moment of conception to the final flickering of consciousness at the end of life, our brains are never still. They grow and shrink, wire and rewire, remember and forget. They fall in love, take risks, grieve, adapt and find meaning in the face of loss. They are shaped by everything we encounter: the food our mothers ate, the friends we made, the losses we survived. And as they change, so do we — though quite how much, and what that means for our sense of self, is one of the most fascinating questions this book sets out to explore.
Drawing on decades of practice at the forefront of clinical neurology, Guy Leschziner weaves together cutting-edge science, remarkable case studies and honest personal reflection to illuminate every stage of our lives. Why do teenagers take such extraordinary risks? What does falling in love do to the brain? Do we share brain synchrony with our friends? Why does time seem to accelerate as we age? What can near-death experiences tell us about consciousness? And what, in the end, makes us who we are?
A book for readers of Oliver Sacks, Atul Gawande or Matthew Walker – and written with clarity, compassion and candour, this is popular science at its most intimate and universal.
Because whatever age you are, whatever stage of life you find yourself in, this is your story. And it is more remarkable than you could possibly imagine.