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Jennifer Ouellette
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Me, Myself, and Why: Searching for the Science of Self Kindle Edition

by Jennifer Ouellette (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 78 ratings
See all formats and editions
As diverse as people appear to be, all of our genes and brains are nearly identical. In Me, Myself, and Why, Jennifer Ouellette dives into the miniscule ranges of variation to understand just what sets us apart. She draws on cutting-edge research in genetics, neuroscience, and psychology-enlivened as always with her signature sense of humor-to explore the mysteries of human identity and behavior. Readers follow her own surprising journey of self-discovery as she has her genome sequenced, her brain mapped, her personality typed, and even samples a popular hallucinogen. Bringing together everything from Mendel's famous pea plant experiments and mutations in The X-Men to our taste for cilantro and our relationships with virtual avatars, Ouellette takes us on an endlessly thrilling and illuminating trip into the science of ourselves
Previous page
  1. ISBN-13
    978-0143121657
  2. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  3. Publisher
    Penguin Books
  4. Publication date
    January 28, 2014
  5. Language
    English
  6. File size
    1707 KB
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Who are we? Who am I? Those are the questions science writer Ouellette (The Calculus Diaries, 2010) tackles in this elegant and very personal inquiry into identity and the science of the self. Ouellette examines the many aspects of the making of a self, including discussions on nature versus nurture. Regarding the latter, she believes the origins of the self combine both elements, “locked in an intricate dance.” Ouellette leapfrogs through scientific, philosophical, and even pop history, which makes for fun reading as she expresses her views of an array of figures and artifacts, from Gregor Mendel to Francis Galton, John Locke to Kevin Bacon, Harry Potter movies to Christopher Nolan’s mind-bending sci-fi film, Inception. She discusses the so-called Prozac gene, brain scans, the “hangover gene,” avatars, sexual orientation and gender-atypical behaviors, the persistence and accuracy of memory, consciousness and the soul, and other provocative topics. Sometimes she’s funny, such as when she experiments with LSD for “research” purposes; other times, poignant: “Everyone finds their own way to create meaning out of our allotted time on this Earth.” An entertaining, insightful, and thoughtful reflection on our assumptions about ourselves and the mystery that is at the heart of the human story. --June Sawyers

Review

Praise for Me, Myself, and Why

“Ouellette is a smart, well-studied, and personable companion. . . . There are a number of approaches to defining a person, and this task has engaged philosophers, theologians, scientists, and pretty much everyone who has ever lived, at least since mirrors were invented. Ouellette looks at all of the methods listed above, and more, in trying to figure out who she is and what tools are at hand for figuring out who anyone is.”
—The Wall Street Journal

“In Me, Myself, and Why Ouellette offers curiosity-inspiring glimpses into science , coupled with an obvious love for the material and a healthy dose of humor. . . . The combination of historical anecdote and current research is impressive.”
—The New York Times Book Review

“Ouellette explores the concept of identity through scientific, medical, and psychological testing on her journey of self-discovery. She is an expert at communicating tough scientific concepts to broad audiences, and here she uses personal narrative to appeal to her readers as she skillfully recounts her experiences.”
—Psychology Today

“Very entertaining . . . It is hard to imagine a more delightful guide to the science of self than Jennifer Ouellette.”
—Jim Holt, Prospect

“Tackling ‘the science of self’ could easily get tedious or even a little boring, but in the capable hands of Jennifer Ouellette, it’s nothing but fun. . . .  Her ability to make rather advanced theories interesting and relatable makes this a must read for those who have a passion for science but would rather be reading Joan Didion.”
—Bust

“An engrossing and often amusing tour of elite labs and edgy research.”
—Nature

“Who are we? Who am I? Those are the questions Ouellette tackles in this elegant and very personal inquiry into identity and the science of the self. . . . An entertaining, insightful, and thoughtful reflection on our assumptions about ourselves and the mystery that is at the heart of the human story.”
—Booklist (starred review)

