The Living Brain

It is not possible in the space of a brief notice here to do any s?rt of justice to this remarkable book. Its author's name is, of course, enough to indicate that it deals with electroencephalography, but no one should suppose that this is all it does. Dr. Walter discusses the information this new technique has made available on the process of learning, and in his phrase on "intimations of personality." This is, of course, a long trek from the view, still all too common, that E.E.G. can be used to detect epileptics and a few psychopaths. The whole mechanism of the brain has been opened to fresh study; and the first fruits are being presented here. The author's style is worthy of his subject; it is always clear and assured; but it also scintillates with many a beautifully turned phrase, or allusion, which explain or underline, but never distort, his scientific statements; even doggerel has its place in clarification. Many will find his last chapter most stimulating of all : "The prain tomorrow." We see to our horror the pace of life increasing,