The Bard on the Brain : Understanding the Mind Through the Art of Shakespeare and the Science of Brain Imaging

New York and Washington, D.C.:: The Dana Press, 2003. 9" wide by 9.25" tall. A bright, shiny, clean, square copy. The Dust Jacket is NOT price clipped (35.00). No chips. No tears. No owner's name or bookplate. No remainder mark. No underlining. No highlighting. No margin notes. Illustrated with photographs throughout, many in full-color. Bibliographical references. Index. Bound in the original yellow cloth, lettered in black on the spine. From the Dust Jacket: "To count the ways and times William Shakespeare is quoted every day would be impossible, but it is easy to see why we return to his words again and again. Shakespeare discerned the unique capacities and problems of our humanity. He showed them from every angle. His plays are filled with the passions, desires, and deviances of man. His themes -- love, family relations, adultery, power, treachery -- are as modern as today's front page, and illuminating all is his uncanny insight into the human mind and brain. That is what fascinates us. Here we explore the beauty and mystery of the human mind and the workings of the brain, following the paths the Bard pointed out in the most famous speeches from his plays. Paul Matthews, director of brain imaging at Oxford University, and Jeffrey McQuain, scholar of Shakespeare's language, find the playwright an irresistible guide and mentor. It is Shakespeare who sees what we need to know in our modern quest to understand the engine of our humanity. How remarkable that a man from a small village in 17th century England marches so confidently along the very frontiers of 21st century science. Having him ask again the questions we are trying to answer today makes them even more compelling and absorbing. This joint exploration of Shakespeare and brain science leads to many places. On the magical isle of THE TEMPEST, Miranda's joy at seeing others like her takes us to the discovery of how our brain is shaped by development and experience. In RICHARD III, Richard's chilling description of his villainous character and evil intentions -- 'Dive, thoughts, down to my soul' -- raises the question of what in the brain enables us to make moral choices. The French princess Katherine's struggle to communicate with her English future husband in HENRY V leads to the wonder of how our brain masters language. And in MACBETH, Macbeth's anguished appeal to his wife's doctor, 'Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased ...Raze out the written troubles of the brain...?' points to urgent discoveries we are still trying to make. Thirty-five of the most beautiful passages from Shakespeare's plays are given here, together with stunning images of the brain from researchers around the world. To this intoxicating mix are added performance photos of acclaimed British and American actors -- such as Morgan Freeman as Petruchio, Sir Ian McKellen as Prospero, Alfre Woodard as Paulina, and Anthony Hopkins as King Lear -- from celebrated Shakespeare companies. The result of this partnership among scientist, scholar and Shakespeare is a unique view of the human drama and a wonderfully revealing perspective on the brain." . First Edition. Hard Cover. Fine condition./Fine dust jacket.. ix, 235pp..