THIS BOOK IS FULL OF BRAINS

A close look at the brain’s parts, regions, and functions.

Simplified painted images of body parts and a cast of diversely hued figures in animated poses give this survey an elementary look, but it actually goes through the gross anatomy of our brain and nervous system in a methodical way—describing the features of each major region, from the cerebellum’s flocculonodular lobe to the parietal lobe’s primary somatosensory cortex, and explaining not only how each processes specific types of sensory data, stores memories, or keeps our bodies ticking, but also the science behind dreams and imagination. Just to nudge all of this away from abstraction, several optical illusions and simple tests of memory or perception are also tucked in. The book goes on to examine the notion that plants, computers, and one-celled animals have “brains” of a sort. (Spoiler alert: No.) Following a shivery look at wasps and fungi that can control the minds of their prey and a glimpse at the “grisly past” of brain surgery, this eye-opening overview of “the most important system in your whole body” closes with remarks on the present and future of neuroscience.

Meatier than it might seem at first glance but not just for brainiacs.