The Second Brain: A Groundbreaking New Understanding of Nervous Disorders of the Stomach and Intestine

There's a tremendous amount of medical learning within these pages. For some, it may be too much, if you aren't familiar with basic medical anatomy, physiology, and terminology. If you're a layperson with a curious mind to understand how the gastro-intestinal process works, then take a seat. I fit the above and devoured its contents. My impressions of Dr. Gershon is what a, kind, sincere, gentle, caring, inquisitive, and determined man with a wit to soften the content he attempts to explain. Those who were fortunate to share as students in his lab are very lucky indeed to have been within his sphere.With this said, if you're looking for cures, answers to why your belly isn't happy, protocols to follow, etc... this isn't the book for you. Although you may connect some dots and gain insight with a personal "A-ha" moment, there's lots of acronyms of lab concoctions that will readily bring on a yawn.Dr. Gershon best explains his efforts with this book in his closing statement, " I did not intend this book to be a "how to" document, explaining to readers how to cope with a variety of gastrointestinal complaints. In that sense, like my research, no disease of a kind that I could explain to my father is going to be cured by what can be found in these pages. On the other hand, there is a disease that I very much hope my literal effort will attack. It is the disease of despair that is faced by so many of the victims of an unmanageable gut. I really feel for these individuals, whose tortured existence has for so long brought out the worst in the very people to whom they have turned for help".Thank you Dr. Gershon.

If you struggle with any kind of guy issue this is your book!! The Brain-Gut Connection is explained more in this book and it helped me understand what and how to deal with my IBS-C better. It was hard for me to understand why I was having flare-ups until I read this book. My doctors never really explained it to me in depth like this.Must read!! Any type of gut stomach issue

I purchased this book because I was looking for a better understanding of the functioning of the gastrointestinal system with regards to neuropathology. Specifically, I was hoping to find a better understanding of what I have started hearing in the scientific community regarding the possibilities of mental illness being affected, if not in some instances caused by enteric nervous system malfunctions.I have given this book 4 stars because it is very detailed and well written regarding the biological explanations - both general structural, neurological, and biochemically regarding the functioning of the gut. And although too dense in biological terminology and substance to be a New York Times best seller contender, it is good for what it is. If you want to learn all the chemical names for the enzymes and neurotransmitters in the gut, this is where you'll find that alphabet soup. I will give the author kudos for injecting a certain amount of intellectual humor from time to time as well.It did not, unfortunately, give any insights into the questions for which it was purchased. I think the author's own words on page 310 explains it best. "I did not intend this book to be a "how to" document, explaining to readers how to cope with a variety of gastrointestinal complaints.... I would like the readers of this book to realize that the rediscovery of the brain in their bowel is a breakthrough for hope. The focus of scientific attention on the second brain holds within it is a great potential, some of it already realized, for understanding how to treat and prevent gastrointestinal disease. The realization that an independent center of integrative nervous activity lurks inside the abdomen has become a magnet for attracting good research."

Well written for medical professionals. I don't agree with it being much use to anyone without a background in biological sciences. It was a perfect read for my use as a Functional Medicine Practitioner.

I started reading this book after The Colbert Report plugged it (IIRC) as kind of a joke about "thinking with your gut". I was curios to learn about this other nervous system that you don't really hear much about; how it's independent of the central nervous system (in ways), and how similar chemicals and processes operate on both.So here's the good part: the first few chapters are a very educational review of how our guts work. This part I found very illuminating and interesting, and it's too bad it ended so quickly.Now, the bad. Once Gershon starts talking about his own research and advances in his field in general it just becomes incredibly tedious. I also found it distracting when the author repeatedly makes comments against "cruel" experiments in animals (not _his_ experiments of course, which are, supposedly, a real treat to the subjects).So the first few chapters give you information at 90mph, and then rest is a slow 2mph trek through recent research in excruciating detail.The biggest disappointment, however, is the fact that the book just doesn't deliver on its title. A "groundbreaking new understanding of nervous disorders of the stomach" made me expect cool revelations about how the gut can actually suffer nervous disorders similar to those in the brain - i.e. "depressed gut syndrome", or "stomach madness". None of that. What a gip! So big whoop, Serotonin also plays a big part in the gut. That's essential 70% of the book right there.Read it if you're looking for an introduction to the bowls (though I'm guessing there are better introductions out there). That part of the book I thoroughly enjoyed. Just know it gets boring very quickly and doesn't improve until the end.