Making Sense

We like fiction because it often gives us the illusion that our world makes sense.

One of the most prominent characteristics of our left brain is its ability to weave stories. This story-teller portion of our left mind is specifically designed to make sense of the world outside of us, based on minimal amounts of information. It takes whatever details it has to work with, and weaves them together in the form of a story. Most impressively, our left brain is brilliant in its ability to make stuff up, and fill in the blanks when there are gaps in its factual data.

I like the above observation, paraphrased from neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor. Her book "My Stroke of Insight," memoir of a stroke she suffered, allows the reader to share in the experience as seen from the inside out by a person who is better qualified than most to examine the workings of her own brain.