The Face in the Mirror - by Julian Keenan & Gordon G Gallup & Dean Falk (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

We've all witnessed this moment: a dog, a cat, or another animal reacting to its own reflection in the mirror, treating it as another animal to be played with or confronted. As human beings, we take self-recognition for granted, but this seemingly simple ability represents one of the most complex mysteries of neuroscience. The Face in the Mirror takes readers on a lively tour of the neurological, anthropological, and psychological roots of self-recognition -- from the intricate network in the brain that enables higher primates to recognize their image to complex, self-related emotions such as humor, embarrassment, and jealousy that play a crucial role in our evolution and survival. From animals who share our ability for self-recognition to case studies of patients who no longer recognize who they are, the authors examine some of the latest evidence on a subject that has puzzled philosophers and scientists for millennia -- how do we know who we are?

Review Quotes

"[Keenan] purges [scientific literature] of jargon, and explains in plain language the experiments investigators have performed." -- Booklist

This engaging book...will delight readers curious about the mind and the scientists who study it." -- Publishers Weekly

"Fascinating ... Keenan's writing is breezy and conversational, and the book is exciting and fun to read." -- San Diego Union-Tribune

"[A] remarkably clear book." -- Salt Lake City Tribune