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Zimmer has mapped out how the human brain was revealed to
scientists in the latter half of seventeenth century England.
His
book, Soul Made Flesh, tells the story of Thomas Willis,
the founder of modern neurology and a largely forgotten figure,
says Zimmer.
Willis
was at the heart of a group of natural philosophers known
as the Oxford Circle who revealed the brain's machinations
through a series of rather gory experiments.
Zimmer
told the BBC Bristol website: "I started to wonder how
long people had been thinking about the brain in the same
way as we do: as this three-pound chemical reactor that produces
our thoughts, emotions and sense of self.
Bowl
of curds
"As
I probed the history of neurology, I was fascinated by the
alien concepts people had about the brain 350 years ago, and
how rapidly their views soon changed to mirror those of our
own."
Research
for the tome included the usual library study and expert analysis.
But
the author went one step further: "I
even went to a brain dissection at a medical school in New
York. I
wanted to see real brains up close."
Zimmer
took over from Stephen Jay Gould as monthly essayist in the
US magazine Natural History, and is coming to Bristol to talk
about his work in April.
There
are only three UK dates on the tour, so feel privileged.
"I'll
be talking about how the brain changed in the mid-1600s from
being considered nothing but a "bowl of curds", in the words
of the English philosopher Henry More, to the seat of the
soul.
"In
working on my three books, I became more and more interested
in the history behind today's scientific breakthroughs, and
I was ready to write a book focused mainly on historical figures.
"All
of my work has been organized around evolution, and the human
brain is certainly one of the most remarkable products of
that process," he said.
Don't
expect any more missives just yet from Zimmer: "When
I wrote the proposal for Soul Made Flesh in 2001, my
first child was not yet born.
"Now
my second is three months old. So I'm going to need some extra
time before leaping into the next book."
Speaking
about the book, psychologist
Oliver Sacks said: "Willis was the first man to come
to grips with the human brain, to see how different parts
of it had different functions, and how the human soul could
be embodied in it.
"In
the book, Zimmer gives a remarkable account of England's 'genius
century', and of the intertwined lives of Willis and his contemporaries."
Zimmer will be at Blackwell's on Park Street on Tuesday 6th
April at 7pm.
Tickets
are £2 and are available instore.
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