My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor

Summary

During recovery from a stroke, neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor began having spiritual experiences that expanded her understanding of what the mind can achieve. In her book (and TedTalk by the same name), she describes psychedelic experiences where she feels the division between her body and the world dissolve. She experiences what she calls nirvana — a place of pure bliss.

“Although many of us may think of ourselves as thinking creatures that feel, biologically we are feeling creatures that think” ~ Jill Bolte Taylor

About the Author

Inspired by her brother’s mental illness, Taylor began postdoctoral studies as a fellow at Harvard Medical in the early 1990s. Her work involved mapping the brain to determine how cells communicate.

On December 10, 1996, Taylor woke up and slowly came to realize that she was having a massive stroke. Her work today is centered on sharing how this experience changed her life and teaching people that every human mind has access to this type of feeling, should they seek it.

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