What do you think?
Rate this book
The Brain in Search of Itself: Santiago Ramón Y Cajal and the Story of the Neuron
The first major biography of the Nobel Prize-winning scientist who discovered neurons and transformed our understanding of the human mind--illustrated with his extraordinary anatomical drawings
Unless you're a neuroscientist, Santiago Ram�n y Cajal is likely the most important figure in the history of biology you've never heard of. Along with Charles Darwin and Louis Pasteur, he ranks among the most brilliant and original biologists of the nineteenth century, and his discoveries have done for our understanding of the human brain what the work of Galileo and Sir Isaac Newton did for our conception of the physical universe. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1906 for his lifelong investigation of the structure of neurons: "The mysterious butterflies of the soul," Cajal called them, "whose beating of wings may one day reveal to us the secrets of the mind." And he produced a dazzling oeuvre of anatomical drawings, whose alien beauty grace the pages of medical textbooks and the walls of museums to this day.
Benjamin Ehrlich's The Brain in Search of Itself is the first major biography in English of this singular figure, whose scientific odyssey mirrored the rocky journey of his beloved homeland of Spain into the twentieth century. Born into relative poverty in a mountaintop hamlet, Cajal was an enterprising and unruly child whose ambitions were both nurtured and thwarted by his father, a country doctor with a flinty disposition. A portrait of a nation as well a biography, The Brain in Search of Itself follows Cajal from the hinterlands to Barcelona and Madrid, where he became an illustrious figure--resisting and ultimately transforming the rigid hierarchies and underdeveloped science that surrounded him. To momentous effect, Cajal devised a theory that was as controversial in his own time as it is universal in ours: that the nervous system is comprised of individual cells with distinctive roles, just like any other organ in the body. In one of the greatest scientific rivalries in history, he argued his case against Camillo Golgi and prevailed.
In our age of neuro-imaging and investigations into the neural basis of the mind, Cajal is the artistic and scientific forefather we must get to know. The Brain in Search of Itself is at once the story of how the brain as we know it came into being and a finely wrought portrait of an individual as fantastical and complex as the subject to which he devoted his life.
Unless you're a neuroscientist, Santiago Ram�n y Cajal is likely the most important figure in the history of biology you've never heard of. Along with Charles Darwin and Louis Pasteur, he ranks among the most brilliant and original biologists of the nineteenth century, and his discoveries have done for our understanding of the human brain what the work of Galileo and Sir Isaac Newton did for our conception of the physical universe. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1906 for his lifelong investigation of the structure of neurons: "The mysterious butterflies of the soul," Cajal called them, "whose beating of wings may one day reveal to us the secrets of the mind." And he produced a dazzling oeuvre of anatomical drawings, whose alien beauty grace the pages of medical textbooks and the walls of museums to this day.
Benjamin Ehrlich's The Brain in Search of Itself is the first major biography in English of this singular figure, whose scientific odyssey mirrored the rocky journey of his beloved homeland of Spain into the twentieth century. Born into relative poverty in a mountaintop hamlet, Cajal was an enterprising and unruly child whose ambitions were both nurtured and thwarted by his father, a country doctor with a flinty disposition. A portrait of a nation as well a biography, The Brain in Search of Itself follows Cajal from the hinterlands to Barcelona and Madrid, where he became an illustrious figure--resisting and ultimately transforming the rigid hierarchies and underdeveloped science that surrounded him. To momentous effect, Cajal devised a theory that was as controversial in his own time as it is universal in ours: that the nervous system is comprised of individual cells with distinctive roles, just like any other organ in the body. In one of the greatest scientific rivalries in history, he argued his case against Camillo Golgi and prevailed.
In our age of neuro-imaging and investigations into the neural basis of the mind, Cajal is the artistic and scientific forefather we must get to know. The Brain in Search of Itself is at once the story of how the brain as we know it came into being and a finely wrought portrait of an individual as fantastical and complex as the subject to which he devoted his life.
464 pages, Hardcover
Published March 15, 2022
69 people are currently reading
994 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 10, 2022
The book "The Brain in Search of Itself" (2022) pays a necessary tribute to an important figure of science at the beginning of the last century, the spaniard Santiago Ramón Y Cajal (1852-1934), responsible for the discovery of the basic cell of our brain, the neuron. Considered one of the fathers of the neurosciences, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1906, contributing to a revolution in the recognition of Spanish science. Throughout the short 450 pages, Benjamin Ehrlich gives us not only Cajal's life, his love for science and arts, but also life in Spain - from Zaragoza to Madrid, passing through Valencia and Barcelona - in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as the main theories that led to the discovery of the physiology of our nervous system.
