Restak (The Mind, 1988; The Brain, 1984, etc.) rests on his laurels a bit with these brief, breezy essays on technological innovations, ethical issues, and as-yet-unsolved mysteries in the fast-developing field of neurology. Is it possible for any individual to become a genius? Do we possess our brains, or are our brains all we are? Do our intentions precede our actions, or the other way around? These are some of the questions Restak addresses on breaks from his practice as a neuropsychiatrist, and thanks to new knowledge gained through modern technology, surprising answers are currently emerging. Brain activity in those of normal intelligence appears profoundly different on a PET scan from that of geniuses, for example— implying that an enriched environment may heighten intelligence but is unlikely to spawn a race of geniuses. On-scalp electrodes detect brain activity briefly preceding the conscious decision to act, suggesting that our brains are slightly ahead of our minds in dealing with the external world. Such recent discoveries in neurology have sparked fascinating philosophical debates elsewhere, but Restak abandons each topic just as it begins to get interesting, switching abruptly to the more personal issues he confronts in his consulting room. Ethical dilemmas such as whether to allow a patient in coma to die, whether to inform a patient that he has a degenerative disease that will eventually destroy his mind and kill him, and whether to spend time on fruitless therapy sessions with a chronically schizophrenic woman are all potentially rich topics, but in failing to explore any one fully, these essays fail to satisfy. Cocktail party conversation—light and lively, but ultimately disappointing.
Pub Date: Nov. 1, 1991
ISBN: 0-517-57483-7
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Harmony
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1991
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
This is not the Nutcracker sweet, as passed on by Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa. No, this is the original Hoffmann tale of 1816, in which the froth of Christmas revelry occasionally parts to let the dark underside of childhood fantasies and fears peek through. The boundaries between dream and reality fade, just as Godfather Drosselmeier, the Nutcracker's creator, is seen as alternately sinister and jolly. And Italian artist Roberto Innocenti gives an errily realistic air to Marie's dreams, in richly detailed illustrations touched by a mysterious light. A beautiful version of this classic tale, which will captivate adults and children alike. (Nutcracker; $35.00; Oct. 28, 1996; 136 pp.; 0-15-100227-4)
Pub Date: Oct. 28, 1996
ISBN: 0-15-100227-4
Page Count: 136
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1996
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An extravaganza in Bemelmans' inimitable vein, but written almost dead pan, with sly, amusing, sometimes biting undertones, breaking through. For Bemelmans was "the man who came to cocktails". And his hostess was Lady Mendl (Elsie de Wolfe), arbiter of American decorating taste over a generation. Lady Mendl was an incredible person,- self-made in proper American tradition on the one hand, for she had been haunted by the poverty of her childhood, and the years of struggle up from its ugliness,- until she became synonymous with the exotic, exquisite, worshipper at beauty's whrine. Bemelmans draws a portrait in extremes, through apt descriptions, through hilarious anecdote, through surprisingly sympathetic and understanding bits of appreciation. The scene shifts from Hollywood to the home she loved the best in Versailles. One meets in passing a vast roster of famous figures of the international and artistic set. And always one feels Bemelmans, slightly offstage, observing, recording, commenting, illustrated.
Pub Date: Feb. 23, 1955
ISBN: 0670717797
Page Count: -
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1955
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