Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart

Although Doty provides readers with instructions on how to relax the body, clear the mind, etc., the majority of the book takes the form of a memoir. Why might Doty have chosen this genre to communicate Ruth’s teachings?

How does Doty characterize his childhood in Lancaster? In what ways do his experiences there shape his life going forward?

What initially attracts Doty to medicine? How does his understanding of what it means to be a doctor change over the course of the book?

Discuss the different theories regarding near death experiences that Doty explores. Why does Doty ultimately reject the need to “explain” his own NDE in these terms?

What is neuroplasticity? In what ways does it explain the ability of techniques like visualization to effect real world change?

Choose one of the anecdotes involving Doty’s patients. How does it contribute to the overall meaning of the work?

Although Ruth is clearly a central figure in Doty’s life, he knows relatively little about her life and circumstances; as a boy, in fact, he sees her as an almost “supernatural being” (60). How does Doty characterize Ruth, and what significance does this have in terms of her role in the book?

Explore how the meaning of “wealth” and “value” evolve over the course of the book. What point does Into the Magic Shop ultimately make about money?