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Norman Doidge
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The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science Audio CD – Unabridged, April 19, 2011

by Norman Doidge M.D. (Author), Jim Bond (Reader)
4.7 out of 5 stars 5,283 ratings
#1 Best Seller in Popular Neuropsychology

“Fascinating. Doidge’s book is a remarkable and hopeful portrait of the endless adaptability of the human brain.” —Oliver Sacks

The discovery that our thoughts can change the structure and function of our brains—even into old age—is the most important breakthrough in neuroscience in four centuries. In this revolutionary look at the brain, bestselling author, psychiatrist, and psychoanalyst Norman Doidge, M.D., introduces both the brilliant scientists championing this new science of neuroplasticity and the astonishing progress of the people whose lives they’ve transformed. Introducing principles we can all use as well as a riveting collection of case histories—stroke patients cured, a woman with half a brain that rewired itself to work as a whole, learning and emotional disorders overcome, IQs raised, and aging brains rejuvenated—The Brain That Changes Itself has “implications for all human beings, not to mention human culture, human learning and human history” (The New York Times).

“Readers will want to read entire sections aloud and pass the book on to someone who can benefit from it….Links scientific experimentation with personal triumph in a way that inspires awe.” —The Washington Post

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  1. Language
    English
  2. Publisher
    Brilliance Audio
  3. Publication date
    April 19, 2011
  4. Dimensions
    6.5 x 1.13 x 5.5 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    145580570X
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1455805709
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The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Norman Doidge, M.D., is a psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and researcher on the faculty at the University of Toronto's Department of Psychiatry and the Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research in New York, as well as an author, essayist, and poet. He is a four-time recipient of Canada's National Magazine Gold Award. He divides his time between Toronto and New York.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Brilliance Audio
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 19, 2011
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Unabridged
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 145580570X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1455805709
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1.13 x 5.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 5,283 ratings

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Norman Doidge

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
5,283 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and easy to read, providing a great overview of neuroplasticity and offering hope for people with brain injuries. They appreciate the book's entertainment value and consider it worth the price. The brain's adaptability is well-explained, with one customer noting how it can reroute impulses. The pacing receives mixed reviews, with several customers finding it dragging.

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InsightReadabilityBrain plasticityHopeBrain adaptabilityValue for moneyEntertainment valuePacing
603 customers mention "Insight"582 positive21 negative

Customers find the book insightful, describing it as an interesting and understandable read that provides a great overview of brain science, changing their understanding of the subject.

"...That Changes Itself" is an extensive and thoroughly enjoyable look at the history of neural plasticity, albeit from the point of view of a staunch..." Read more

"...His book is full of well chosen and detailed stories about scientists and their discoveries as well as case reports of triumph over unbelievable..." Read more

"...Dr. Doidge's book is a beautiful presentation of the human story behind the scenes -- including that of the researchers who committed their lives to..." Read more

"...Chapter 2, Building herself a better brain, is perhaps the most inspiring chapter of the book. It is the story of Barbara Arrowsmith Young...." Read more

543 customers mention "Readability"525 positive18 negative

Customers find the book engaging and easy to read, with one customer noting that the text is written in an entertaining style.

"...Seriously, READ THIS BOOK. You will laugh, you will cry, you will probably get really mad...." Read more

"...I would say that this book is a good read for any audience, but less interesting for those that already have an extensive background in neuroscience...." Read more

"...This book is a good complement to Sharon Begley's and if you can afford it, then I strongly recommend that you get both books...." Read more

"...It is remarkable though how important is the brain activity. Simple training and varied activities focused on learning new skills can keep the brain..." Read more

82 customers mention "Brain plasticity"82 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's coverage of neuroplasticity, describing it as a new horizon in brain science, with one customer noting it serves as a great introduction to the topic.