------------------
Texto completo em Português no blog:
------------------
Texto completo em Português no blog:
August 8, 2022
I have nothing but immense gratitude to the author for having written this book, which should be a required reading to every neuroscientist out there. This biography is as engrossing in its story-telling as a good piece of fiction (though, I did struggle through the political bits - but that is generally true for me), as well as an invaluable contribution to the history of science.
It was humbling to know how the first person to truly glimpse into the nervous system also had such strong and correct intuitions about its function. Facts I thought only recently understood were pointed out more than a 100 years ago by Cajal! This humbling would not have been possible had Enrhlich not cared to so profoundly immerse himself in researching Cajal’s life, behavior, thoughts and oeuvre. Truly, It is such a shame that the little that reaches students of the brain nowadays is a mere few reprints of his drawings. Physicists, biologists and mathematicians often know of the colorful lives of the people who made the foundational contributions to their field. Why do neuroscientist know so little of Cajal’s?
I am incredibly thankful that someone went out of his way to tell the story of his legacy and his science.
It was humbling to know how the first person to truly glimpse into the nervous system also had such strong and correct intuitions about its function. Facts I thought only recently understood were pointed out more than a 100 years ago by Cajal! This humbling would not have been possible had Enrhlich not cared to so profoundly immerse himself in researching Cajal’s life, behavior, thoughts and oeuvre. Truly, It is such a shame that the little that reaches students of the brain nowadays is a mere few reprints of his drawings. Physicists, biologists and mathematicians often know of the colorful lives of the people who made the foundational contributions to their field. Why do neuroscientist know so little of Cajal’s?
I am incredibly thankful that someone went out of his way to tell the story of his legacy and his science.
December 31, 2022
An intellectual journey for and from a curious mind. Ranging from the history behind brain and neural doctrine, to the insides of Cajal’s brain, adventures, and feelings. From Spanish politics to European scientific history in the 19th Century � that still explains many of the cultural aspects of Spain today. Cajal is such an interesting character. Worth reading about, studying and learning from. This biography is great. Favorite read of 2022.
February 4, 2025
This is spectacularly well done. Ehrlich matches biographical details with both historical and scientific contexts. I particularly appreciated the balance of personal and professional woven through an overall dynamic narrative. It’s inspiring and enlightening, and especially in the conclusion, effectively motivates further reflection.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
January 22, 2025
A well-written and exciting biography of Santiago Ramon y Cajal. The author was not afraid to touch on Cajal's socialist leanings, as well as mention his flaws and mistakes. Ultimately, Ehrlich provides an encompassing and inspiring description of Cajal's life that I can recommend to anyone interested in science or history.
February 4, 2024
Great biography of an incredible scientist. I’m not a big biography person, but this one I really enjoyed. If you’re interested in biology I highly recommend this biography. I’ve learned about Cajal many times but this gave me a new perspective on him.
August 16, 2022
I loved this read. Not only did I love so much about Santiago's revolutionary inventions on science that has plays a big place on the many discoveries in todays world, it gave so much history about government, his family, advertiess right from childhoold to become a laurete prize winner. All this coined in this unfolding for you in this book is quite an adventure to learn and imagine how humans can be this resilient to achieve great unimaginable feats such as Santiago Cajal Y Ramon.
July 3, 2022
Rather exhaustive, but an extraordinary account of an extraordinary man.
April 21, 2023
fascinating. i’m not a big biography reader at all, with this one being the first i’ve read voluntarily, but ehrlich paints such a complete portrait of cahal almost 100 years after his death. i’m in shock about how detailed this book is and how cahal is described as a human being, not as a paragon of man. his neurological methods and how he persevered throughout his childhood are brilliant, but he’s still a flawed person, which ehrlich doesn’t fail to explain. maybe his virtues are a little inflated, but this man is truly extraordinary, and i’m not surprised that many of his findings are still true today
this book reignited my passion for neuroscience tenfold. i loved the meditations on consciousness in the prologue and can’t wait to continue to ask these questions. shoutout to eva for this gift so good
this book reignited my passion for neuroscience tenfold. i loved the meditations on consciousness in the prologue and can’t wait to continue to ask these questions. shoutout to eva for this gift so good
August 20, 2023
This is a long due book. Is beautifully write with a deep research base. I have read a lot about Cajal through the years and this is one of the best biographies wrote to date. Hopefully this becomes a film soon .
May 4, 2025
My dear dad always recommended biographies for me. I think I have inherited his love of biographies.
However, a pragmatic question; what is the yield of reading biographies?
As a matter of fact, reading biographies in my humble opinion doesn’t have any positive value. It only aggravate our sense of disappointment. A man with such a hectic beginning in his life, arose to such respect and eminence. However, associating such a book with the magnificent masterpiece of Malcom Gladwell’s outliers, I became less anxious about my unfulfilled life.
