My Stroke of Insight：A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey

TheastonishingNewYorkTimesbestsellerthatchronicleshowabrainscientist'sownstrokeledtoenlightenmentOnDecember10,1996,JillBolteTaylor,athirty-seven-year-oldHarvard-trainedbrainscientistexperiencedamassivestrokeinthelefthemisphereofherbrain.Assheobservedherminddeterioratetothepointthatshecouldnotwalk,talk,read,write,orrecallanyofherlife-allwithinfourhours-Tayloralternatedbetweentheeuphoriaoftheintuitiveandkinestheticrightbrain,inwhichshefeltasenseofcompletewell-beingandpeace,andthelogical,sequentialleftbrain,whichrecognizedshewashavingastrokeandenabledhertoseekhelpbeforeshewascompletelylost.Itwouldtakehereightyearstofullyrecover.ForTaylor,herstrokewasablessingandarevelation.Ittaughtherthatby"steppingtotheright"ofourleftbrains,wecanuncoverfeelingsofwell-beingthatareoftensidelinedby"brainchatter."ReachingwideaudiencesthroughhertalkattheTechnology,Entertainment,Design(TED)conferenceandherappearanceonOprah'sonlineSoulSeries,Taylorprovidesavaluablerecoveryguideforthosetouchedbybraininjuryandaninspiringtestimonythatinnerpeaceisaccessibletoanyone.