Think Smart: A Neuroscientist's Prescription For Improving Your Brain's Performance (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
I listened to this on CD while we were traveling. It was quite interesting. The beginning talks about the best things to do for your brain's health: eat well and exercise (why is it always the same thing?!) :)He also tells of interesting ideas for ways to increase your mental capacity. It inspired me to work on my memory and concentration skills. I have set a goal to memorize six piano songs over the next year and continue learning new words, writing, and memorizing lists. I was particularly fascinated with his information on Alzheimer's. When people's brains were examined, after death, they discovered that there were grey areas of the brain - as if those areas of the brain were worn out. The interesting thing is they appeared in people's brains who exhibited symptoms of Alzheimer's as well as those who didn't. The difference seemed to be those who worked on brain active brain skills rather than falling into passivity in old age, as well as if they had spent their younger years learning and staying mentally engaged. Fascinating. Books on the Brain & Human Potential like those from Charles Duhigg (The Power of Habit), Daneil Coyle (The Talent Code), Matthew Syed (Bounce), Daniel Pink (Drive) have always fascinated me. Simply because I am obsessed about anything that can help me become better.And when a book is authored by a Neuroscientist on subjects related to Mind, Body and Brain - well it becomes as irresistible as Thailand's Massaman curry dish.The book covers various modalities which impact or influence the Brain like Diet Control, Using Supplements, Body Weight, Nutrition, Exercise & Oxygen and Importance of Sleep. And throughout the book he probes into various techniques which help improve various regions of the brain - Playing Video Games, Taking Power Naps, Memory Techniques, Visualization and also covers a chapter dedicated to how to reduce stress.Some of the interesting & surprising discoveries I found through this book were:1) Why Multi-Tasking is Bad2) Drinking Red Wine is Good (moderately)3) Improving your Vocabulary helps become smarter4) The various kinds of intelligences5) Why solving puzzles is actually good for the mindSo moment of truthThere were quite a lot of useful exercises and pieces of information which I found useful to me at least. My favorite one among the lot was to enhance ones vocabulary in order to develop ones mind (and not the other way around).The only part I am not too fond off it the Memory Technique Chapter. Reminded me more of Harry Lorayne's Cheesy Techniques.But it's an easy to read, easy to understand and easy to follow book.Overall Rating:8 out of 10.Loy Machedoloy machedo dot com | whoisloymachedo dot com
What do You think about Think Smart: A Neuroscientist's Prescription For Improving Your Brain's Performance (2009)?
Fascinating read. I plan to read it again when I have more time to take notes.
—2906natali
Very cool, fun book. Interesting how the brain works.
—Sam
