2019
The Nobel Laureate Who Met a Polite Raccoon in the Woods
When the brain goes mad: 30 rare and unusual mental syndromes
by Monika Niehaus
The human brain is a highly complex and highly functional structure consisting of almost 90 billion nerve cells. But it can go out of sync, due to genetic factors, hormonal effects, trauma or other causes. In extreme cases, our control centre then creates bizarre delusions – brilliant narratives that are completely convincing to the person concerned. In her second book on such phenomena, Monika Niehaus has compiled 30 rare psychological disorders – from a conviction to have been abducted by aliens, to being sexually attracted to criminals, to the hyperthymestical syndrome where people can remember every detail of their past life. Narrated in an interesting, humorous and sensitive way, the author relates a variety of cases, some of them famous, others less so, while introducing us to the history of art and literature and presenting scientific explanations. This fascinating book shows the genius that resides in our brain – and how madness can often be explained.