"...Neuroplasticity is a topic of enormous practical importance...." Read more

"...You will be touched by neuroplasticity and its ability to gain some hope in people who are discouraged by their neurological conditions...." Read more

"...During young age the brain is very plastic and through a process implanted in our genetic code and practiced millions of years cognitive functions..." Read more

"This book serves as a great introduction to neuroplasticity, a paradigm shift on neuroscience's thinking of what is possible in brain rehabilitation...." Read more

70 customers mention "Hope"70 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate how the book provides hope for people with brain injury, with one customer noting it offers an optimistic prognosis for neurological disorders and another mentioning stories of recovery from strokes and developmental delays.

"...about her experience when using this device and how it helped her keep her balance...." Read more

"...of individuals ridding themselves of phantom limbs, recovering from strokes to a degree that was thought impossible, living with half of a brain,..." Read more

"...There are heart warming stories of stroke victims who had gone through traditional rehabilitation but after extensive rehab based on the theory of..." Read more

"...These stories give hope and new therapeutic possibilities to many of the debilitating and challenging medical issues many face...." Read more

46 customers mention "Brain adaptability"46 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's exploration of brain adaptability, noting that it is a fantastically adaptable unit that undergoes constant change throughout life.

"...The increasing evidence that the brain is a highly adaptable structure that undergoes constant change throughout life is a far cry from the idea..." Read more

"...He shows how adaptable the human brain really is and that the different parts of it don’t have their designated, fixed functions...." Read more

"...We now know the Brain is not a static organ, but is capable of great flexibility or "Plasticity"...." Read more

"...The basic concept is simple: the brain can change itself--rewire itself, so to speak...." Read more

17 customers mention "Value for money"17 positive0 negative

Customers find the book worth its price and incredibly valuable.

"This book is fascinating and incredibly valuable for anyone with any number of neurological disorders...." Read more

"...This was a real value for the money book and I compliment the author. One winning book!" Read more

"It was an affordable price. I needed the book for study." Read more

"The first few chapters are worth the price of the book. They are fascinating and engaging, and inspiring...." Read more

10 customers mention "Entertainment value"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining and funny.

"...Seriously, READ THIS BOOK. You will laugh, you will cry, you will probably get really mad...." Read more

"I liked the author's style. He is a fun and educational writer." Read more

"...It is not very hard to read like other books of its kind, and quite fun...." Read more

"This book presents cutting edge neuroscience in an entertaining and accessible way...." Read more

10 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive7 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with several finding it dragging, while one customer describes it as a keeper.

"...even though this was a good book, it started to bore towards the end...." Read more

"...Never give up. Never, never, never give up. The brain is a amazing piece of work." Read more

"...The final chapters petered off for me, and I had to make myself keep reading. However, that wouldn't stop me from recommending the book." Read more

"Very interesting, but after a few chapters it drags a bit for me...." Read more

Keep Learning and Exercise!
5 out of 5 stars
Keep Learning and Exercise!
Excellent book: To keep your brain healthy into old age, do physical exercise and keep learning new (challenging) things. Now you don’t have to read it. :-) But do anyway if you’re interested in learning what they knew about how the brain functions way back in year 2007.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Jersey Devil
    5.0 out of 5 stars The most important book you will ever read!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    READ THIS BOOK if you have children, if you are a children, if you are young, if you are old, if you plan to get older. Seriously, READ THIS BOOK. You will laugh, you will cry, you will probably get really mad. (Or at least really, really disappointed...especially if you're an educator!) Oh yeah, READ THIS BOOK IF YOU'RE AN EDUCATOR. If I could make you read this book...I WOULD. If I could make everyone in the education and/or medical fields read this book...I WOULD. If I could make everyone standing in a field read this book...I WOULD!!! Just read it already...you'll thank me...and probably Dr Doidge...you'll thank him too.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Guided Tour of Neural Plasticity
    Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    As the title implies, "The Brain That Changes Itself" is an extensive and thoroughly enjoyable look at the history of neural plasticity, albeit from the point of view of a staunch supporter. I found the book to be very well organized, and Doidge's arguments to be very cohesive. The book chapters are filled mostly with stories and case studies regarding a common theme in the study of neural plasticity.

