Title: The Biology of Thought: A Neuronal Mechanism in the Generation of Thought – A New Molecular Model 1st Edition
Author: Krishnagopal Dharani
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 978-0-12-800900-0
Pages: 229
Genre: Neuroscience
Reviewed by: Derek Sun
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Pacific Book Review
In scientific literature, the line differentiating popular science writing from academic science writing is invariably and unyieldingly strong to the point of seeming insurmountable. The former consists of widely read books and media articles meant to be digested by large groups of laymen, and generally face disdain and dismissal from scientists and other academics who work in science, while the latter is made up of books and articles that are meant for a readership that can be counted on one or two hands, and are fated to remain obscure and barely understood. Popular science is easy to consume but often relies on oversimplification and flawed explanation of phenomena, while academic science cares nothing about maintaining readers’ interest and challenges people to read through the entire text without falling asleep.
It is thus a rare pleasure and fortune to come across The Biology of Thought, a newly released treatise on neuroscience by Indian physician, civil servant, and writer Krishnagopal Dharani summarizes modern understanding of neurobiology, philosophy, and computing, and most notably postulates the molecular-grid model, a new theory of explaining memory formation and thought that underlies human behavior and action. This book is both conservative and revolutionary, giving readers a thorough understanding of all major and relevant concepts of neuroscience and introducing them to new and radical ways of understanding how the human brain works in processing information and retaining memory.
Beginning with lessons in anatomy of the nervous system, Dharani builds to more complex topics, writing in a structured and comprehensive manner that allows him to ease the audience into a wider array of subjects, including neuron activities, mechanisms of memory, and philosophical and engineering implications of neuroscience. Like a pyramid constructed from perfectly fitting blocks, Dharani starts with a solid foundation and approaches finer details, creating a masterful work of literature. This book would be eminently suitable for use in biology and philosophy classes focusing on exploring the activity and culture of the brain, and is also an excellent source for individuals seeking to learn about the brain and thought formation
The great challenge of most science writing is communicating and describing science in a manner that is easy and interesting enough for general readers to enjoy and digest while not simplifying it so much that the information becomes false or useless. Dharani has written a book that is undoubtedly an academic source that scientists can learn from and cite, but is also a work that any reader can, with effort, read and comprehend.
The span of knowledge he covers is immense and the level of concentration and work needed to follow the book is high, but the rewards are even more abundant. In just over two hundred pages, one can receive a thorough primer on all aspects of neuroscience, from the anatomy of the nervous system to the activities of neurons and their role in forming memories and making human life and change possible. Four parts comprise the body of the book, and Dharani uses each section to cover an important subject, making sure that each previous part reinforces his latest points. Whatever the topic, Dharani’s prose is always clear, concise, and capable of explaining complicated concepts effectively so that any reader will eventually understand them.
His commentary is witty and his points are devastatingly sharp. This is not a typical scientific book; it is far from a popular science writing, but retains plenty of humility and openness to new ideas, and is a valuable read for anyone interested in getting a handle on the current state of brain research and potential progress that neuroscientists will make in the future.
The Biology of Thought is precisely the sort of scientific literature that more people should be writing and reading. It summits the twin peaks of being both enlightening and entertaining, which is no simple feat for a scientific book intended for an academic audience. For its skillful synthesis of scientific and philosophical findings and revelations it has about neuroscience’s future in science and medicine, this book deserves to travel beyond the confines of the ivory tower and find a wider audience. The implications of the molecular-grid model are immense, and could influence how quickly science progresses in treating many illnesses and what approaches scientists and physicians take. Our ways of thinking and understanding the brain and our lives as people, along with the progress of computer science are also affected by The Biology of Thought. This is science writing at its finest and most cerebral, and should not be missed.
