Review
------
"Memoirs of an Addicted Brain . . . takes on all of
human longing. Unlike many of his brain science colleagues and
fellow addicts, Dr. Lewis can write. One moment, he is
remembering the details of his life as an addict; the next, he is
reconstructing, based on newer scientific findings, what the
drugs were doing to his brain. The result is not just a book
about a brain on drugs, but a picture of addiction as an
unavoidable urge of human nature. . . . It's the way he drapes
his scientific understanding of human function over the
frame of his own life that makes his memoir compelling."
--"The Globe and Mail"
"In his book, Lewis seamlessly integrates the physiology and
psychology of addiction with his own vivid, disturbing memories.
It's a fascinating and fact-filled glimpse into the world of
needles and need."
--"Georgia Straight"
"[Memoirs of an Addicted Brain] is compelling, and for readers
grappling with addiction, Mr. Lewis's mechanistic approach might
well be novel enough to inspire them to seek the happiness he now
enjoys."
--"The Wall Street Journal"
" "
"Marc Lewis's Memoirs of an Addicted Brain is a cracker. . . .
The science is up to the minute. Lewis clearly knows his stuff."
--"The Australian"
Praise for "Memoirs of an Addicted Brain"
"An engrossing swirl of personal history, themes of loss and
triumph, deftly rendered brain science, and clear thinking on the
dilemma of addiction. Illuminating even to experts, accessibly
written for all."
--Gabor Mate M.D., author of "In The Realm of Hungry Ghosts"
"Kirkus"
"Developmental neuroscientist Lewis examines his odyssey from
minor stoner to helpless, full-blown addict....as [he] unspools
one pungent drug episode after another, he capably knits into the
narrative an accessible explanation of the neural activity that
guided his behavior. From opium pipe to orbitofrontal cortex, a
smoothly entertaining interplay between lived experience and the
particulars of brain activity."
"Publishers Weekly"
"Meticulous, evocative... Lewis's unusual blend of scientific
expertise, street cred, vivid subjectivity and searching
introspection yields a compelling perspective on the perils and
allure of addiction."
"Wall Street Journal"
"Compelling...for readers grappling with addiction, Mr.
Lewis's...approach might well be novel enough to inspire them to
seek the happiness he now enjoys."
"Chronicle of Higher Education"
"He proceeds deftly from episodes of his drug years to
neuroscientific explanations of his brain's response to drugs."
"Boston Globe"
"A surprising and charming addition to this crowded genre. Yes,
it embraces the classic redemption narrative - teenage
experimentation, late-'60s Berkeley, exotic forays into Malaysia
and Calcutta, the inevitable slide into deception, crime, and
desperation. But he ends up a professional neuropsychologist,
able to enliven the tired streams of addled consciousness with
metrical rapids of semi-hard science."
"Guardian"
"Marc Lewis's brilliant - if not wholly sympathetic - account of
his many mind-bludgeoning drug experiences wears its biological
determinism on its sleeve ... Lewis has certainly woven his
experiences into an unusual and exciting book... ("Memoirs of an
Addicted Brain") is as strange, immediate and artfully written as
any Oliver Sacks case-study, with the added scintillation of
having been composed by its subject."
"The Fix"
"The most original and illuminating addiction memoir since Thomas
De Quincey's seminal" Confessions of an Opium Eater..."[an]
electrifying debut."
"Midwest Book Review"
"A powerful survey recounting the author's powerful addiction and
how he broke an intense hold on drugs... This will appeal to a
range of collections, from those strong in autobiographies to
science and holdings alike."
"BBC Focus Magazine"
"(W)hile the narrative of Marc's life is a real-page turner, what
makes this such an interesting and unusual book is that it also
contains detailed descriptions of the neuro- changes that
are going on inside Marc's brain as he takes the different drugs,
and later as he wrestles to come off them. After reading the
book, I felt that I understood for the first time what addiction
is like at both the personal and the level."
"The Independent (UK)""Fascinating"
"Kirkus"
Developmental neuroscientist Lewis examines his odyssey from
minor stoner to helpless, full-blown addict .as [he] unspools one
pungent drug episode after another, he capably knits into the
narrative an accessible explanation of the neural activity that
guided his behavior. From opium pipe to orbitofrontal cortex, a
smoothly entertaining interplay between lived experience and the
particulars of brain activity.
"Publishers Weekly"
Meticulous, evocative Lewis s unusual blend of scientific
expertise, street cred, vivid subjectivity and searching
introspection yields a compelling perspective on the perils and
allure of addiction.
"Wall Street Journal"
"Compelling for readers grappling with addiction, Mr. Lewis's
approach might well be novel enough to inspire them to seek the
happiness he now enjoys.
"Chronicle of Higher Education"
He proceeds deftly from episodes of his drug years to
neuroscientific explanations of his brain's response to drugs.
"Boston Globe"
A surprising and charming addition to this crowded genre. Yes,
it embraces the classic redemption narrative - teenage
experimentation, late- 60s Berkeley, exotic forays into Malaysia
and Calcutta, the inevitable slide into deception, crime, and
desperation. But he ends up a professional neuropsychologist,
able to enliven the tired streams of addled consciousness with
metrical rapids of semi-hard science.
"Guardian"
Marc Lewis's brilliant if not wholly sympathetic account of his
many mind-bludgeoning drug experiences wears its biological
determinism on its sleeve Lewis has certainly woven his
experiences into an unusual and exciting book ("Memoirs of an
Addicted Brain") is as strange, immediate and artfully written as
any Oliver Sacks case-study, with the added scintillation of
having been composed by its subject.
