Dark and magical places have always fascinated us, capturing our imagination and taking us on incredible journeys. These places are often shrouded in mystery and intrigue, filled with enchantment and danger. In literature and folklore, they serve as settings for thrilling adventures and encounters with mythical creatures and supernatural beings. One such dark and magical place is the Forbidden Forest in the world of Harry Potter. This dense, ancient woodland is located on the grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It is forbidden to students, as it is home to dangerous creatures like Centaurs, Acromantulas, and even a fearsome giant spider called Aragog.
Fueled by his own spatial shortcomings, Kemp describes the brain regions that orient us in space and the specialized neurons that do it. Place cells. Grid cells. He examines how the brain plans routes, recognizes landmarks, and makes sure we leave a room through a door instead of trying to leave through a painting. From the secrets of supernavigators like the indigenous hunters of the Bolivian rainforest to the confusing environments inhabited by people with place blindness, Kemp charts the myriad ways in which we find our way and explains the cutting-edge neuroscience behind them.
From the secrets of supernavigators like the indigenous hunters of the Bolivian rainforest to the confusing environments inhabited by people with place blindness, Kemp charts the myriad ways in which we find our way and explains the cutting-edge neuroscience behind them. Kemp is an elegant and quick-witted writer who, feeling perpetually and hopelessly lost himself, is perfectly qualified to lead us through some of the most complicated and discombobulating corners of human cognition.
It is forbidden to students, as it is home to dangerous creatures like Centaurs, Acromantulas, and even a fearsome giant spider called Aragog. The forest is a place of both beauty and peril, providing a perfect backdrop for the magical world created by J.K.
Dark and Magical Places: The Neuroscience of Navigation (Paperback)
How the brain helps us to understand and navigate space—and why, sometimes, it doesn’t work the way it should.
Inside our heads we carry around an infinite and endlessly unfolding map of the world. Navigation is one of the most ancient neural abilities we have—older than language. In Dark and Magical Places, Christopher Kemp embarks on a journey to discover the remarkable extent of what our minds can do.
Fueled by his own spatial shortcomings, Kemp describes the brain regions that orient us in space and the specialized neurons that do it. Place cells. Grid cells. He examines how the brain plans routes, recognizes landmarks, and makes sure we leave a room through a door instead of trying to leave through a painting. From the secrets of supernavigators like the indigenous hunters of the Bolivian rainforest to the confusing environments inhabited by people with place blindness, Kemp charts the myriad ways in which we find our way and explains the cutting-edge neuroscience behind them.
How did Neanderthals navigate? Why do even seasoned hikers stray from the trail? What spatial skills do we inherit from our parents? How can smartphones and our reliance on GPS devices impact our brains? In engaging, engrossing language, Kemp unravels the mysteries of navigating and links the brain’s complex functions to the effects that diseases like Alzheimer’s, types of amnesia, and traumatic brain injuries have on our perception of the world around us.
A book for anyone who has ever felt compelled to venture off the beaten path, Dark and Magical Places is a stirring reminder of the beauty in losing yourself to your surroundings. And the beauty in understanding how our brains can guide us home.
About the Author
Christopher Kemp is a molecular biologist specializing in neurodegenerative diseases at Michigan State University. He lives with his family in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Praise For…
Christopher Kemp may not be able to find his way out of a stairwell, but he has quickly and with no false turns made his way to the top of my list of favorite science writers. For all his navigational shortcomings, Kemp is an expert guide to the most complex landscape of all: the human brain. He’s a natural storyteller, a deft explainer, and a terrific and funny writer.
— Mary Roach, author of Fuzz
Christopher Kemp’s brilliant and beguiling new book reveals that behind the curtain of the seemingly quotidian act of traversing space lies an array of intricate neuroscientific magic tricks, temporal feats of strength, hiccups, and elusive mysteries. Like the brain itself, Kemp’s wild writing quakes and sparks, uncovering the lyric lurking in the neuroscientific, the hilarious in the incantatory.
— Matthew Gavin Frank, author of Flight of the Diamond Smugglers
A dazzling—at times dizzying—exploration of brains and places, how they trouble one another and how they give one another meaning.
— Robert Moor, author of On Trails
A fascinating and sneakily amusing book. Kemp is an elegant and quick-witted writer who, feeling perpetually and hopelessly lost himself, is perfectly qualified to lead us through some of the most complicated and discombobulating corners of human cognition.
