Rating: 
Summary: I returned this text book!
Review: I actually was forced to use this book for a course and shelled out hard earned cash for it! Turns out, the teacher never even used it, and instead taught from other, more professional sources. Not until I made the mistake of highlighting the first few chapters, and falling asleep in the library on campus. I was able to return it to the bookstore and get some money back, but the book isn't being used next semseter anyway. Rarely, ok, NEVER, have I posted a note about a textbook, but this one was not helpful, and cost me too much! A word of warning for fellow students...avoid this book!
Rating:
Summary: If required, buy it used
Review: I found this book used online, and was glad I did not pay full price. The other reviews bring out the essential points I have against this book, style of presentation, poorly organized, outdated references....so I need not add to them. I doubt this book will find the audence it seeks. It will not become a standard text in neuropsycholgy as it fails at it's basic point...to teach. I do not doubt the author knows his material. But knowing a subject does not mean one is qualified or capable of presnting it to others. The text creates more problems than it solves. I would not recommend it to anyone interested in learning about this amazing subject, as far better texts exist.
Rating:
Summary: If required, buy it used
Review: I found this book used online, and was glad I did not pay full price. The other reviews bring out the essential points I have against this book, style of presentation, poorly organized, outdated references....so I need not add to them. I doubt this book will find the audence it seeks. It will not become a standard text in neuropsycholgy as it fails at it's basic point...to teach. I do not doubt the author knows his material. But knowing a subject does not mean one is qualified or capable of presnting it to others. The text creates more problems than it solves. I would not recommend it to anyone interested in learning about this amazing subject, as far better texts exist.
Rating: 
Summary: hard to understand
Review: I know this is not supposed to be easy stuff to get, but the way the book is written makes it all the harder to comprehend. I know classes where this book is required, and fear taking it. In previous courses, Rains required Carl Sagan, and other authors who had a crisp and interesting approach to the topic of the human brain and behavior. This book is too dry and uninteresting. Dr. Rains does know his stuff. He lacks the ability and warmth to communicate it in this text.
Rating:
Summary: Better work is out there
Review: I reviewed this book for a class on neuropsych for next year, having seen an advanced copy. I was disappointed that the writting is so dry, the topics covered briefly, and that several mistakes appear in the text. The book serves as a complex edition, more for those with a solid background in the subject than for someone just starting out. Rains seems fixated on the images of William James and Sigmund Freud. While Freud started with a background in neurology, he soon left for other, more notorous studies. James, while well thought of as a man of science, also fell short of a scientific method in several areas. The author, while obviously well versed in the subject, seems to have no skill for communicating that knowledge. I myself, had a hard time understanding his style, which is often obtuse. For educators, there are better and more comprehensive textbooks out there on this subject.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: In advance of publishing this text, the author proclaimed that his book would be a comprehensive and accessible textbook that capitalizes on the strengths of a single-authored work by a knowledgeable authority. Unfortunately, although I do not doubt Dr. Rains' competence as a clinical neuropsychologist, I am unconvinced that his book meets its intended purpose. The writing is generally dry and the coverage of topics is typically superficial. For instance, the technique of functional MRI (fMRI) neuroimaging is described in under two paragraphs. Other topics, such as his explanation of the intracarotid sodium amytal test ("Wada Test") show that he is relying on outdated references based on his own training experiences. The references used in this text are generally not as current as they should be.
I would only consider this text for an undergraduate course, but frankly there are still better texts out there for this purpose (e.g., Kolb & Wishaw). This text is entirely unsuitable for even an introductory level graduate school course.
Rating:
Summary: Misguided
Review: One has to wonder the purpose G. Dennis Rains had in penning this book, or where his mind was when he was researching it. The book publisher promised a ground breaking work to be the definitive textbook for neuropsychology. This claim, while raising the bar, proved beyond the literary powers of Rains to write. The chapters seem disorganized, the writing style seems more like the lectures that put me to sleep as a grad student than the field experience and crisp presentation of many other authors that brought the subject to life for me, and helped me choose my career path. Rains seems to lack passion for his work, going through the motions, crawling when he should soar. Students will, and the few I advise and who have glanced at this book in my office, comment that the work lacks vitality. I must agree with their observations. Rains holds as his idols the twin figures of Sigmund Freud & William James, yet he fails to capture any of the imaginitive fire these men had in their work. I would not use this text to teach a class, neither would I advise it be used as a refrence souces for grad students. There are far better works out there. A major disappointment in academic literature.
Rating:
Summary: a book badly in need of a rewrite
Review: This text book sets out to be all things to all people, and ends up falling short on all counts. I tend to agree with the other reviews, but something more can be said for the style of the writing. Rains paces his material at a snails pace, and often his references are off. His style lacks the crisp humanness of other authors and he seems to be so engrossed in the material, that he has forgotten how to instill the text with passion and fun, the things that attracted me to the subject of neurology in the early days of my career, the so called "sense of wonder", is missing here. What we get are just the facts, and the author seems intent on showing everyone how much he knows. This leaves the reader overwhelmed and tired. Rains should have spent more time reworking his style, and injected it with verve and life. He, like one of his idols, William James, is often beyond the scope of human understanding.
Rating:
Summary: Confusing even when Dr Rains himself is teaching the class
Review: This textbook, requires a level of understanding that is not found in most undergraduate psychology students. Even when Dr. Rains himself was teaching the class, the book was entirely confusing. This textbook is not user friendly and certainly does not achieve the goal of teaching psychology students about cognitive neuropsychology.
Rating:
Summary: Confusing even when Dr Rains himself is teaching the class
Review: While I agree with some of observations made by reviewers to this work, (the style of presentation could be tightened and crisper), this is nonetheless, an impressive undertaking. Rains demonstrates skill and knowledge of the subject and seems to be targeting those interested in beginning a path towards neuropsychology as a profession. The scope of the book is massive, as would any undertaking of this nature. While not for everyone, Rains has created a book that can be informative and educational. This is not easy material, folks, nor should it be presented as such. With supplimental material, and an experienced professor teaching a course, this book would make a good addition to any program.
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