It has been remarked that if the brain were so simple we could understand it, we would be so simple we couldn't. Commencing with a brief history of neuroscience, from the ancient practice of drilling holes in the head to relieve headaches to the latest research from MRI and CT scans, this accessible guide sets out to explore what we do know about man's most complex organ. Including the most up-to-date research on the cerebral processes behind a wide array of human activity - from sleep, memory, and our capacity for language to pleasure, pain, and consciousness itself - this lively and entertaining introduction assumes no previous scientific knowledge and offers a tantalizing glimpse into the very essence of who we are.