Me, Myself, and Why

November 18, 2013
From an author with a flair for making complex subjects simple comes a clear, direct tour of the biology of the self. Ouellette (The Calculus Diaries) begins by divulging her personal investment in the nature vs. nurture debate: she is adopted. In what she initially hoped “would be a lighthearted romp through genotyping, a brain scan, and a few personality tests,” she finds instead just how convoluted the interactions of genetics and environment really are. Eye color, dislike of cilantro, and Huntington’s disease are genetic. Addiction, shyness, and neuroticism are genetic and environmental. To geneticist Dean Hamer, “Genes do not determine exactly what music is played—or how well—but they do determine the range of what is possible.” Ouellette discovers that neural imaging can find false positives, like brain activity in a dead salmon. But it can also tell you if you are having an emotion, a tumor, or Parkinson’s disease. Citing psychologist Andrew Gerber, Ouellette concludes that “self” starts with the preexisting constraints of “nature,” the genes and synapses that impose limits, like rules distinguishing a haiku from a sonnet: “Self is the content of what one builds out of those constraints.” Agent: Mildred Marmur, Mildred Marmur Associates.

December 1, 2013
Who are we, and why are we the way we are? These are the questions examined by an intrepid science journalist. Ouellette (The Calculus Diaries: How Math Can Help You Lose Weight, Win in Vegas, and Survive a Zombie Apocalypse, 2010, etc.) launches into her subject by looking inward. An adoptee, she had a sample of her DNA analyzed, looking for information about her genetic heritage. Her next venture was to undergo an fMRI of her brain. Limited as these tests turned out to be, they provided her with the opportunity to talk about current trends in the fields of genotyping and neuroscience. Next, Ouellette opted for personality testing, which leads to a critical look at that field of psychology and the author's conclusion that our genes influence our personalities by regulating brain chemistry. Having come full circle in her examination of "me," Ouellette moves on to "myself," looking at behaviors and identity. She reports that studies with drunken fruit flies and mice provide clues about the link between genes and alcoholism and that research on virtual reality worlds indicates that the avatars one creates or that one bonds with can reveal much about self-perception. Gender identity comes under her scrutiny, too, as the author reports on the continuing debate about whether sexual orientation is a choice or a destiny created by our genes. She concludes that the essence of the self is not revealed by the information garnered through scientific investigations but that our personal narratives, the stories we tell about ourselves, are essential to getting the whole picture. The author's personal anecdotes reveal a writer with keen intelligence, curiosity, a spirit of adventure and a sense of humor. Solid science well infused with readable history, pop culture and personal stories.

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Starred review from December 15, 2013
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.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)