Guy Leschziner – författare

'Has the power to change the way you look at the world' Steven Bartlett 'The heir to Oliver Sacks' David Baddiel A FINANCIAL TIMES BEST BOOK OF 2024 AN INDEPENDENT BOOK OF THE MONTH Gluttony. Greed. Sloth. Pride. Envy. Lust. Anger.These are the seven deadly sins, the vices of humankind that define immorality, the roots of all evil in the world. Or so some believe.But do these sins really represent moral failings, or are they simply human functions that aid us? Are they just the result of how our bodies, psyches, and brains in particular, are wired?This new book by Dr Guy Leschziner, a professor of neurology and sleep medicine, explores the underlying nature of the seven deadly sins, their neuroscientific and psychological basis, their origin in our genes and crucially how certain medical disorders give rise to them.Drawing on his clinical practice, we meet individuals whose physical and psychological conditions have given rise to these sins, where brain injury or other experiences have sparked ‘immoral’ actions. He explores how illness can simply expose what lies within us and investigates how the origins of these traits lie in evolutionary imperatives to preserve the wellbeing of the tribe. Perhaps, he suggests, these character traits are less of a moral question and more biological, which raises fundamental issues of responsibility and blame in the face of ‘sin’.Combining cutting-edge science placed in the context of real-life experience with patients, the book reexamines where the boundaries between normal human nature, pathology and sin are drawn. And, most importantly, whether these hard-wired traits truly represent sin, or simply the intensity of our intrinsic desire to survive and thrive.

'Has the power to change the way you look at the world' Steven Bartlett 'The heir to Oliver Sacks' David Baddiel A FINANCIAL TIMES BEST BOOK OF 2024 AN INDEPENDENT BOOK OF THE MONTH Gluttony. Greed. Sloth. Pride. Envy. Lust. Anger.These are the seven deadly sins, the vices of humankind that define immorality, the roots of all evil in the world. Or so some believe.But do these sins really represent moral failings, or are they simply human functions that aid us? Are they just the result of how our bodies, psyches, and brains in particular, are wired?This new book by Dr Guy Leschziner, a professor of neurology and sleep medicine, explores the underlying nature of the seven deadly sins, their neuroscientific and psychological basis, their origin in our genes and crucially how certain medical disorders give rise to them.Drawing on his clinical practice, we meet individuals whose physical and psychological conditions have given rise to these sins, where brain injury or other experiences have sparked ‘immoral’ actions. He explores how illness can simply expose what lies within us and investigates how the origins of these traits lie in evolutionary imperatives to preserve the wellbeing of the tribe. Perhaps, he suggests, these character traits are less of a moral question and more biological, which raises fundamental issues of responsibility and blame in the face of ‘sin’.Combining cutting-edge science placed in the context of real-life experience with patients, the book reexamines where the boundaries between normal human nature, pathology and sin are drawn. And, most importantly, whether these hard-wired traits truly represent sin, or simply the intensity of our intrinsic desire to survive and thrive.

'Has the power to change the way you look at the world' Steven Bartlett 'The heir to Oliver Sacks' David Baddiel A FINANCIAL TIMES BEST BOOK OF 2024 AN INDEPENDENT BOOK OF THE MONTH Gluttony. Greed. Sloth. Pride. Envy. Lust. Anger.These are the seven deadly sins, the vices of humankind that define immorality, the roots of all evil in the world. Or so some believe.But do these sins really represent moral failings, or are they simply human functions that aid us? Are they just the result of how our bodies, psyches, and brains in particular, are wired?This new book by Dr Guy Leschziner, a professor of neurology and sleep medicine, explores the underlying nature of the seven deadly sins, their neuroscientific and psychological basis, their origin in our genes and crucially how certain medical disorders give rise to them.Drawing on his clinical practice, we meet individuals whose physical and psychological conditions have given rise to these sins, where brain injury or other experiences have sparked ‘immoral’ actions. He explores how illness can simply expose what lies within us and investigates how the origins of these traits lie in evolutionary imperatives to preserve the wellbeing of the tribe. Perhaps, he suggests, these character traits are less of a moral question and more biological, which raises fundamental issues of responsibility and blame in the face of ‘sin’.Combining cutting-edge science placed in the context of real-life experience with patients, the book reexamines where the boundaries between normal human nature, pathology and sin are drawn. And, most importantly, whether these hard-wired traits truly represent sin, or simply the intensity of our intrinsic desire to survive and thrive.

