Diagnose Yourself

Doctor Olaf posted a Facebook quiz:

Diagnose Yourself!
Connect with your inner quack

I think all the bugs are ironed out. If you have a moment, please try it out and let me know if you have any troubles with it.

You can reach the quiz here

Trepanation, the Return

It's been far too long since I've updated this blog with news of the brain, but I've been meaning to note the interesting "Trepanation for dementia" post I came across on BoingBoing awhile back, and so, late but better than never: The story of Russian neurophysiologist Yuri Moskalenko, who is looking into trepanation as a possible treatment for dementia. After studying 15 people who had undergone trepanation for head injuries, he concluded that the trepanated had a "cranial compliance ("a measure of the elasticity of the brain's vascular system") [that] was around 20 per cent higher than the average for their age". Because a reduced flow of blood and cerebrospinal fluid impairs the delivery of oxygen to the brain and waste away from it, he believes that a 4-square-centimeter hole could increase the blood flow and could therefore be an effective treatment for dementia.

To read the full story, see Like a hole in the head: The return of trepanation.

Dr. Olaf in San Francisco

Two nice bits of Dr. Olaf news from right here in San Francisco:
The very talented Michelle Richmond mentioned Dr. Olaf in her SF Chronicle blog, City Lights. And my friend Jen sent a fabulous photo of Dr. Olaf (as the book appears on the new release browsing shelf in the SF public library):

Doctor Olaf in The New England Journal of Medicine!

Kiki Benzon, Ph.D. reviews Doctor Olaf for the New England Journal of Medicine.

Although its focus is on the past, Doctor Olaf van Schuler's Brain casts a sobering light on contemporary medicine...
Menger-Anderson has written an intelligent and humorous history of the science of brains--and the brains of science.

To read the full review, see www.nejm.org, May 20, 2009.

Doctor Olaf on The Rumpus

Karen Laws writes about Doctor Olaf van Schuler's Brain on The Rumpus:

Her research into such fashionable therapeutic disciplines as phrenology and mesmerism not only helps readers understand what her characters understand, but contributes to a lively exploration of universal themes...when writers put their ardent love for researching a historical period at the service of plot and character development, the results can be vivid and intense, as well as thrilling.

To read the entire piece, see Research for Storytellers

Olaf is Book of the Week over at Wonders and Marvels

Wonders and Marvels, a "Community for Curious Minds who love History, its Odd Stories, and Good Reads," is giving away a copy of Dr Olaf, which was selected as this week's book of the week. I was thrilled to be included on the site! And to earn an honorary place among medical historians.

Doctor Olaf van Schuler's Brain is simply gorgeous. Menger-Andersen moves us from early-modern Europe to modern day New York with subtly and historical appreciation of the fine details that bring these moments together--and that make each uniquely different.

To read the entire piece as well as my guest post about Olaf and the research that went into the book, head on over to Wonders and Marvels. It's not too late to enter for the drawing for a free copy of Olaf!

Northern California Book Awards

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon in the San Francisco Library's (packed) Koret Auditorium where the 28th Annual Northern California Book Awards ceremony took place. And. Wow! What an afternoon. Tremendous admiration and thanks to the book reviewers, who selected nominees from over 700 titles published by Nor-Cal authors, and to all the people who volunteered their time and talents to put on a fantastic show. And, of course, to all the people who came out for it. I think every nominee left feeling like a winner. I know I did. We have a fabulous lit community out here, and I'm proud to be part of it.

Congratulations to all the winners:

Fiction: Sylvia Brownrigg, The Delivery Room
Poetry: Rusty Morrison, the true keeps calm biding its story
General Nonfiction: Richard A. Muller,
Physics for Future Presidents: The Science Behind the Headlines
Creative Nonfiction: John Adams, Hallelujah Junction:
Composing an American Life
Children's Literature: Pamela S. Turner, A Life in the Wild: George Schaller's Struggle to Save the Last Great Beasts
Translation: Katherine Silver for Horacio Castellanos Moya's Senselessness
Special Recognition Award: Eric Karpeles, Paintings in Proust:
A Visual Companion to In Search of Lost Time
Fred Cody Award For Lifetime Achievement Community: Dorothy Bryant