Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story About Brain Science

An ALA Notable Children’s Book and Best Book for Young Adults

Guggenheim Fellow John Fleischman separates fact from legend in this delightfully gruesome tale about Phineas Gage, the man with the hole in his skull.

In 1848, Phineas Gage was just a normal man in Cavendish, Vermont, working as a railroad construction foreman when a thirteen-pound iron rod shot through his brain. Defying all expectations, he went on to live another eleven years.

His miraculous recovery couldn’t hide the fact that he was forever changed by the accident. The people around him agreed that the well liked and dependable Phineas Gage had turned into a crude and unpredictable man.

What happened to Phineas Gage’s brain?

Complete with full-color photographs, a glossary, index, and a guide to resources, Phineas Gage will show you how your brain works through this fascinating case study as packed with neuroscience as it is shocking details.