Katie Birditt reviews the book We are our Brains: From the Womb to Alzheimer's, by neurobiologist Professor Dick Swaab.
I was excited when I came across this book. After all, the author is the prominent Dutch neurobiologist Professor Dick Swaab and the title promised a detailed, chronological tour through the lifetime of the human brain. However, by the last page I instead felt a strange sense of ambiguity towards the book.
Swaab has done an undeniably impressive job of weaving the fundamentals of neuroscience together with emerging research in a way that feels accessible and engrossing. He traversed the biological and philosophical terrains of the brain with ease, discussing recent developments in stem cell therapy research and deep-brain stimulation along with more abstract concepts like free will and religion. Many preconceived assumptions about morality and sexuality were challenged as Swaab explored the multiple genetic and chemical factors that influence our brains. An abundance of curious facts were scattered throughout the book to bring life to these explanations. Did you know that a father’s brain is also affected during pregnancy and that being bilingual makes an individual more resilient to dementia?
It left me with little doubt that Swaab is a die-hard proponent of ‘nature’ in the nature vs nurture debate
However, this book was coloured by assertions which often seemed unwavering and controversial. Swaab’s declaration that “we are not free to decide to change our gender identity, sexual identity, aggression level, character, religion or native language” left me with little doubt that he is a die-hard proponent of ‘nature’ in the nature vs nurture debate. This is a controversial stance to take as most researchers tend to agree that both are important and influence each other. Swaab often downplayed the impact of external influences on the brain throughout life, resolutely sticking to the notion that “behaviour is determined from birth” with certain traits “arising in the womb”.
Of course, in-utero exposures can be extremely influential in shaping our later tendencies and susceptibilities to certain conditions or traits. The use of alcohol and nicotine during pregnancy has long been known to impair fetal brain development. Swaab discussed how these substances, along with nutrient availability and exposure to maternal hormones, can impact the programming of the fetus’ very malleable brain, having lasting impacts on behaviour.
It seemed the author’s passion for neuroscience was only matched by his evident delight in controversy. Two subsection headings, “Public reactions to my views on religions” and “Public reactions to my research on sex differences in the brain”, proved this point. Indeed, his pessimistic outlook on exercise and opinion that chess was a worthy replacement for sport may warrant a new one of those headings. In a section entitled “Death of the fittest”, the focus was mostly on the different ways in which individuals partaking in sports could end up “dropping dead”. Studies documenting exercises’ beneficial effects were discounted based upon the fact that they had “poorly controlled trials”. I therefore felt that Swaab failed to provide his readers with a truly objective perspective on the relationship between exercise and the brain.
When writing a book that is aimed primarily at a non-specialist audience, I believe that taking such a definitive stance can be problematic. Opinions that are too one-sided risk oversimplifying things and presenting skewed viewpoints that fail to adequately capture the brain’s complexity.
I was impressed by the breadth of We are our Brains, but slightly disappointed to find that the chronological narrative I had been looking forward to unravelled slightly as the book progressed, with a lot of referral back to the opening chapters. However, my biggest complaint was that the author never really introduced his readers to differing views and encouraged them to actively question his opinions for themselves. Despite these shortcomings, I would still recommend this book as it will leave you well-familiarised with the organ that is the very essence of all we are. Swaab is an expert and whether that entitles him to place so much value on his own opinions is perhaps a matter for debate.
This article was written by Katie Birditt and edited by Ailie McWhinnie. Interested in writing for WiN UK yourself? Contact us through the blog page and the editors will be in touch!
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