Brain Fables

There are few things more controversial in the world of science than overturning a long-accepted hypothesis. And yet, oftentimes, this is the only way for that particular field to move forward. It takes brave souls to step up and challenge the narrative, hoping to blaze a new, more successful path ahead.

Brain Fables is about two such individuals who endeavor to upend the accepted thinking behind Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, facing down the status quo in the hopes of making genuine progress battling these poorly understood and debilitating conditions.

But this book is more than just a captivating explanation of the contradictions that prevent the study of Parkinson’s from progressing. Along the way, you’ll learn the difference between diseases, conditions, and syndromes, and marvel at the complexity of the brain and the unbelievably hard work it takes for us to puzzle out even the smallest portion of its wondrous functionality.

Whether Espay and Stecher are effective in changing how scientists approach neurodegenerative conditions, I cannot say. But they represent the best of modern science: a willingness to question what we know, the bravery to return to the drawing board, and the dedication to keep pushing forward for the benefit of everyone.