''Has the power to change the way you look at the world'' Steven Bartlett''The heir to Oliver Sacks'' David BaddielA FINANCIAL TIMES BEST BOOK OF 2024AN INDEPENDENT BOOK OF THE MONTHGluttony. Greed. Sloth. Pride. Envy. Lust. Anger.These are the seven deadly sins, the vices of humankind that define immorality, the roots of all evil in the world. Or so some believe.But do these sins really represent moral failings, or are they simply human functions that aid us? Are they just the result of how our bodies, psyches, and brains in particular, are wired?This new book by Dr Guy Leschziner, a professor of neurology and sleep medicine, explores the underlying nature of the seven deadly sins, their neuroscientific and psychological basis, their origin in our genes and crucially how certain medical disorders give rise to them.Drawing on his clinical practice, we meet individuals whose physical and psychological conditions have given rise to these sins, where brain injury or other experiences have sparked ‘immoral’ actions. He explores how illness can simply expose what lies within us and investigates how the origins of these traits lie in evolutionary imperatives to preserve the wellbeing of the tribe. Perhaps, he suggests, these character traits are less of a moral question and more biological, which raises fundamental issues of responsibility and blame in the face of ‘sin’.Combining cutting-edge science placed in the context of real-life experience with patients, the book reexamines where the boundaries between normal human nature, pathology and sin are drawn. And, most importantly, whether these hard-wired traits truly represent sin, or simply the intensity of our intrinsic desire to survive and thrive.

'Has the power to change the way you look at the world' Steven Bartlett 'The heir to Oliver Sacks' David Baddiel A FINANCIAL TIMES BEST BOOK OF 2024 AN INDEPENDENT BOOK OF THE MONTH Gluttony. Greed. Sloth. Pride. Envy. Lust. Anger.These are the seven deadly sins, the vices of humankind that define immorality, the roots of all evil in the world. Or so some believe.But do these sins really represent moral failings, or are they simply human functions that aid us? Are they just the result of how our bodies, psyches, and brains in particular, are wired?This new book by Dr Guy Leschziner, a professor of neurology and sleep medicine, explores the underlying nature of the seven deadly sins, their neuroscientific and psychological basis, their origin in our genes and crucially how certain medical disorders give rise to them.Drawing on his clinical practice, we meet individuals whose physical and psychological conditions have given rise to these sins, where brain injury or other experiences have sparked ‘immoral’ actions. He explores how illness can simply expose what lies within us and investigates how the origins of these traits lie in evolutionary imperatives to preserve the wellbeing of the tribe. Perhaps, he suggests, these character traits are less of a moral question and more biological, which raises fundamental issues of responsibility and blame in the face of ‘sin’.Combining cutting-edge science placed in the context of real-life experience with patients, the book reexamines where the boundaries between normal human nature, pathology and sin are drawn. And, most importantly, whether these hard-wired traits truly represent sin, or simply the intensity of our intrinsic desire to survive and thrive.

You were not the same person yesterday as you are today. Or were you? And what does the answer tell us about who we really are? In this warm, revelatory and deeply human book, consultant neurologist Guy Leschziner takes us on an extraordinary journey through the one experience that every single one of us shares: the journey of a human life, as seen through the brain that lives it.From the first flash of light at the moment of conception to the final flickering of consciousness at the end of life, our brains are never still. They grow and shrink, wire and rewire, remember and forget. They fall in love, take risks, grieve, adapt and find meaning in the face of loss. They are shaped by everything we encounter: the food our mothers ate, the friends we made, the losses we survived. And as they change, so do we — though quite how much, and what that means for our sense of self, is one of the most fascinating questions this book sets out to explore.Drawing on decades of practice at the forefront of clinical neurology, Guy Leschziner weaves together cutting-edge science, remarkable case studies and honest personal reflection to illuminate every stage of our lives. Why do teenagers take such extraordinary risks? What does falling in love do to the brain? Do we share brain synchrony with our friends? Why does time seem to accelerate as we age? What can near-death experiences tell us about consciousness? And what, in the end, makes us who we are?A book for readers of Oliver Sacks, Atul Gawande or Matthew Walker – and written with clarity, compassion and candour, this is popular science at its most intimate and universal.Because whatever age you are, whatever stage of life you find yourself in, this is your story. And it is more remarkable than you could possibly imagine.

