The Second Brain

A Groundbreaking New Understanding of Nervous Disorders of the Stomach and Intestine

By: Michael Gershon

Narrated by: Peter Berkrot

“Persuasive, impassioned... hopeful news [for those] suffering from functional bowel disease.” — New York Times Book Review

Dr. Gershon’s groundbreaking book fills the gap between what you need to know—and what your doctor has time to tell you.

Dr. Michael Gershon has devoted his career to understanding the human bowel (the stomach, esophagus, small intestine, and colon). His thirty years of research have led to an extraordinary rediscovery: nerve cells in the gut that act as a brain. This ""second brain"" can control our gut all by itself. Our two brains—the one in our head and the one in our bowel—must cooperate. If they do not, then there is chaos in the gut and misery in the head—everything from ""butterflies"" to cramps, from diarrhea to constipation. Dr. Gershon's work has led to radical new understandings about a wide range of gastrointestinal problems including gastroenteritis, nervous stomach, and irritable bowel syndrome.

The Second Brain represents a quantum leap in medical knowledge and is already benefiting patients whose symptoms were previously dismissed as neurotic or ""it's all in your head.""

#MyNonFictionAddiction💯🥇🙋📖

Despite the concerted & focused, 🤓, erudite & interest in this unique; yet still a minority topic among many; it is my sincere recommend advice to get through Neurology first; then be confident in a potential that lays in the future!👌 Unless in the future you are laying IN 6 inches or WITHIN 6FT feet. IT truly is ALL in ones 'perspective' AND perspicacity.💯🙋🗣️🤳 😎🤓👏👏👏💅🙋🍒

This really is science

The author shares his expertise in a pretty cogent way. If you've had any early college level anatomy, this book should be accessible and entertaining. I greatly appreciate the emphasis on experimental reasoning in his approach. That is how science education should be.

First Khan Academy Human Biology

Great book! I have a BS in Computer Science. I am of average intelligence. But very interested in science. The content is easy to understand after going through Khan Academy (free oneline) science human biology neurons. Then search other items as needed; like serotonin. The Second Brain content is so amazing. This book provides a launching pad for a hundred different studies. So, if there is something you want to explore, jot it down on first listen. What an adventure!

Very deep, yet fairly charming

I'm fairly intelligent but never attended College or Uni. I'm fairly literate and possess a descent knowledge of anatomy from upper track Bio in High School. That and I studied French long enough to become fluent so I can grasp some Latin terminology. Also, I work as an Engineering Technician (STEM) so I'm accustomed to scientific methodology.

All that said, this was a fascinating audiobook but it was quite alot. I was able to understand it but it was like eating raw meat, even with my background. I won't knock it however because the author has a good sense of humor and he's quite personal at times. He told the story of his mom in the hospital and how the doctors could have spared her life had they listened to him regarding proton pump inhibitors. Yes, this was a very heady book but Michael reminds you now and then that although he's super bright, he's also human.

Better read than listened to.

This is a wonderful book but is better read than listened to. There are way too many technical terms for a common person like me to look up. I will definitely get a kindle or a hard copy on this because I find it worthy to go through, only in another way.