    Doidge begins by relating the story of Paul Bach-y-Rita's research and efforts to debunk the widely held localizationist theories of the 20th century. He presents some more dramatic case studies such as Cheryl who used her tongue to learn to stand after a debilitating brain injury or Barbara, a seemingly retarded woman, who ended up with advanced degrees and a successful research career (these stories are every bit as interesting as they sound). Doidge relates again and again how massive and usually debilitating brain injuries were overcome by physical and mental therapies.

    Following his analysis of catastrophic brain injuries and defects, Doidge gives examples of more everyday plasticity. He relates how common disorders such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia can be attributed to (often minor) traumas and incidents during the critical childhood period. He talks about several schools which have had great success rehabilitating victims of those and other disorders through concentrated and prolonged efforts to retrain the brain. He also gives examples of how plasticity can affect even our emotions or sexual tastes.

    In the final chapters, Doidge relates what he calls the "paradox of plasticity." He explains that, while plasticity can be used to treat crippling injuries, it can also be responsible for equally crippling mental disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder. He explains how rewired neural circuitry can create phantom pain in amputated limbs, reinforce bad habits into addictions, and give rise to compulsive behavior. He further delves into the field of psychoanalysis and reveals the power of thought. He describes many cases where psychoanalysis and new ways of thinking provoke measurable changes in the structure of the brain. He relates one study where a group of people were able to strengthen their finger muscles just by imagining daily finger exercises. As Doidge puts it: "...But now we can see that our "immaterial" thoughts too have a physical signature, and we cannot be so sure that thought won't someday be explained in physical terms. While we have yet to understand exactly how thoughts actually change brain structure, it is now clear that they do, and the firm line Descartes drew between mind and brain is increasingly a dotted line."

    Finally, for those that make it past the last chapter, the appendices and notes section actually contains a wealth of interesting information. Doidge annotated and explained all of the case studies and references that he uses in the preceding chapters, and included some interesting additional arguments about the nature of culture and its effects on the brain.

    As with any book that isn't a textbook, "The Brain That Changes Itself" is filled with opinions. Fortunately, many of these opinions are well supported, but readers new to the field could benefit from some time spent in the notes section. Overall the writing style is casual, easy to follow, and very engaging. I particularly enjoyed Doidge's heavy use of case studies to prove his points. Most of the case studies were tremendously interesting, and I regard them as one of the book's best features. I would say that this book is a good read for any audience, but less interesting for those that already have an extensive background in neuroscience. As a final note, I would highly recommend the Kindle version of this book. Unlike some electronic books I have read, the formatting was great, there were no typos, and the book was organized in such a way that I didn't waste time constantly scrolling or flipping pages back and forth.
    25 people found this helpful
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  • Dr. Richard G. Petty
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Leopard Can Change His Spots
    Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2007
    Verified Purchase
    Neuroplasticity has recently become a bit of a buzzword. Long the preserve of neuroscientists, this is one of a number of new books on the topic written for the public.

    I recently reviewed Sharon Begley's superb book - Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain - and this one is in a similar vein. Though it is rather different from Sharon's book in which the main focus was on the changes wrought in the brains of meditators, while this one looks at the extraordinary responses of the brain to injury or congenital absence of sensory organs. Since this book went to press, yet another study, this time from India, has shown that some blind children may be able to regain their sight, an observation that is helping turn a lot of neurology on its head.

    Neuroplasticity is a topic of enormous practical importance. The increasing evidence that the brain is a highly adaptable structure that undergoes constant change throughout life is a far cry from the idea that we are simply the product of our genes or our environment. Our genes help determine how we can respond to the environment; they do not make us who we are. And we all have untapped potential. This is more than the old nature/nurture debate in a new bottle. It has implications for human potential: how much can you develop your own brain and mind? Can you really teach a child to be a kind, loving person who can dramatically exceed his or her potential? Can psychotherapy really help change your brain for the better? Can we help re-wire the brain of a psychopath? Do we have the right to try?

    The author is both a research psychiatrist and a psychoanalyst who has interviewed many experts in the field. His book is full of well chosen and detailed stories about scientists and their discoveries as well as case reports of triumph over unbelievable adversity. There is also a good discussion of people who have remarkable abilities despite the absence of key regions of the brain.