You were not the same person yesterday as you are today. Or were you? And what does the answer tell us about who we really are? In this warm, revelatory and deeply human book, consultant neurologist Guy Leschziner takes us on an extraordinary journey through the one experience that every single one of us shares: the journey of a human life, as seen through the brain that lives it.From the first flash of light at the moment of conception to the final flickering of consciousness at the end of life, our brains are never still. They grow and shrink, wire and rewire, remember and forget. They fall in love, take risks, grieve, adapt and find meaning in the face of loss. They are shaped by everything we encounter: the food our mothers ate, the friends we made, the losses we survived. And as they change, so do we — though quite how much, and what that means for our sense of self, is one of the most fascinating questions this book sets out to explore.Drawing on decades of practice at the forefront of clinical neurology, Guy Leschziner weaves together cutting-edge science, remarkable case studies and honest personal reflection to illuminate every stage of our lives. Why do teenagers take such extraordinary risks? What does falling in love do to the brain? Do we share brain synchrony with our friends? Why does time seem to accelerate as we age? What can near-death experiences tell us about consciousness? And what, in the end, makes us who we are?A book for readers of Oliver Sacks, Atul Gawande or Matthew Walker – and written with clarity, compassion and candour, this is popular science at its most intimate and universal.Because whatever age you are, whatever stage of life you find yourself in, this is your story. And it is more remarkable than you could possibly imagine.

The Oxford Handbook of Sleep Medicine provides a comprehensive, practical guide to clinicians of all backgrounds for the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders across clinical specialties. Sleep medicine is encountered in almost every field of medicine yet clinical training and practical guidance is often difficult to find. This handbook is essential for all clinicians seeking a clear and concise quick-reference guide to sleep disorders in their day-to-day practice, from the GP to specialists in respiratory medicine, psychiatry, neurology and surgery. It will also provide an excellent resource for those pursuing specialist training in clinical sleep medicine.This handbook is written from a practical perspective, to guide clinical practice, rather than providing simply theoretical knowledge. It provides guidance from experienced clinicians across a range of specialties to provide a truly comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to sleep medicine. This handbook covers the full range of sleep disorders, from insomnia to very rare movement disorders, to ensure the reader has quick access to the right information whenever they need it.

The Oxford Handbook of Sleep Medicine provides a comprehensive, practical guide to clinicians of all backgrounds for the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders across clinical specialties. Sleep medicine is encountered in almost every field of medicine yet clinical training and practical guidance is often difficult to find. This handbook is essential for all clinicians seeking a clear and concise quick-reference guide to sleep disorders in their day-to-day practice, from the GP to specialists in respiratory medicine, psychiatry, neurology and surgery. It will also provide an excellent resource for those pursuing specialist training in clinical sleep medicine.This handbook is written from a practical perspective, to guide clinical practice, rather than providing simply theoretical knowledge. It provides guidance from experienced clinicians across a range of specialties to provide a truly comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to sleep medicine. This handbook covers the full range of sleep disorders, from insomnia to very rare movement disorders, to ensure the reader has quick access to the right information whenever they need it.

The Oxford Handbook of Sleep Medicine provides a comprehensive, practical guide to clinicians of all backgrounds for the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders across clinical specialties. Sleep medicine is encountered in almost every field of medicine yet clinical training and practical guidance is often difficult to find. This handbook is essential for all clinicians seeking a clear and concise quick-reference guide to sleep disorders in their day-to-day practice, from the GP to specialists in respiratory medicine, psychiatry, neurology and surgery. It will also provide an excellent resource for those pursuing specialist training in clinical sleep medicine.This handbook is written from a practical perspective, to guide clinical practice, rather than providing simply theoretical knowledge. It provides guidance from experienced clinicians across a range of specialties to provide a truly comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to sleep medicine. This handbook covers the full range of sleep disorders, from insomnia to very rare movement disorders, to ensure the reader has quick access to the right information whenever they need it.

