The Male Brain

A vast amount of neurological research is made accessible by the author's sympathetic view of men's challenges and an earnest reading by narrator Kimberly Farr. Her consistency and skillful control of the drama in her performance blend the medical findings and human narratives into a smooth and informative audio. From birth to old age, the author says, chemical properties in a man's brain stimulate phenomena like fascination with movement and things, exploratory behavior, competitive play, pair-bonding, and even resistance to hearing female speech patterns. The work is a level-headed invitation to refrain from judging a man's behavior by female norms and from taking his behavior too personally. Without diminishing a man's responsibility for his excesses, the audio promotes understanding by shedding light on familiar gender conflicts. T.W. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

Starred review from March 22, 2010
In this utterly fascinating follow-up to her bestselling The Female Brain, Harvard neuropsychiatrist Brizendine leads readers through the lifespan of a man's brain, using lively prose and personable anecdotes to turn complex scientific research into a highly accessible romp. Among other salient info, readers will learn why it is what young boys seem unable to stay still (they are learning through "embodied cognition"); why behaviors may change so suddenly during puberty (among other changes, testosterone increases 20-fold); the nature of irritability in teens ("boys' hormones prime them for aggressive and territorial behaviors"); and the ways in which chemicals, physical touch, and play bond fathers with their children. With clearly detailed scientific explanations for how characteristics like anger expression, analysis of facial expression, and spatial manipulation differ between the sexes, Brizendine's review of brain and behavioral research should net a broad audience, from parents of boys to psychology students to fans of her first volume. Brizendine also includes an appendix regarding the brain and sexual orientation, as well as lengthy endnotes and an exhaustive reference list.