Indeed success to such extent doesn’t only depend on mere intellect, or relentless toil. A conundrum with such complexity can’t be explained by certain factor.
Individuals like Cajal whom the accurate description � outlier- suffices can be approached and justified through Malcom Gladwell approach. I may say a holistic approach.
These outliers were characterized by genetic makeup which conferred on them, healthy minds and bodies, plus supporting family (despite the domestic upheavals, his father was supportive in some way or another), being born in the convenient time (at the birth of both microscopy and histology) and finally being gifted with drawing.
All of this can be futile if it wasn’t for his perseverance whom he most probably inherited from his father.
I am deeply grateful for the tremendous effort of the author. It was a nice journey.
However, a pragmatic question; what is the yield of reading biographies?
As a matter of fact, reading biographies in my humble opinion doesn’t have any positive value. It only aggravate our sense of disappointment. A man with such a hectic beginning in his life, arose to such respect and eminence. However, associating such a book with the magnificent masterpiece of Malcom Gladwell’s outliers, I became less anxious about my unfulfilled life.
Indeed success to such extent doesn’t only depend on mere intellect, or relentless toil. A conundrum with such complexity can’t be explained by certain factor.
Individuals like Cajal whom the accurate description � outlier- suffices can be approached and justified through Malcom Gladwell approach. I may say a holistic approach.
These outliers were characterized by genetic makeup which conferred on them, healthy minds and bodies, plus supporting family (despite the domestic upheavals, his father was supportive in some way or another), being born in the convenient time (at the birth of both microscopy and histology) and finally being gifted with drawing.
All of this can be futile if it wasn’t for his perseverance whom he most probably inherited from his father.
I am deeply grateful for the tremendous effort of the author. It was a nice journey.
August 13, 2022
Tot mijn schande had ik nog nooit van deze Nobelprijswinnaar gehoord. Maar ik ben waarschijnlijk niet de enige. Een heel uitgebreide, maar goed leesbare biografie van de Spanjaard Ramon y Cajal. Geboren in een klein dorpje in de provincie Aragon werkt hij zich, bijna als autodidact, op tot een van de beroemdste histiologen van zijn tijd. Ehrlich beschrijft ook veel van deze tijd in een nog zeer conservatief, bijna achterlijk, Spanje. Cajal ontdekt de neuronen en nog veel meer op neuro-wetenschappelijk gebied. Dat is in die tijd een enorme prestatie. Er waren weinig of geen instrumenten, die het wetenschappelijk leven nu zo makkelijk maken. Zelfs een simpele microscoop was niet overal aanwezig.
In dit boek, uiteraard, veel neurowetenschap, maar ook een prachtige beschrijving van het karakter van de hoofdpersoon en zijn verhouding tot zijn familie en zijn vrouw en kinderen. Daarnaast komt ook de geschiedenis van Spanje en zijn kunst en politiek uitgebreid ter sprake.
Een prachtige biografie, als het onderwerp je interesseert.
In dit boek, uiteraard, veel neurowetenschap, maar ook een prachtige beschrijving van het karakter van de hoofdpersoon en zijn verhouding tot zijn familie en zijn vrouw en kinderen. Daarnaast komt ook de geschiedenis van Spanje en zijn kunst en politiek uitgebreid ter sprake.
Een prachtige biografie, als het onderwerp je interesseert.
September 18, 2022
Only true artists are attracted to science
A bit overly detailed at times, and not really integrating the title in the story as successfully as it could, this was nonetheless a very interesting read. It's fascinating to see an art-inclined scientist be so progressive and yet also so stuck in his time. Able to recognize the absurdity of classifying other animals as inferior, yet unable to see non-whites as humans with equal rights. Able to support women in science, yet not willing to help his wife at all (although it does sound like he loved her dearly). Able to recognize the uselessness of vanity, and yet be so vain. Fascinating character, and very interesting science. I loved his comment that a scientist's brain must evolve like an organism and adapt to the new discoveries.
A bit overly detailed at times, and not really integrating the title in the story as successfully as it could, this was nonetheless a very interesting read. It's fascinating to see an art-inclined scientist be so progressive and yet also so stuck in his time. Able to recognize the absurdity of classifying other animals as inferior, yet unable to see non-whites as humans with equal rights. Able to support women in science, yet not willing to help his wife at all (although it does sound like he loved her dearly). Able to recognize the uselessness of vanity, and yet be so vain. Fascinating character, and very interesting science. I loved his comment that a scientist's brain must evolve like an organism and adapt to the new discoveries.
September 23, 2024
A very impressive book.
I have to confess I've first encountered Ramón y Cajal a couple of years ago and it made a huge impression on me, with his minute and extremely detailed drawings and studies.
This is the first full length biography I read and I really loved the author's approach. Although lengthy, the book is divided in small chapters and this helps a lot.
