Wilder Penfield was a pioneering neurosurgeon and neurologist who not only revolutionized the treatment for epilepsy but in the process mapped out the human brain for the first time. Much of what we know today about the brain is based on Penfield's work - but he was not satisfied with his widely-heralded scientific work (four times nominated for the Nobel Prize) - he wanted to conquer the mystery of the mind. Wilder Penfield is acknowledged as one of the great figures in neuroscience, neurological surgery, and modern medicine of the 20th century. His contributions to the understanding of brain function and the surgical treatment of epilepsy places him in the pantheon of medical heroes. In his biography of Dr. Penfield, Something Hidden , Jefferson Lewis, a grandson of Penfield, takes the reader on an intimate, evolving journey through the life of this medical giant. Drawing on family records, diaries, and even personal encounters, Lewis supplements many of the known historical facts with an insider's view of this complex genius. From a humble and complicated beginning in Spokane, Washington the foundation of Penfield's medical and spiritual curiosities was born. Maternal strength and strict focus from Jean Penfield infused young Wilder with the pursuit of excellence in the face of hardship, a compass that directed his life in the early 1900's. This pursuit led, not only through the halls of Princeton, Oxford and Johns Hopkins, and the homes and laboratories of Osler and Sherrington, but through a near tragic injury from a German torpedo in World War 1. Much of Penfield's life, and this book is devoted to the establishment of the Montreal Neurological Institute at McGill University and the creation of a team that would forever change the understanding and treatment of epilepsy, one of the dreaded disorder of the brain. The very personal reflections of Penfield from diaries and other communications reveal not just his vision and critical details of his pursuits, but the challenges and very personal struggles, as well. In addition, Lewis provides a compelling view of Penfield's transition to a second career as he relinquishes his leadership of the Neuro, the Institute he created. In the twilight of his career as a surgeon-scientist of world renown, the understanding of the mystery of the mind and its spiritual connection to a designer come into focus as his dominant pursuit. Penfield was remarkable as a neuroscientist with deeply religious beliefs who struggled to understand the brain-soul relationship. In his books, The Mystery of the Mind and No Man Alone, among others, Penfield establishes himself as a great author as well. Something Hidden is a must read for anyone entering the field of neuroscience! Lewis paints a detailed and colorful picture of Wilder Penfield's pursuit of knowledge and understanding of the most remarkable human organ, the brain. This picture is embellished with Penfield's intense pursuit of an understanding of an even more remarkable human element, the mind. As a neurological surgeon whose father was a member of the Penfield team, and whose childhood memories include glimpses of the Penfield universe, I found Something Hidden to be a captivating and moving story of an epic journey. I am confident others will as well. Charles L Branch, Jr. MD Professor and Chair Emeritus Department of Neurological Surgery Wake Forest University School of Medicine Winston-Salem, NC Born in Montreal to American parents, Jefferson Lewis is an award-winning journalist, author, and filmmaker. He has written and/or directed more than 25 films in both French and English. His screenplays have attracted actors such as Susan Sarandon, Christopher Plummer, Ryan Reynolds, Geneviève Bujold and Max Von Sydow. He lives on Lake Memphremagog with his wife, the actress Andrée Pelletier.