Rating: 
Summary: Good.
Review: This is a good book, covering a lot of ground, introductory, that discusses a lot of research. It certainly would not hurt someone that is not a begginer to check it out, because it sumarizes a lot of information.
The book starts off with general functional neuroanatomy. Next it explores issues in hemispheric specializations. It talks of split-brain research, among other things. Presents a nice overview, not being affected by the popularization (and simplification) of the "left-brain, right-brain" idea. The next section covers the labour that the limbic system does, namely regulating and emotive functions. THere is also some neuropharmacology. Next the book dicusses perception and sensation, does a good job in presenting neuropsychological, neurobiological and cognitive evidence. There is a chapter on language, its mechanisms and disorders. Next comes memory, its different types, concentrating on neurological underpinnings, hipocampus, temporal cortex, molecular changes. LTP etc..Finally there is the frontal lobes. They are characterized as the seat of reason, consciousness etc.To me the most intersting part of the book are the contributions made by prominent authors. There are sections on consciousness, by Penrose and CRick. Damasio talks of convergence zones as binding mechanism. LeDoux talks of emotions, Rose of molecular bases of memory, and Richard Gregory of perception, among other contributions.
The other thing that makes this book worthwile are the ilustrations, clarity, typography and presentation of the book.
Rating: 
Summary: The matter that makes mind
Review: _Mapping the Mind_ is a comfortable and engaging introduction into what is known so far about how the brain works. You will learn (or review) the different parts of the brain, their place in human evolution, and the role of each in the myriad of activities and abilities we all take for granted. Revealing case studies are cited of how damage to a particular part of the brain may impair the sufferer in a very specific and sometimes bizarre way. Carter poses pointed questions about human free will, and to what extent we really have such. This book is a good launchpad for further reading on the brain, e.g. by Damasio and Ramachandran. The illustrations all have a surrealistic, computer-generated look about them which doesn't entirely appeal to me, but does help unify the overall page design. Most are clear, but for some it may take a while to establish the orientation - L to R, R to L, or looking up from underneath. Actually, I would give this book four and a half stars; there are various glitches of editing, like repeated material in the same chapter, and some very minor typos and formatting quirks. And the prose takes on just a faint shade of purple here and there, in the spirit of Diane Ackerman (_A Natural History of the Senses_), though I realize this was part of Carter's effort at enhanced readability, and mostly it comes off OK. Overall, this book is a good plunge to take if you're interested in yourself and why and how you do what you do - and who isn't?
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