*As featured on Steven Bartlett''s Diary of a CEO podcast* '';From the opening paragraph, I was spellbound, entranced. Through real stories about what happens when our fragile perception of the world around us and within us is severed, Guy Leschziner connects us back to our senses.'' Professor Alice Roberts Where are you now? Look around you; what can you see? Close your eyes and think of a loved one do you see their face? Stretch out a hand; what can you feel with your fingertips, your palm, the soft underside of your wrist? What can you hear nearby and far away? The information you receive from your senses makes up your world. But that world does not exist. What we perceive to be the absolute truth of the world around us is a complex reconstruction, a virtual reality created by the complex machinations of our minds in tandem with the wiring of our nervous systems.But what happens if that wiring goes awry? What happens if connections falter, or new and unexpected connections are made? Tiny shifts in the microbiology of our nervous systems can cause the world around us to shift and mutate, to become alien and unfamiliar. In The Man Who Tasted Words, consultant neurologist Guy Leschziner takes us on a journey through the senses, exploring how each one shapes our experience of the world. And investigating what happens when they deviate from the norm. Along the way we meet a number of extraordinary individuals and step through the looking glass and into their worlds. Worlds where hot and cold are reversed, where a person with no sight sees fantastical visions, or where words have a taste and sounds create sensations. But while fascinating, their experiences are more than simply curiosities. They teach us about our own perception of the world, forcing us to question the idea of '';normal'' senses, and whether such a thing even exists. Does blue look the same to you and me? Does grass smell the same? Or sugar taste as sweet? Do we even have the same understanding of what '';sweet'' is?The Man Who Tasted Words unpacks the science behind your senses and challenges you to try and see the world through another''s eyes and ears, and nose and mouth. It will illuminate, it will surprise, and it will leave your world just a little bit changed. '';A truly astonishing book from the story of the man who tasted words to that of Paul who could pull out his own teeth and break his legs yet feel no pain. These are beautifully and engagingly written stories of how our senses tell us about the reality of the world or, sometimes, don''t.'' Gavin Esler, author of How Britain Ends '';Stories of people who experience the world differently show us what it means to be human. This is a deeply moving and powerful book, full of provocative ideas about human perception and the way we construct reality.'' Daniel M. Davis, author ofThe Secret BodyandThe Beautiful Cure

*As featured on Steven Bartlett’s Diary of a CEO podcast* For those fascinated by neurology and for fans of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat comes a powerful exploration of the mind during night time. Here are the mysteries of sleep, explained – from known conditions to the extreme.  ‘The Secret World of Sleep interweaves bizarre real life stories with cutting edge neurological science in the true tradition of Oliver Sacks. A fascinating read.' Martha Kearney, BBC Radio 4   World-renowned neurologist and sleep expert, Doctor Guy Leschziner, takes you through various sleep conditions and how they arise and affect people. Insomnia, narcolepsy, night terrors and apnoea are just some of the conditions afflicting those struggling with sleep. Then there are the extreme cases. The people frightened into paralysis by hallucinations. The woman in a state of deep sleep who gets dressed and goes for a drive. The teenager with ‘Sleeping Beauty Syndrome’, stuck in a cycle of excessive unconsciousness. The man who cleans out kitchens while 'sleep-eating'.  With compassionate stories of his patients and their conditions, Leschziner illustrates the neuroscience behind our sleeping minds, revealing the many biological and psychological factors necessary in getting the rest needed for health and happiness. Pick of the Best Paperbacks - Sunday Times Best January Paperbacks - The Times Must Read Brain Books 2019 - Forbes Magazine The Best Neuroscience Books of 2019 - The Scientist Magazine The Best Books of 2019 - New Zealand Herald Best 100 Summer Reads 2019 - Sunday Times Week's best Science Picks - Nature Books of the Year 2019 - Irish Independent

