Synopses & Reviews
Infiltrating the world of neuroscience, Dennis Cass offers up his own brain to research, subjecting his mind and body to electric shocks, mind-numbing attention experiments, cigarettes, stress tests of his own devising, and the comedy of Bill Maher. Like a slightly off-kilter George Plimpton, Cass, in his daring exploits, reveals the intricacies of fear, attention, stress, reward, and consciousness from the inside out. Along the way, he weaves in the story of his stepfather's manic depression and drug addiction, in addition to his own problems which are many. Cass attacks the subject of the human brain with wit and candor, turning popular science into something distinctly human. Head Case is an imperative read for anyone who has ever wondered, Why am I who I am?
Review
"Despite the intelligence and easy wit of Cass's prose, it is all somehow a bit dismal, and he ultimately expresses regret for the effort that produced his earnest, honest testimony." Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
A lighthearted analysis of neuroscience in the tradition of Super Size Me follows the author's submission to a series of electric shocks, attention tests, stress tests, and more, an experiment during which he learns about the intricacies of human fear, anxiety, and consciousness while remembering his family struggles with depression and addiction. 40,000 first printing.
About the Author
Dennis Cass has been a freelance journalist for ten years, writing for such publications as Harper's Magazine, the New York Times, and Mother Jones. He has also appeared on NPR's This American Life and has been a columnist for Inside.com, GQ, and the online journal Slate. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife, Liz, and their son, Owen.