    This book is a good complement to Sharon Begley's and if you can afford it, then I strongly recommend that you get both books. If your interest is more in personal development and its effects on the brain, then Sharon's book will be the one for you. If you are more interested in the science and anecdotes about scientists and some amazing patients, then this book may be the one to go for.

    Highly recommended.

    Richard G. Petty, MD, author of Healing, Meaning and Purpose: The Magical Power of the Emerging Laws of Life
    759 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • amrit
    1.0 out of 5 stars Waste of time
    Reviewed in Singapore on May 10, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Very draggy, too many words but too less matter, same concept as LIVEWIRED by David Eagleman but way poorly written , comparatively
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  • Dr. Eckhardt Gehde
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sehr gute Zusammenfassung
    Reviewed in Germany on April 4, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Für Experten nichts komplett Neues. Aber eine sehr gute Zusammenfassung wissenschaftlicher Ergebnisse zur Wechselwirkung zwischen Körper und Seele — besonders für alle Zweifler daran, ob es Zusammenhänge zwischen psychischen und körperlichen Vorgängen gibt bzw. ob psychische Prozesse gezielt dazu eingesetzt werden können, körperliche Reaktionen und Krankheitszustände positiv zu beeinflussen. Dabei zeigt sich — wie vielfach seit Jahrzehnten beobachtet und in Einzelstudien belegt — daß auch traditionelle Verfahren wie Yoga hierzu besonders gut geeignet sind und intensiv wirken. Mich persönlich hat dieses Buch darin bestärkt, im psychotherapeutischen Behandlungsalltag unsere Patienten zu eigenem Engagement zu ermutigen.
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  • King Brosby
    5.0 out of 5 stars tremendous book about NEUROPLASTICITY
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 20, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    This is a terrific book. I highly recommend it.

    The book focuses on neuroplasticity (the terrific functional flexibility of the brain), and very often is able to tell the story of the latest ideas in that field whilst relating them to particular human stories. It is written in a clear, thoughtful, engaging way. It's an important book because it is popularising important new ideas. I rather agree with the reviewer who says that Doidge overstates his case and tends to explain everything in terms of neuroplasticity, ... but I am very impressed by the quality and clarity of the book as a whole.

    I have had a stroke, and I read with interest chapter 5 (which deals with stroke). I felt it was well written and convincing. I found the basic message (that the brain's ability to recover from injury is enormously greater than conventionally understood) tremendously encouraging. That is not to say that my problems of hemiplegia have been solved, but my understanding of the potential for recovery, and how to achieve it, has been improved.

    As I read the book, I felt that important insights and clues to research were sometimes introduced briefly with little fanfare. E.g. 1) I think the discussion about neuroplastic change and evolution should lead us to question further the orthodoxy about how species evolve, that is natural selection is not the only force at work; and 2) isn't it a puzzlement that in a plastic environment anything is stable and solid? I wonder if the plastic brain is analogous to a fly-by-wire aircraft?
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  • John D. Michael
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most interesting and rewarding books I have ever read.
    Reviewed in Italy on January 5, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This book reads well and the organization is easy to follow. Much more importantly it delves into a subject which I think is critical to understanding ourselves, essentially how our brain functions. There are things so pertinent and fundamental that I could effectively put them to work while reading the book. It is also reassuring that the writer and people in this field understand that there are negative aspects as well to the tenets of the book.

    I have already given the book as a gift to friends and relatives close to me and recommended it to many others. I am now starting to read it a second time in order to create an outline of all the themes and in order to better understand how this may change and improve my life as well as my relationships with others.
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  • taayann
    5.0 out of 5 stars 野球大好きおやじ
    Reviewed in Japan on November 1, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    日本語版を読むより、内容理解がスムースでした。なぜかは、ご推測ください。人間の「脳」の素晴らしさ、神秘さを知り、自分でも更に何か出来そうだぞと確信でき、元気が出てきました。　まずは、TOEICテストに、６７歳にして初挑戦しようと計画しております。以上
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