*As featured on Steven Bartlett’s Diary of a CEO podcast*For those fascinated by neurology and for fans of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat comes a powerful exploration of the mind during night time. Here are the mysteries of sleep, explained – from known conditions to the extreme.  ‘The Secret World of Sleep interweaves bizarre real life stories with cutting edge neurological science in the true tradition of Oliver Sacks. A fascinating read.' Martha Kearney, BBC Radio 4  World-renowned neurologist and sleep expert, Doctor Guy Leschziner, takes you through various sleep conditions and how they arise and affect people. Insomnia, narcolepsy, night terrors and apnoea are just some of the conditions afflicting those struggling with sleep.Then there are the extreme cases. The people frightened into paralysis by hallucinations. The woman in a state of deep sleep who gets dressed and goes for a drive. The teenager with ‘Sleeping Beauty Syndrome’, stuck in a cycle of excessive unconsciousness. The man who cleans out kitchens while 'sleep-eating'.  With compassionate stories of his patients and their conditions, Leschziner illustrates the neuroscience behind our sleeping minds, revealing the many biological and psychological factors necessary in getting the rest needed for health and happiness.Pick of the Best Paperbacks - Sunday TimesBest January Paperbacks - The TimesMust Read Brain Books 2019 - Forbes MagazineThe Best Neuroscience Books of 2019 - The Scientist MagazineThe Best Books of 2019 - New Zealand HeraldBest 100 Summer Reads 2019 - Sunday TimesWeek's best Science Picks - NatureBooks of the Year 2019 - Irish Independent

*As featured on Steven Bartlett''s Diary of a CEO podcast* For those fascinated by neurology and for fans of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat comes a powerful exploration of the mind during night time. Here are the mysteries of sleep, explained from known conditions to the extreme. '';The Secret World of Sleepinterweaves bizarre real life stories with cutting edge neurological science in the true tradition of Oliver Sacks. A fascinating read.Martha Kearney, BBC Radio 4 World-renowned neurologist and sleep expert, Doctor Guy Leschziner, takes you through various sleep conditions and how they arise and affect people. Insomnia,narcolepsy,night terrors andapnoea are just some of the conditions afflicting those struggling with sleep. Then there are the extreme cases. The people frightened into paralysis by hallucinations. The woman in a state of deep sleep who gets dressed and goes for a drive. The teenager with '';Sleeping Beauty Syndrome'', stuck in a cycle of excessive unconsciousness. The man who cleans out kitchens while sleep-eating. Withcompassionate storiesof his patients and their conditions, Leschziner illustrates theneuroscience behind our sleeping minds, revealing the many biological and psychological factors necessary in getting the rest needed for health and happiness. Pick of the Best Paperbacks -Sunday Times Best January Paperbacks -The Times Must Read Brain Books 2019 -Forbes Magazine The Best Neuroscience Books of 2019 -The Scientist Magazine The Best Books of 2019 -New Zealand Herald Best 100 Summer Reads 2019 -Sunday Times Weeks best Science Picks -Nature Books of the Year 2019 -Irish Independent

