The Sickening Mind: Brain, Behaviour, Immunity and Disease - Hardcover

Martin, Paul

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0002556839 ISBN 13: 9780002556835

Publisher: HarperCollins, 1997

Synopsis

Explains a new field of scientific research, exploring how psychological and emotional factors influence health through their effects on behaviour and the immune system. Martin analyzes how the brain and the immune system interact, and presents new evolutionary biological perspectives on some fundamental problems in the realm of health and sickness

About this title

About the Author

Paul Martin was educated at Cambridge University and at Stanford University, California, where he was Harkness Fellow in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences. He lectured and researched in Behavioural Biology at Cambridge University, and was a Fellow of Wolfson College, before leaving academia to pursue other interests, including science writing. His previous books include The Sickening Mind and Counting Sheep.

From the Back Cover

“A fascinating account, based on objective scientific research, of the ways in which mental states affect the individual’s liability to disease … Martin has admirably succeeded in demonstrating “that our mental state and physical health are inexorably intertwined” … He is a highly civilised scientist, who seasons his text with witty parentheses. He also provides many examples from literature, ranging widely from Shakespeare, Goethe and Hardy to Tolstoy, Dostoevsky and Kafka … Interesting, informative and a pleasure to read.”
ANTHONY STORR, 'Sunday Times'

” Excellent … Martin’s book is a powerful reminder of the need for disciplined thinking in the face of the irreducible complexity of our bodies and minds, in sickness and in health.”
JON TURNEY, 'Financial Times'

”This most accessible account of a difficult subject blows away some prejudices and pleasingly justifies others … Martin is a biologist whose style is considerate of the layman … and it is a tribute to his own benignly infectious enthusiasm for his subject that his closing thoughts are encouraging … Remarkable.”
ALAN JUDD,'Daily Telegraph'

”Compelling … Balanced and impressively up to date … The tone of voice, the open-minded but critical intelligence should uplift the quality of the debate … Martin’s lucid account of the possible mechanisms of the connections between mental states and personality traits and illnesses is a notable triumph of his book … Excellent.”
RAYMOND TALLIS, 'Times Literary Supplement'

Edition details

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0002556839
• ISBN 13: 9780002556835
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 300