The Second Brain: A Groundbreaking New Understanding of Nervous Disorders of the Stomach and Intestine
by Michael D. Gershon, MD



It is an excellent book -- but be warned. It is geared to intelligent layman level. But there is a LOT of science in it. Luckily, Gershon is a lucid writer. He shifts gears into storyteller mode just when the non-scientist reader is about to gasp and fade out. His basic theory: human beings have a second brain, located in the bowel, that focuses on digestion.

In addition to telling us fascinating stuff about our guts (such as why the stomach doesn't dissolve from its own acid, why the payload of germs in our guts dont penetrate the bowel and run rampant through our systems, and why the digestive enzymes in our pancreases dont kill us), Gershon takes us behind the scenes and describes the personality clashes and politics that go in in the world of science. He has had run-ins with all kinds of hot head activists, ranging from animal rights types to a right-to-lifer who tried to scare a NIH review panel into compliance by intimating "I know where you live."

It's a challenging read, but well, well worth it. Makes you want to meet Gershon himself, too. He despises short sighted politicans who do not support the free exchange of ideas. He's probably been crying himself to sleep every night since 'W' was elected.