Get the Summary of Norman Doidge's The Brain That Changes Itself in 20 minutes. Please note: This is a summary & not the original book. Original book introduction: The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science (2007) by psychiatrist Norman Doidge explores breakthroughs in neuroscience regarding plasticity, or the brain's ability to change. Doidge shares inspiring stories of the work done by what he calls “neuroplasticians” — neuroscientists who are pioneering new methods for optimizing brain function..