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“One can open this book at any chapter – but having done so, one cannot put it down … one of those rare books that will delight professionals and public alike.” Oliver Sacks

Alois Alzheimer, James Parkinson, Hans Asperger and Sergei Korsakoff are all names which have become synonymous with a disease, syndrome or disorder. However we often know little about the individuals themselves and the circumstances surrounding their discoveries.

In his new book, Douwe Draaisma expertly reconstructs the lives of twelve ‘names’ from the science of mind and brain. Disturbances of the Mind provides a fascinating, illuminating, and at times touching insight into the history of brain research.

Thanks to Draaisma’s elegant, engaging style, the case histories of Asperger, Bonnet, Capgras, Clérambault, Korsakoff and Gilles de la Tourette syndromes; Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases; the areas of Broca and Brodmann; Jackson’s epilepsy; and the Gage matrix are all brought to life and transformed into unforgettable tales. This is the first book to look at the background behind these names and is easily accessible to all, with captivating patient case studies.

“This book is a treasure for those studying the mind and brain…” Simon Baron-Cohen

Take a look inside at http://ow.ly/xAm8

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Disturbances of the Mind | Douwe Draaisma | Hardback 9780521117548 | To publish 5 November 2009 | £16.99 | 366 pages

About the Author

Douwe Draaisma is Professor in the History of Psychology at The University of Groningen in the Netherlands. His previous work Why Life Speeds Up As You Get Older: How Memory Shapes Our Past was shortlisted for the Aventis Prize for scientific writing. The Dutch Psychological Association honoured him with a Media Prize in 2002.

About Cambridge University Press

Cambridge University Press was founded by a royal charter granted to the University of Cambridge by King Henry VIII in 1534. It is the oldest printer and publisher in the world, having been operating continuously since 1584, and is one of the largest academic publishers globally.

Its purpose is to further the University’s objective of advancing learning, knowledge and research. Throughout its history, the Press has maintained a reputation for innovation and enterprise, through its use of printing technologies, through publishing the latest research, and through supporting the latest methodologies for teaching and learning.

This year we celebrate 425 years of continuous publishing, a year that also marks the 475th anniversary of King Henry VIII’s grant to Cambridge University Press of ‘Letters Patent’ allowing us to print ‘all manner of books’. 2009 also sees the 800th anniversary of the University of Cambridge, providing an occasion for us to join in celebrating our respective foundations by commemorating the books, people, ideas and achievements that have emerged from this shared history and which continue to inspire and transform the world.