“Solid science well infused with readable history, pop culture and personal stories. . . . Ouellette’s personal anecdotes reveal a writer with keen intelligence, curiosity, a spirit of adventure and a sense of humor.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“A clear, direct tour of the biology of the self . . . from an author with a flair for making complex subjects simple.”
—Publishers Weekly

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00DMCJPGI
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books (January 28, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 28, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1707 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 370 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0143121650
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 78 ratings

About the author

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Jennifer Ouellette

Jennifer Ouellette

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I'm an English major turned science writer, through serendipitous accident. It's been a wild ride since I first dipped a toe into physics, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I've written articles about molecular mixology, eggshell physics, black holes, the game theory of poker, pseudoscience, fractal patterns in the paintings of Jackson Pollock, the science of yodeling, and the acoustics of Mayan pyramids, among other colorful topics, for places like The Washington Post, Smithsonian, Slate, Mental Floss, New Scientist, Discover, Salon, and Nature. I maintain a science-and-culture blog at Scientific American called Cocktail Party Physics. The latter is my "writers laboratory," where I explore new topics and ways to communicate science. That's also how I met my husband, Caltech cosmologist Sean M. Carroll, author of the fabulous "The Particle at the End of the Universe" and "From Eternity To Here: The Quest for the Ultimate Theory of Time").

I've written four popular science books, aimed at readers like me (non-specialists who appreciate stories with their science). The most recent is "Me, Myself and Why: Searching for the Science of Self," detailing my quest to illuminate everything that goes into shaping the people we become. Other books: "The Calculus Diaries : How Math Can Help You Lose Weight, Win in Vegas, and Survive a Zombie Apocalypse;" "The Physics of the Buffyverse"; and "Black Bodies and Quantum Cats: Tales from the Annals of Physics." I also edited the 2012 anthology "The Best Online Science Writing."

From November 2008 through October 2010, I was director of the National Academy of Sciences' program, The Science & Entertainment Exchange, founded to foster creative collaborations between scientists and the entertainment industry: http://www.scienceandentertainmentexchange.org. I like to think I made a difference, but I also got to meet Ridley Scott. So that's a win-win in my book.

