The Man Who Wasn't There: Investigations into the Strange New Science of the Self

This book deals with very complex psychological medical issues which we hear now and then and just shrug it off, because we might not have come across such patients. But these issues are very real and so many have done a lot of research and have tried to not only understand but have tried very hard to analyze in quest of a cure. But the tools/equipment available then were not only limited and current day computers were non-existent. Even then they worked very hard. This book deals with such complex human problems and the efforts of many doctors, psychologists and scientists in chronological order all over the world in a simple understandable language. The issues like Schizophrenia, Anosognosia, Asperger syndrome, Somatoparaphrenia, doppelgangers etc are very clearly explained with illustrations of case histories (actual patients and doctors). The author of this book Anil Anantha Swamy has tried to explain the impact of these with reference to the brain functions, the effect on the memory regions in the brain and the scientific correlation making use of the MRI and ECT. Another very conspicuous and philosophical aspect of this book is how the author starts from the Self theory and builds up the argument and Just when we think we have some understanding amazingly we end up with No self theory supported by Advaita propounded by Adi Shankara (early 8th century CE) and Budha’s preaching. The author has traveled all over the world even to remote areas to discuss at great length, the issues with doctors and psychologists involved with their actual case studies of patients and in some cases even their relatives and friends. In conclusion it will help us to understand and appreciate the efforts of so many in trying so hard finding the cure. We may not only understand the nature of these complex phenomena and it may even come as a surprise when we find that this could exist in our close family circles.