The self in pieces

What holds the self together - and what happens when it falls apart?

The Self in Pieces: Neuropsychology Across Life takes readers on a journey through the brain's role in shaping identity across the human lifespan. Drawing on landmark case studies and the latest insights from neuroscience, the book reveals how our minds are built, fractured, and sometimes reimagined.

Beginning with childhood, it explores how brain plasticity, play, and imagination lay the foundations for learning and resilience. It then turns to memory, showing how episodic, semantic, and procedural systems weave the story of who we are - and how amnesia, false memories, and trauma can alter that story. The book also examines what happens when the brain is damaged: from Phineas Gage's dramatic personality change, to the cognitive losses caused by stroke and dementia, to the remarkable recovery offered by neuroplasticity. Finally, it highlights the surprising ways creativity can emerge from disruption, as injury or illness sometimes uncovers hidden artistic abilities or reshapes the imagination.

Accessible yet thought-provoking, The Self in Pieces blends scientific depth with human stories, offering a compelling look at the fragile, flexible, and resilient nature of the self. It will appeal to readers interested in psychology, neuroscience, creativity, or simply the timeless question of what makes us who we are.