The World's Best Book Summaries
Who was Hans Asperger? Why was his research on autism so important? Hans Asperger was an Austrian physician who famously studied autistic individuals in the early 1900s. While some of his research has since been disproven and Asperger’s syndrome has been removed as a diagnosis, his research was important at the time. Continue reading for a history of Asperger’s syndrome and Hans Asperger’s research.
Do you ever feel like you don’t have a consistent self? Have you considered that your sense of self might be an illusion created by your brain? Neuroscience is shedding new light on the nature of the self. In his book No Self, No Problem, Chris Niebauer explores how recent findings in neuroscience align with ancient Buddhist teachings about the illusory nature of the self. Read more to learn Niebauer’s fascinating findings about neuroscience and the self.
What were the problems with Hans Asperger’s autism research? How did it mislead future autism researchers? In his book NeuroTribes, Steve Silberman writes that the history of autism research began with the work of Austrian physician Hans Asperger in the 1930s and 1940s. Asperger was an influential figure and thus, his flawed research had long-lasting consequences. Continue reading for a look at the flaws in Asperger’s research.
What were the differences between Kanner and Asperger’s autism research? Whose research came out on top? In the post World War I era, there were two famous doctors studying autism: Leo Kanner in the US and Hans Asperger in Austria. In his book NeuroTribes, Steve Silberman compares the two men’s approaches and points out the differences. Here’s a look at the differences in the autism research.
Who was Bernard Rimland? How did his autism research change how some saw the disorder? What were some of the problems with his theories? Bernard Rimland was an American psychologist in the mid-1900s. It was thanks to Rimland that parents were no longer blamed for causing autism, however, Rimland also promoted the idea that vaccines caused autism. Continue reading to learn about Bernard Rimland’s research and its impacts.
How are psychopaths diagnosed? Is the method ethical? Jon Ronson, the author of The Psychopath Test, set out to learn how to identify a psychopath. This led him to Bob Hare’s seminar where he learned about the Psychopath Checklist-Revised (PCL-R). Keep reading to learn about the PCL-R and the debates surrounding the identification tool.
When is the upcoming solar eclipse? What is a total solar eclipse? How can you safely view the eclipse without causing damage to your eyes? When a total solar eclipse occurs, our planet, our moon, and the sun align to enable the tiny moon to block out the giant sun. While partial solar eclipses aren’t super rare, total solar eclipses are much less common. Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming solar eclipse.
How is the brain like a computer? How is unhappiness like a data error? Mo Gawdat argues that, at its core, the brain is a computer, and its job is to understand the world and tell people how to react. When you feel unhappy, it could be because there’s an “error” in your brain. If you want to know more about the mechanical workings of your brain, keep reading.
What is the misinformation effect? What happens when your brain takes in inaccurate information? One grave error that can cause your brain to misfire is if you feed it inaccurate information. If you want your brain to produce happiness, you must ensure that you’re feeding it the proper information to produce that result. Keep reading to learn more about how the misinformation effect works in the brain.
What are the four types of information the brain consumes? What’s the difference between interpretations and inaccurate information? Mo Gawdat says there are four main categories of information that the brain takes in: sensory information, interpretations, recurring thoughts and emotions, and inaccurate takes. Your brain reacts differently to every type, so you must consume the right kind of information. Here are details about the four types of information.