AnyBook4Less.com	Find the Best Price on the Web Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Home  |  Store List  |  FAQ  |  Contact Us  |
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money Keyword AuthorISBN

Title: The Essential Difference: The Truth about the Male and Female Brain by Simon Baron-Cohen ISBN: 0-7382-0844-2 Publisher: Perseus Publishing Pub. Date: 01 July, 2003 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $26.00

Your Country USA Canada United Kingdom Australia Austria Belgium France Germany Italy Netherlands Switzerland Currency AutoUSD CAD GBP EUR AUD CHF Delivery Only cheapest delivery All delivery options Include Used Books Are you a club member of: Barnes and Noble Books A Million Chapters.Indigo.ca

Average Customer Rating: 3.58 (12 reviews)

Rating: 5
Summary: Best book on male/female brain differences
Comment: I've read several books in the area, and this is by far the best. It does include the key scientific findings, albeit without the level of detail that is available from other sources. What's particularly interesting is Baron-Cohen's thesis about the primary difference between male/female brains being along the axes of empathy (female) and systemizing (male), and the experimental evidence he presents for this theory.It is disappointing to see some of the negative reviews posted about this book when Baron-Cohen is so careful to address the points they raise. He is not saying that autistics don't feel strong emotion -- he says they have low levels of empathy, which makes it hard for them to relate well with other people. He is not saying women are inferior -- he says they are superior (on average) in empathy, while men are superior (on average) in systemizing.

All in all an excellent work with some interesting new ideas and supporting evidence. Baron-Cohen is careful to indicate what we know and what is plausible speculation that requires more research. Highly recommended!

Rating: 5
Summary: Interesting perspective!
Comment: This book makes an interesting journey from the research on male-female brain differences to a model of autism. The author suggests that autism reflects an "extreme male" brain. Although it is readily emphasized that there are significant differences within people of each gender, it is suggested that while females on the average have greater levels of empathy, males tend to have stronger "systematizing" abilities. It is suggested that autism can be understood as a combination of very high levels of systematization coupled with low levels of empathy.

The book cites a large number of studies of brain physiology and behavior to illustrate the phenomena discussed. This discussion is coupled with strong cautions against stereotyping and a recognition of individual differences. Ironically, the main part of the book--the chapter explicitly develops the thesis of autism as a reflection of an "extreme male" brain--is a bit on the skimpy side, but this is understandable given that previous chapters have alluded to what is to come.

The appendices to this book are a real treasure! Included are photos that serve as a test of one's ability to recognize the emotions expressed by a person's eyes and a number of scales that can be used to measure empathy levels and other relevant characteristics.

This book is very readable and is punctuated with a nice sense of humor.

Rating: 5
Summary: At Last Some Answers
Comment: For the majority of the human race that struggles to understand and communicate with the opposite sex, Baron-Cohen provides somes intriguing insights and conclusions into the area of male/female brain construction and chemistry in terms of systemizing, aggression, empathy and nuturing. He states that he would not release this book in the 90's due to its politically sensitive nature, but now feels humanity is ready to accept these findings,many of which are case studies conducted by himself and his research team at Cambridge University.

Of special interest are his findings on testosterone and estrogen levels in fetal development, and the subsequent prediction of infant and toddler behavior. He also describes
parallels between the brain construction of highly empathetic women and homosexuals, and includes a short section on the almost telepathic qualities of highly empathetic individuals.

His chapter on evolution points to the rise of the aggressive or "alpha" male through thousands of years of polygeny, and feels that this is manifesting itself in the rising incidence of males with Asperger's Syndrome, which
he feels is a manifestation of the "extreme" male or systemizing brain. He predicts a concurrent rise of the "extreme" female, or highly empathetic brain, which at this point in humanity's evolution is not as evident as the male counterpart mentioned above.

Although he is quick to point out that we should not stereotype, and many males or females have characteristics of either extreme,with some being quite balanced, his findings show concrete evidence of strong inherent behavioral differences between the sexes . He concludes the book with four appendixes, which are self-administered tests enabling readers to get a general idea where they lie on empathy, systemizing and autistic spectrum scales.

A must read for anyone struggling to understand the opposite sex.

Similar Books:

	Title: Mindblindness: An Essay on Autism and Theory of Mind by Simon Baron-Cohen ISBN: 026252225X Publisher: MIT Press Pub. Date: 01 February, 1997 List Price(USD): $19.95
	Title: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Today Show Book Club #13) by Mark Haddon ISBN: 0385512104 Publisher: Doubleday Pub. Date: 31 July, 2003 List Price(USD): $22.95
	Title: Autism: The Facts by Simon Baron-Cohen, Patrick Bolton ISBN: 0192623273 Publisher: Oxford University Press Pub. Date: December, 1994 List Price(USD): $19.95
	Title: Nature Via Nurture : Genes, Experience, and What Makes Us Human by Matt Ridley ISBN: 0060006781 Publisher: HarperCollins Pub. Date: 29 April, 2003 List Price(USD): $25.95
	Title: Emotions Revealed: Recognizing Faces and Feelings to Improve Communication and Emotional Life by Paul Ekman ISBN: 0805072756 Publisher: Times Books Pub. Date: 07 April, 2003 List Price(USD): $25.00