0-61805-252-6.
On September 13, 1848, Phineas Gage, the foreman of a railroad track construction gang, suffers a freak accident that will propel him into neuroscience history. Entering under his left cheekbone and passing behind his left eye, a sharp-pointed 3�-foot metal tamping rod is driven upward through his head and out the middle of his forehead. Amazingly, Phineas remains alert, uncomplaining, and talkative, telling anyone who will listen about his accident.
Although Phineas recovers physically, his mental recovery is only partial. The rod damages the part of his brain that allows him to predict, decide, and behave as a social being. �To act human, you mix emotions, actions, routines, customs, manners, words, and expressions in a predictable way. That�s what Phineas seems to have lost.� (p. 63) This book is about more than the unlucky Phineas Gage. His story is used to teach children about the evolution of brain science, and what doctors learned about the brain from studying his case history.
Today, sophisticated equipment and advanced science are used to study modern-day Phineases. Through using �lie detector� tests, which register emotional reactions, doctors can tell when patients are not experiencing emotional responses. Another test involves a computer gambling game. Two decks of cards are rigged, and patients can explain why two decks of cards are better risks than the other two. Because the part of the brain that controls judgment is damaged, they will continue to play with a �risk-all� strategy.
The author, John Fleischman, is a well-respected science writer, having written for Harvard Medical School and several distinguished science publications. He includes a glossary of medical and scientific terms, an alphabetical index, and a list of resources where readers can find more information on Phineas Gage and brain science. These include books, websites, and even the author�s personal e-mail address.
Fleischman has a writing style that engages readers immediately, beginning with the opening sentence: �The most unlucky/lucky moment in the life of Phineas Gage is only a minute or two away.� (p. 1) He discusses medical anomalies in terms with which children are familiar: �. . . Phineas had a real hole in his head.� (p. 63) The cover picture of the skull with a gaping hole will grab the attention of readers, as will the title of the book: Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story About Brain Science.
The illustrations are an important part of the story. The drawing of Phineas with the iron bar protruding from his head tells the gruesome story all on its own. Most of the illustrations teach about the brain and the history of brain science. There are photographs of MRI and electron microscope images as well as labeled diagrams of the brain. There are also photographs and drawings that tell Phineas� personal life story. All the illustrations have captions that are a useful, informative preview of what the book has to offer.
Careful attention is paid to artistic detail throughout the book. The first page of each chapter is printed on a grayscale image of a brain or skull. The first letter in the first word of each chapter is printed in an oversized font against a different colored pastel background. The captions for each illustration in that chapter have backgrounds in the same pastel hue.
The author employs literary devices effectively throughout the book. One of these is understatement. The book relates the impulsiveness of the �new� Phineas, after his accident, but describes how he found a way to live, in spite of his handicap. After telling the reader that Phineas drove a six-horse stagecoach, the author deadpans: �I bet Phineas Gage drove fast.� (p. 75)
Fleischman uses imagery to help the reader appreciate Phineas� experiences. At one point, the only way he could earn money was as an attraction in the freak show operated by P.T. Barnum. The contrast between the hurly-burly circus atmosphere and the lonely, disfigured man is extremely poignant: �The noise is deafening, with actors, jugglers, and glass blowers working the crowd. In this wild scene, would anyone notice an ordinary-looking young man with a bad scar on his forehead holding an iron rod?� (p. 44)
Fleischman succeeds in refining what was at once a personal tragedy and medical marvel into terms that young readers can understand. Skillfully incorporating medical history and scientific discovery into a �gruesome� horror story that will entice youngsters is a rare gift. Seeing how the human spirit can survive and compensate for such a remarkable loss provides insights that will benefit readers of all ages.
Related Web Sites:
Phineas Gage Information Page:
http://www.deakin.edu.au/hbs/GAGEPAGE
Neuroscience for Kids:
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html
Phineas Gage Roadside Memorial:
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/VTCAVgage.html