You can read more about me at my Website: http://www.jenniferouellette-writes.com, and at my blog: http://www.blogs.scientificamerican.com/cocktail-party-physics.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
78 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Jodie
5.0 out of 5 stars Well Done, Comprehensive, Not Annoying-ingly Written Book :)
Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2014
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed this book very much. It covers a wide range of subjects and perspectives in discovering "you"/the brain/consciousness/neurology/etc., basically the "Me, Myself, and Why" just as the title says is the best way to put it. It is a "self"-discovery first person recount that includes both research and anecdotes without going too technical or not technical enough for the well-educated reader. The author is very talented in her writing style at weaving together history, science/research, and her own personal observations to produce a comprehensive exploration into all of the various factors involved in understanding "you". I have always been interested in the sorts of topics presented in her book from genetics to psychology/neurology and more, and I regularly read scientific studies and perform in-depth research of my own into the sorts of matters discussed in her book (as a non-medical professional). Even though in some parts of the book I thought, yeah yeah, I already know about all that, she nevertheless writes in a way that makes it an interesting read and she nevertheless discussed certain aspects from each discipline that I had never encountered on my own or otherwise presented the information in a way that, read in combination with the rest of the topics covered in the book, made me think more comprehensively about the complex interactions between each subject matter and the potential areas of new discovery in ways that I had never done/thought of before. In sum, it is a well-written thought-provoking book that is not pretentious, pedantic, or narcissistic. I came back to this page not to write a review but to see what other books this author has written that I may want to buy, so that is as good of an endorsement as there is I suppose.
6 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Read
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2014
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Have you ever wondered why you act and think like you do. Maybe this book will help unravel the mysteries of the mind and body. Some is fluff but there as a few interesting facts included.
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Joan I Williams SD
5.0 out of 5 stars thought-provoking
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2014
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In my early twenties I worked for a few months in an asylum. That experience challenged my perceptions of what constitutes "crazy" and set me up for a lifelong interest in what makes us who we are. This book is a very interesting exploration of current thought on the subject. Ms. Ouellette has an engaging writing style.
4 people found this helpful
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Breezie
3.0 out of 5 stars This book is well researched and contains a lot of ...
Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2014
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This book is well researched and contains a lot of very interested information. However the author bird-walks around, and it seems hard to understand how all of the information really fits together. Some of the information, while interesting, seemed to have little to do with the proposed topic.
One person found this helpful
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Doug Frey
4.0 out of 5 stars Good writing about an intimate subject
Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2019
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Its all good
One person found this helpful
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C. Chappell
5.0 out of 5 stars Why We Are
Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2015
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Quellette makes finding out about ourselves and why we are who we are a fun journey. Within the science and research that the author did is humor and a serious quest to find out why we are. This was very readable and Quellette led us on a quest that was both informative and delightful.
2 people found this helpful
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Gladys
5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite science writer!
Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2014
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Smart, easy to read, with laugh out loud moments. Fabulous all around! Get her other books as well--great reads for anyone!
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Joanna Landin Boch
1.0 out of 5 stars One Star
Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2014
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horrible book!
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Harald und Andrea Rieder
1.0 out of 5 stars Für mich nichts Neues in diesem Buch
Reviewed in Germany on December 21, 2018
Verified Purchase
Die Erwartung war, aus diesem Buch etwas Neues aus der Wissenschaft zu erfahren. Vieles kam mir schon als aus der Schulzeit bekannt vor, und die war Anfang der 1980er Jahre bereits zu Ende. Sollten Amerikaner wirklich so wenig wissen, dass sie aus diesem Buch noch etwas lernen können? Wie Denken funktioniert, lernt man nicht, in dem man der 2101. chemischen Reaktion noch eine 2102. und 2103. hinzustellt. Das kann man nicht als Erkenntnisfortschritt verkaufen. Das Mysterium liegt woanders begraben. Das Buch gehörte also sehr bald nicht mehr zu unserem Hausrat.
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Harald und Andrea Rieder
1.0 out of 5 stars Für mich nichts Neues in diesem Buch
Reviewed in Germany on December 21, 2018
Die Erwartung war, aus diesem Buch etwas Neues aus der Wissenschaft zu erfahren. Vieles kam mir schon als aus der Schulzeit bekannt vor, und die war Anfang der 1980er Jahre bereits zu Ende. Sollten Amerikaner wirklich so wenig wissen, dass sie aus diesem Buch noch etwas lernen können? Wie Denken funktioniert, lernt man nicht, in dem man der 2101. chemischen Reaktion noch eine 2102. und 2103. hinzustellt. Das kann man nicht als Erkenntnisfortschritt verkaufen. Das Mysterium liegt woanders begraben. Das Buch gehörte also sehr bald nicht mehr zu unserem Hausrat.
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akliman
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy and Educational, what's not to love
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 10, 2016
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Very readable, very enjoyable, I learnt a lot and dispelled some myths - what's not to love!
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Madisson Miller
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
Reviewed in Canada on May 26, 2014
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This is a great book, I couldn't put it down. Ouellette does an amazing job of explaining the science behind who we are and what might be the cause. She includes her own experiences and personal journey which brings her personality into her writing. I have listened to multiple podcasts in which she is a guest and she incredibly engaging and a great source to learn from. She is relatable, knowledgeable, engaging, and fun. I HIGHLY recommend this book for absolutely EVERYONE! It's great for anyone who has ever considered who you are and why you act and make decisions the way you do, and if you haven't, it's time to start and this book is a great starting line.
2 people found this helpful
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Heather T
1.0 out of 5 stars One Star
Reviewed in Canada on July 19, 2014
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not what I exppected did not enjoy the read at all
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