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

I must recommend this thought-provoking book to anyone with an interest in either of the two fields that Paul M. Matthews expertly interweaves.I teach English and so was familiar with many of the passages of Shakespeare that are analysed but I had never myself given a moment's thought to any of the play's links to science. At first I was sceptical of the credence of these links to the brain but by the time I had read the first few chapters I was genuinely intrigued by the way Shakespeare does seem to have known about the brain.One criticism that may be leveled is that it may not go into real depth in either of the fields the book covers, and for this reason it might not appeal to a true expert in Neurology or Shakesperean literature. However I for one found it not just an entertaining read but an intellectually stimulating one as well.

I was really intrigued by this book -- how often do scientists and literary scholars collaborate? This is not an academic book in the purest sense--but what's wonderful about it is that is written by two academics who are not afraid to show their love of Shakespeare and who want their work and interests to be accessible to a broad audience. The result is a fun and refreshing look at art and science, which I really enjoyed. The gorgeous illustrations are enticing, as is the often illuminating and always thought provoking commentary by the two authors. Since I am not a scientist, I was particularly taken by the brain imaging and commentary by Dr. Matthews. As a drama lover, I also enjoyed the many photos from performances of the Bard's plays.