Ramón y Cajal's life was full of turmoil but his pursuit of knowledge was unrelenting. His wife supported him throughout his struggles and challenges to the very end.
His legacy will be with us forever, even if some of his findings did not stand the test of time and further refinements of research methods.
I have to confess I've first encountered Ramón y Cajal a couple of years ago and it made a huge impression on me, with his minute and extremely detailed drawings and studies.
This is the first full length biography I read and I really loved the author's approach. Although lengthy, the book is divided in small chapters and this helps a lot.
Ramón y Cajal's life was full of turmoil but his pursuit of knowledge was unrelenting. His wife supported him throughout his struggles and challenges to the very end.
His legacy will be with us forever, even if some of his findings did not stand the test of time and further refinements of research methods.
January 7, 2023
This book was striking, but not because of the writing. It was easy to comprehend and engaging throughout, but a little simplistic at times. Granted, being a biography, I don’t feel that it required groundbreaking writing to be considered good. What was remarkable about this book was the details of Cajal’s life. Honestly, I was shocked that I knew so little about such an important scientific figure! If you’re interested in history or science, especially neuroscience, I highly recommend this book!
March 27, 2023
Listened to the audio version - if the paper version has drawings and photos, that would be a great addition.
Amazing story of success in adverse conditions. Loved how Cajal's childhood prepared him for the tremendous scientist he would become - love of drawing, apprentice as barber, and his father's medical practice.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of brain anatomy.
Amazing story of success in adverse conditions. Loved how Cajal's childhood prepared him for the tremendous scientist he would become - love of drawing, apprentice as barber, and his father's medical practice.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of brain anatomy.
May 17, 2022
Moeilijk om sterren te geven aan een genre waar ik nog niet zoveel mee kan vergelijken ( biografieën zijn niet zo mijn leesvoer).
Maar het was lekker , een tijd waar ik niet veel over wist 1850/1950 , een land waar ik niet veel over weet Spanje, en een histoloog ( Dr Cajal )
Ongelooflijk hoeveel er kon (kan?) zonder 80% van de hedendaagse technologische middelen ,
Maar het was lekker , een tijd waar ik niet veel over wist 1850/1950 , een land waar ik niet veel over weet Spanje, en een histoloog ( Dr Cajal )
Ongelooflijk hoeveel er kon (kan?) zonder 80% van de hedendaagse technologische middelen ,
July 8, 2023
A good overview of the life of the father of neuroscience. Some moments it feels like the author is divining Cajal's feelings and thoughts on things rather than reporting them, and the pacing is sped up towards the end. Overall, a good read on a man who hasn't been covered much in English biographies.
February 1, 2024
Beyond just a biography; an exploration of the political and scientific culture of Ramon y Cajal’s Spain. To understand his unique strain of brilliance one must also have a grasp of the complicated and contemporaneously-incomprehensible world he was a product of; and your appreciation for his world can be found through this book.
June 2, 2023
Through Ehrlich's masterful historical storytelling, Cajal comes alive again. His beliefs, his optimism, his tragedies, and - most critically - his passion for his craft are lived through by the reader. As tangible as the pages themselves. A great novel about a great man.
August 20, 2023
The author undertook an immense task in researching the life and work of Ramon y Cajal, producing a beautiful book that takes Cajal from a mythological hero to perfectly human. I cannot recommend this book enough if you’re interested in neuroscience or neuroanatomy.
Want to read
November 19, 2023Biography of the father of neuroscience, guy who discovered the neuron and showed its place in the structure of nervous function.
By Benjamin Ehrlich, who wrote "The Master Mourner" in BASS 2023, a short story about not-knowing. Hey, when a guy has this many interests, I have to check them out.
By Benjamin Ehrlich, who wrote "The Master Mourner" in BASS 2023, a short story about not-knowing. Hey, when a guy has this many interests, I have to check them out.
October 16, 2022
A very thorough biography of Ramon y Cajal and his achievements in discovering neurons and his brain studies.
October 3, 2023
Greatly written book about Ramon y Cajal. Truely an important story.
January 23, 2024
Short, entertaining biography of Cajal. So happy I chose this instead of Cajal's own biography!
February 1, 2024
Great underdog story of the father of neuroscience. Recommend.
February 19, 2024
couldn't get past the grave digging...
March 10, 2024
Brilliant biography of an acclaimed Spanish neuroscientist and activist. Totally absorbing if you lo
ve the history of science in its social and political context.
ve the history of science in its social and political context.
December 31, 2024
One of the hero’s of neuroscience. This is a very interesting biography of an important neuroscientist who shaped the field of neuroanatomy and developmental neurobiology. Every student of the brain and biology generally should know about Cajal’s seminal discoveries.
Read
May 15, 2022DNF
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.