"The Fix"
The most original and illuminating addiction memoir since Thomas
De Quincey'sseminal" Confessions of an Opium Eater "[an]
electrifying debut.
"Midwest Book Review"
A powerful survey recounting the author s powerful addiction and
how he broke an intense hold on drugs This will appeal to a range
of collections, from those strong in autobiographies to science
and holdings alike.
"BBC Focus Magazine"
(W)hile the narrative of Marc s life is a real-page turner, what
makes this such an interesting and unusual book is that it also
contains detailed descriptions of the neuro- changes that
are going on inside Marc s brain as he takes the different drugs,
and later as he wrestles to come off them. After reading the
book, I felt that I understood for the first time what addiction
is like at both the personal and the level.
"The Independent (UK)" Fascinating "
Kirkus
Developmental neuroscientist Lewis examines his odyssey from
minor stoner to helpless, full-blown addict .as [he] unspools one
pungent drug episode after another, he capably knits into the
narrative an accessible explanation of the neural activity that
guided his behavior. From opium pipe to orbitofrontal cortex, a
smoothly entertaining interplay between lived experience and the
particulars of brain activity.
Publishers Weekly
Meticulous, evocative Lewis s unusual blend of scientific
expertise, street cred, vivid subjectivity and searching
introspection yields a compelling perspective on the perils and
allure of addiction.
Wall Street Journal
"Compelling for readers grappling with addiction, Mr. Lewis's
approach might well be novel enough to inspire them to seek the
happiness he now enjoys.
Chronicle of Higher Education
He proceeds deftly from episodes of his drug years to
neuroscientific explanations of his brain's response to drugs.
Boston Globe
A surprising and charming addition to this crowded genre. Yes,
it embraces the classic redemption narrative - teenage
experimentation, late- 60s Berkeley, exotic forays into Malaysia
and Calcutta, the inevitable slide into deception, crime, and
desperation. But he ends up a professional neuropsychologist,
able to enliven the tired streams of addled consciousness with
metrical rapids of semi-hard science.
Guardian
Marc Lewis's brilliant if not wholly sympathetic account of his
many mind-bludgeoning drug experiences wears its biological
determinism on its sleeve Lewis has certainly woven his
experiences into an unusual and exciting book (Memoirs of an
Addicted Brain) is as strange, immediate and artfully written as
any Oliver Sacks case-study, with the added scintillation of
having been composed by its subject.
The Fix
The most original and illuminating addiction memoir since Thomas
De Quincey'sseminal Confessions of an Opium Eater [an]
electrifying debut.
Midwest Book Review
A powerful survey recounting the author s powerful addiction and
how he broke an intense hold on drugs This will appeal to a range
of collections, from those strong in autobiographies to science
and holdings alike.
BBC Focus Magazine
(W)hile the narrative of Marc s life is a real-page turner, what
makes this such an interesting and unusual book is that it also
contains detailed descriptions of the neuro- changes that
are going on inside Marc s brain as he takes the different drugs,
and later as he wrestles to come off them. After reading the
book, I felt that I understood for the first time what addiction
is like at both the personal and the level.
The Independent (UK) Fascinating "
Boston Globe
"A surprising and charming addition to this crowded genre. Yes,
it embraces the classic redemption narrative - teenage
experimentation, late-'60s Berkeley, exotic forays into Malaysia
and Calcutta, the inevitable slide into deception, crime, and
desperation. But he ends up a professional neuropsychologist,
able to enliven the tired streams of addled consciousness with
metrical rapids of semi-hard science."
Guardian
"Marc Lewis's brilliant - if not wholly sympathetic - account of
his many mind-bludgeoning drug experiences wears its biological
determinism on its sleeve ... Lewis has certainly woven his
experiences into an unusual and exciting book... (Memoirs of an
Addicted Brain) is as strange, immediate and artfully written as
any Oliver Sacks case-study, with the added scintillation of
having been composed by its subject."
The Fix
"The most original and illuminating addiction memoir since Thomas
De Quincey's seminal Confessions of an Opium Eater...[an]
electrifying debut."
Midwest Book Review
"A powerful survey recounting the author's powerful addiction and
how he broke an intense hold on drugs... This will appeal to a
range of collections, from those strong in autobiographies to
science and holdings alike."
Kirkus
"Developmental neuroscientist Lewis examines his odyssey from
minor stoner to helpless, full-blown addict....as [he] unspools
one pungent drug episode after another, he capably knits into the
narrative an accessible explanation of the neural activity that
guided his behavior. From opium pipe to orbitofrontal cortex, a
smoothly entertaining interplay between lived experience and the
particulars of brain activity."
Publishers Weekly
"Meticulous, evocative... Lewis's unusual blend of scientific
expertise, street cred, vivid subjectivity and searching
introspection yields a compelling perspective on the perils and
allure of addiction."
Wall Street Journal
"Compelling...for readers grappling with addiction, Mr.
Lewis's...approach might well be novel enough to inspire them to
seek the happiness he now enjoys."
Chronicle of Higher Education
"He proceeds deftly from episodes of his drug years to
neuroscientific explanations of his brain's response to drugs."
Book Description
----------------
"The most original and illuminating addiction memoir
since Thomas De Quincey's seminal Confessions of an Opium Eater.
. . An electrifying debut." -The Fix