— John Mooallem, author of Wild Ones and This Is Chance!
A modern look inside the brain, written as beautifully as a long-form poem. Don’t miss this opportunity to let Kemp show you the how and why of where.
— David Eagleman, Stanford neuroscientist, author of Incognito and Livewired
As both scientist and scribe, Kemp brings his gifts of curiosity and intelligence to bear on the topic of navigation and shows us that there is no shame in being lost. On the contrary, Kemp demonstrates that to be continuously and authentically in search of our place on Earth is a wondrous thing.
— M. R. O’Connor, author of Wayfinding
Finding our way is a basic necessity of life, yet it is mostly taken for granted. Kemp effectively explains just how complex and astonishing that task really is.
— Tony Miksanek - Booklist
An intense lesson in the neuroscience of getting around.
— Kirkus
This tome is no textbook. It is designed to be accessible to a large audience: Nonscientists will benefit from Kemp’s capacity to render vivid representations of the complexity of living organisms, but scientists, too, are likely to gain something from reading this book.
— Marcia Bécu and Christian F. Doeller - Science
Kemp debunks numerous myths, including the idea that females possess poorer navigational skills than males, and reflects on the difference between the navigational abilities of modern humans versus those of Neanderthals. What separates the two, he suggests, is the use of the subjunctive form, which led to humans being better at navigating. Kemp peppers in accounts of his own poor navigational abilities and colorful stories of people getting lost, which keep things moving along. The result is both enjoyable and accessible.
— Publishers Weekly
- Science / Life Sciences / Neuroscience
- Medical / Neuroscience
- Science / Life Sciences / Molecular Biology
- Transportation / Navigation
- Hardcover (January 25th, 2022): $26.95
- Compact Disc (January 25th, 2022): $41.99
A book for anyone who has ever felt compelled to venture off the beaten path, Dark and Magical Places is a stirring reminder of the beauty in losing yourself to your surroundings. And the beauty in understanding how our brains can guide us home.
Rowling. Another example is the mysterious town of Sleepy Hollow, immortalized in Washington Irving's classic short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." This eerie village is known for its haunting atmosphere and spine-chilling legends, particularly the tale of the Headless Horseman. The dark and foreboding woods surrounding Sleepy Hollow add to the sense of dread and supernatural occurrences, making it a quintessential dark and magical place in literature. In Greek mythology, the Underworld, or Hades, is the realm of the dead ruled by the god Hades. This dark and mysterious place is depicted as a gloomy, vast realm filled with shades and spirits of the deceased. The river Styx, which separates the land of the living from the Underworld, is said to be shrouded in mist and surrounded by dense forests. The Underworld serves as a fascinating and terrifying setting in many Greek myths and plays, such as the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. Dark and magical places also exist in our own world, often tied to folklore and ancient legends. The Black Forest in Germany, for instance, has long been associated with tales of witches, fairies, and mythical creatures. This dense forest, with its towering trees and hidden glens, continues to inspire awe and fascination, drawing visitors who seek its mystical allure. In conclusion, dark and magical places hold a special place in our collective consciousness. Whether fictional or real, these settings ignite our imagination and transport us to worlds where anything is possible. They remind us of the beauty and danger that lies beyond our everyday experiences, beckoning us to explore and uncover their secrets..
Reviews for "Otherworldly Realms: Exploring the Dark and Magical Dimensions"
- Anna123 - 1 star
This book was a complete disappointment. The title promised dark and magical places, but what I got was a poorly written and confusing mess. The characters were flat and unlikable, and the plot was all over the place. I found myself struggling to stay engaged and eventually gave up halfway through. Save yourself the headache and skip this book.
- JohnDoe321 - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "Dark and magical places" after reading the synopsis, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The writing style was convoluted and hard to follow, making it difficult to connect with the story. Moreover, the world-building was lacking, and the supposed magical places were more dull than enchanting. Overall, I found the book to be underwhelming and wouldn't recommend it to others.
- BookLoverGirl - 2.5 stars
I can't say I hated "Dark and magical places," but I definitely didn't love it either. The concept had potential, but the execution fell flat. The pacing was sluggish, and the plot twists were predictable. The author also relied heavily on tropes and cliches, which made the story feel unoriginal. While the book had its moments, it ultimately failed to leave a lasting impression.