Issue 86 COSMOS – 109CTE results in such things as poor
judgment, lack of impulse control,
aggression, anger, paranoia and emotional
volatility. The researchers diagnosed
Hernandez with CTE, described his brain
as a classic case of the pathology, and
suggested that this may explain some of his
criminal acts.
Of course, it’s not just sport. Head
injuries can result from vehicle collisions,
incidents at work and from everyday
activities – think children falling over. In
Shaken Brain,Sandel looks at the specific
groups of people with a higher-than-normal
chance of concussion, such as the elderly,
victims of domestic violence, the homeless
and the young.
She also examines prevention as a public
health issue to address it on an institutional
level. Her work features stories from a wide
range of patients, to provide an insight into
prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
CHUCK SMEETON
Scatterbrain: How the mind’s
mistakes make humans creative,
innovative and successful
by Henning Beck
NewSouth Books
RRP $34.99
IF YOU CATCH YOURSELF worrying about
your memory, decision-making skills or
creativity,Scatterbrainis definitely worth
a read.
Combining his in-depth knowledge of
neuroscience with his passion for science
communication, Henning Beck uses just
the right amount of biology to engage
readers who have little understanding of
brain structure and function – all the while
reassuring them that their brains are, in
fact, simply too intelligent, too creative, or
working too well to function like a machine.
“...the ability of our thoughts to wander
is in fact a human strength that enables us
to solve problems in a new way,” he writes.
Throughout, the book provides many
practical and relatable examples of brain
advancements and failures, and even has
some tests for readers to challenge their
brains.
Scatterbrain will leave you feeling
reassured and proud of your brain’s
abilities. It will even provide you with
some strategies to improve its performance
under pressure, when making decisions and
when needing creative inspiration from it.
JENNIFER CHALMERSUnder the Stars:
Astrophysics for bedtime
by Lisa Harvey-Smith,
illustrated by Mel Matthews
Melbourne University Press
$39.99ANY PARENT WILL TELL you that along
with “No!”, “Why...?” is the most popular
word among children. Their wonder for the
world around us is an amazing thing, and
Lisa Harvey-Smith manages to capture that
wonder, and keep the passion for discovery
going, in her beautifully illustrated
and engaging first foray into children’s
publishing.
Each chapter ofUnder the Starstackles
a thorny question about space, the Universe
and everything up to a galaxy far, far away.
It’s a brilliant read for older children to
amuse themselves and dip in and out
of when they want answers to random
space-related questions (keeping away
from the often incorrect landmine that is
internet information). It’s also detailedand interesting enough for teenagers and
young-at-heart adults (why is the sky blue?).
The book is organised into clear parts
covering spacey themes such as the Earth,
the Solar System and the Universe, flagging
for readers as to what area of space their
question might come under. Clearly posed
questions for each chapter direct readers
quickly to the answers they’re burning to
know. Text is super easy to navigate for the
generation used to instant results.
The volume of questions means this is
a book that will become well thumbed over
time, with readers returning to gratify new
curiosities as they arise. Questions also
instantly make the subject matter more
accessible, as readers don’t have to wade
through chapters that might not be of
immediate interest.
Harvey-Smith has captured how
children think and want to access
information perfectly, and she entertains
as she goes, with humorous references
to poos included – right on the target
demographic. “How to say” help peppers
the entire book, giving children a helping
hand to access the knowledge and be able
to talk about it and understand concepts
further, without ever talking down to
them or making them feel like they should
already know something.
Overall, this is a delightful book – and
one I can’t wait for my infant daughter to
read, once she learns how to!
HILARY SCHUBERT JONESREVIEWSZEITGEIST