*As featured on Steven Bartlett’s Diary of a CEO podcast* ‘From the opening paragraph, I was spellbound, entranced.’ Professor Alice Roberts The information you receive from your senses makes up your world. But that world does not exist. What we perceive to be the absolute truth of the world around us is a complex reconstruction, a virtual reality created by the complex machinations of our minds in tandem with the wiring of our nervous systems. But what happens if that wiring goes awry? What happens if connections falter, or new and unexpected connections are made? Tiny shifts in the microbiology of our nervous systems can cause the world around us to shift and mutate, to become alien and unfamiliar. In The Man Who Tasted Words, consultant neurologist Guy Leschziner takes us on a journey through the senses, exploring how each one shapes our experience of the world. And investigating what happens when they deviate from the norm. Along the way we meet a number of extraordinary individuals and step through the looking glass and into their worlds. Worlds where hot and cold are reversed, where a person with no sight sees fantastical visions, or where words have a taste and sounds create sensations.The Man Who Tasted Words unpacks the science behind your senses and challenges you to try and see the world through another’s eyes – and ears, and nose and mouth. It will illuminate, it will surprise, and it will leave your world just a little bit changed. ​ ‘A truly astonishing book – from the story of the man who tasted words to that of Paul who could pull out his own teeth and break his legs yet feel no pain. These are beautifully and engagingly written stories of how our senses tell us about the reality of the world – or, sometimes, don’t.’ Gavin Esler, author of How Britain Ends ‘This is a deeply moving and powerful book, full of provocative ideas about human perception and the way we construct reality.’ Daniel M. Davis, author of The Secret Body and The Beautiful Cure   ‘This is a book vibrant with personality and full of wonder. Professor Leschziner takes us through an exploration of our senses, making us question the nature of our reality and how we interpret the world around us. It is a profound, entertaining and quite exceptional book.’ Dr Alastair Santhouse, Psychiatrist and Author of Head First    ‘In vivid stories of patient maladies that affect our very human sensations of sight, sound, smell, touch and pain, Leschziner has deeply explored the sensory experiences that bombard every moment of our lives but of which we are barely aware. What a terrific melding of brain science with thoughtful ideas on our window to the outside world.’ Allan Ropper, author of Reaching Down the Rabbit Hole and How the Brain Lost its Mind.   ‘A fascinating, important and disturbing book. Words will never taste the same again!’  John Humphrys

*As featured on Steven Bartlett’s Diary of a CEO podcast*A fascinating exploration of how our senses can enrich our experience of the world around us – and how they can work against us Our senses form an integral part of our daily experiences, memories and the way in which we view our surroundings. They can both enrich or hinder our life experiences, offering their own interpretation on what we can see, hear, smell, touch or feel. However, what we perceive to be the absolute truth of the world around us is a complex reconstruction, a virtual reality recreated by the machinations of our minds and our nervous systems. In The Man Who Tasted Words, consultant neurologist and author and presenter Guy Leschziner seeks to explore our senses and how they construct our perception of the world around us. This book features extraordinary individuals, whose senses have been altered in some way, and whose stories illustrate important insights into normal sensory function. It will also explore how our senses can work against us – wreaking havoc not only with our perceptions, but our relationship with ourselves and our families, sometimes with unexpected consequences. Featuring interviews with patients and experts in the field, this book will change the way we view the power of our senses and their role in our way of being.

A partir de la descripción de los casos más curiosos con los que se ha encontrado, el neurólogo especialista en sueño Guy Leschziner ilustra cómo funcionan nuestros cerebros cuando duermen."En la mejor tradición de Oliver Sacks, este libro combina la descripción de increíbles casos reales con la investigación neurológica de vanguardia. Una lectura fascinante" - BBC Radio 4.Una mujer en estado de sueño profundo que se viste, abre el coche y conduce varios kilómetros antes de volver a la cama. Un hombre que, durante varias décadas, vacía su nevera por la noche mientras come dormido. Un adolescente bajo el apodado Síndrome de la Bella Durmiente, que vive atrapado en un ciclo de inconsciencia excesiva, atracones y demostraciones inusuales de agresión e hipersexualidad mientras está despierto. No hay descanso para los pacientes del doctor Leschziner, neurólogo de los hospitales Guy''s y St Thomas'' de Londres.El insomnio, la narcolepsia, los terrores nocturnos, la apnea y el sonambulismo son solo algunas de las condiciones que afectan a quienes sufren la imposibilidad de cerrar los ojos y dormir como el resto de los mortales. Como se narra en este libro, las experiencias de quienes padecen estos trastornos cuando se meten en la cama tienen tintes de pesadilla: alucinaciones demoníacas cuando el cerebro no distingue entre el sueño y la vigilia, ritmos circadianos no sincronizados que confunden al reloj biológico y le impiden distinguir el día y la noche en un jet lag sin fin. Estas historias de pacientes podrían ser argumentos de novelas de Stephen King, sin embargo, son casos totalmente reales.A través de ellas y de la descripción de sus fascinantes síntomas y condiciones, el doctor Leschziner ilustra cómo son nuestros cerebros cuando duermen, al mismo tiempo que revela los factores biológicos y psicológicos necesarios para el buen descanso, algo que no solo es imprescindible para la salud física y mental, sino también para nuestra felicidad general.