Ray Guillery, Honorary Emeritus Research Fellow, MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit, University of Oxford

Ray Guillery (1929-2017). Born in Germany, he became a neuroanatomist and obtained his BSc and PhD in Anatomy from University College London in 1951 and 1954. In his long and distinguished career, Ray taught at University College London (1953-64), University of Wisconsin-Madison (1964-77; 1996-2006), University of Chicago (1977-1984), University of Oxford (1984-96) and Marmara University (2006-2010). He was a Fellow of the Royal Society, a Fellow of University College London and was the founding Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of Neuroscience. In his final position, Ray was an Honorary Emeritus Research Fellow at the MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit at the University of Oxford.

"Ray Guillery wrote this book to promote the "Interactive" view of brain function. This is the idea that sensory inputs and motor outputs are not separate, but are combined at every level of the nervous system. If you are not already a believer of this important concept you cannot find a better introduction and argument in its favor. However, I also loved this book for a completely different reason. It is a beautifully written introduction to the nervous system, told through the reflection of the author's long career. It is a joy to read. People often ask me what I recommend they read as they start their career in neuroscience. The Brain as a Tool is now on the very short list of books I recommend. Reading it reminded me what I love about studying the brain." - Jeff Hawkins, Founder, Numenta, USA

"Guillery was an engaging teacher and companion. This book (published posthumously) brings him back to life, to the delight of those who knew him, and the enlightenment of those who did not, as it provides a guided tour of the nervous system." - Clifford B.Saper, James Jackson Putnam Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School