Library of Clean Reads: neuroscience

Showing posts with label neuroscience. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

The Art of Taking It Easy by Dr. Brian King (Book Spotlight and Interview)

Psychologist and comedian Brian King has written his second book, exploring the science behind stress. He sets out to teach us the art of taking it easy. Check out my interview with him below.

Book Details:

Book Title: The Art of Taking It Easy by Dr. Brian King
Category: Adult Non-Fiction
Genre: Literary/Self-Help/Humor
Publisher: Apollo Publishers
Release date: October 2019
Tour dates: October 15 to Nov 12, 2019
Content Rating: PG-13+ (Please note I have not read this book so cannot state if there is questionable content such as language)

Book Description:

Psychologist and Comedian King explores the science behind stress in this witty, informed guide. The author uses a bevy of running jokes and punch lines to enliven technical explanations for how and why people experience stress. His metaphors of coming across a bear in the wild as well as being stuck in traffic are also used to great effect to explain a variety of stress responses, such as perceiving a threat and feelings of powerlessness. Reframing thoughts plays a large role in King's advice: Stress is simply a reaction to a perception of threat being able to consciously redirect choices made by other areas of the brain is the key to living a less stressful existence. He also provides breathing exercises, plants for painting physical health and useful advice for setting attainable goals. King's enjoyable guide to living with less will be of help to any anxious reader.

BUY THE BOOK:

Amazon
Add to Goodreads

Interview with Brian King:

LCR: Hi Dr. King, thank you so much for doing this interview for our blog. I love books that bring the science of neuroscience to the layperson and helps us make practical use of that knowledge. So my first question is why did you decide to write this book?

BK: Hi there and thanks for having me! I love books like this too, which is probably part of the reason I wrote one. Even with my training, I love it when scientists can describe complicated phenomena in terms the rest of us can understand. Like Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time, it’s simply more entertaining and digestible. Reading books shouldn’t be work. I’m a comedian, so I am also partial to things that make me laugh. I want to write books that I would like to read.

LCR: I really like your title. It's catchy. How did you come up with it? And why do you think it suits your book?

BK: I didn’t have a title when I set out to write the book. “The Art of Taking It Easy” was a title of one of my chapters. During the editing process, my publishers and I felt that it really captured the essence of the book and we decided to give it a promotion to the cover. So far, it hasn’t let us down.

“Take it easy” is a phrase that I use quite a bit, and I have been known to take it very easy myself. When I began familiarizing myself with the stress management research, it is a phrase that repeatedly came to mind. If I have any influence at all, I hope that I can help convince people of the need to take life less seriously and, you know, take it easy. There are so many people in the world that are struggling with stress-related issues who could use a change in perspective. Reevaluate your thought processes, your reactions, and your interactions with other people. The world can be a crazy place, and there will always be conflict. So why not chill out and try not to be part of the problem?

LCR: How does your life as a neuroscientist affect your life as a comedian and vice versa?

BK: My research interests now include the benefits of humor and laughter, so there is that. You know how we often say, “laughter is the best medicine”? I think most of us use that phrase rather flippantly and I’ve used it as a joke. Hey, you know they say laughter is the best medicine, so rub some laughter on your broken arm…

Other than that, I also use humor in my books and speaking appearances. It doesn’t work the other way around, when I perform comedy it’s not like I am making jokes about brain anatomy.

LCR: As a Special Care Counselor, I work with seniors with dementia who exhibit behavioral and psychological symptoms (such as agitation, aggression and delusions) helping their families manage these symptoms in a compassionate and understanding way. How do you think your book can help me in this line of work?

BK: Changing perspective can help people in any situation. The tools of stress management are not unique from one set of circumstances to another, so of course there is plenty that you will find applicable.

LCR: I usually listen to non-fiction books on self-development on my commute to work. Will your book be produced as an audiobook as well? If so, do you know when? And is there a possibility that your first book The Laughing Cure also be produced as an audiobook?

BK: First, this is no ordinary self-development book, so you should totally get a hardcopy. It reads like a story. As for an audio version, that is up to my publishers. I would love to do an audiobook. I am a public speaker, so I am comfortable on a microphone. Plus, people say I sound like Jay Leno and I have been looking for a way to monetize that.

LCR: What would be your first line of advice for individuals who are having a very hard time dealing with their stress?

BK: Take a moment to calm down and assess the situation. It is hard to think rationally when we are overwhelmed, so step back and take it easy.

LCR: Thank you so much for your time!

About the Author:

Photo credit Jon King

DR. BRIAN KING trained as a neuroscientist and psychologist and for the past decade has traveled the world as a comedian and public speaker. By day he conducts seminars, attended by thousands of people each year around the US and internationally, on positive psychology, the health benefits of humor, and stress management. By night he practices what he teaches in comedy clubs, and is the founder and producer of the highly reviewed Wharf Room comedy show in San Francisco. Dr. Brian holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas, a master’s degree from the University of New Orleans, and a PhD in neuroscience from Bowling Green State University. Hailing from New York and living in dozens of cities throughout the US as the child of a military family, today spends his life on the road with his partner, Sarah, and their young daughter.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram

Monday, February 5, 2018

SNAP! Change Your Personality in 30 Days by Dr. Gary Small and Gigi Vorgan (Book Spotlight & Giveaway!)

Today, I'm kicking off the spotlight tour for a nonfiction book I look forward to reading. For those of you who have been reading my blog for awhile, you know I like books on brain wellness, especially neuroplasticity. So this book caught my eye immediately. Check it out and enter to win a copy of your own!

Book Details:

Book Title: SNAP! Change Your Personality in 30 Days
Authors: Gary Small, MD, Director UCLA Longevity Center and Gigi Vorgan
Category: Adult Nonfiction, 224 pages
Genre: Self-Help / Personality / Health, Mind & Body
Publisher: Humanix Books
Release date: January 9, 2018
Tour dates: Feb 5 to 23, 2018
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

New York Times bestselling author Dr. Gary Small’s breakthrough plan to improve your personality for a better life!

Experts in psychiatry and psychology have long believed that our personalities are essentially set from early childhood and remain consistent throughout life. However, the latest scientific research contradicts this long-held assumption. New compelling evidence indicates that we can change our personalities – either on our own, with the help of a therapist, or a combination of the two – and meaningful personality change can be achieved in a snap! – as quickly as 30 days. These groundbreaking findings have shattered the false belief that we are locked into our negative personality traits – no matter how much they hinder our potential happiness and success.

As you read SNAP! you will gain a better understanding of who you are now, how others see you, and which aspects of yourself you’d like to change. You will acquire the tools you need to change your personality in just one month – it won’t take years of psychotherapy, self-exploration or re-hashing every single bad thing that’s ever happened to you. If you are committed to change, this book will provide a roadmap to achieving your goals and becoming a better you.

From New York Times bestselling author, head of the UCLA Longevity Center, and expert in neuroscience and human behavior, Dr. Gary Small, a practical look at the key components of personality development and tools and techniques for bringing the positive aspects of your personality to the forefront so you can become more successful, attractive, happier, and psychologically healthier.

Buy the Book:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Humanix Books

Add to Goodreads

About the Authors:

Gary Small:
Dr. Gary Small, (Los Angeles, CA) is a professor of psychiatry and director of the UCLA Longevity Center* at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior. His research, supported by the NIH, has made headlines in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. Scientific American magazine named him one of the world’s leading innovators in science and technology. Dr. Small lectures internationally and frequently appears on the Today Show, Good Morning America, PBS, and CNN. He has written six books, including the New York Times best seller, The Memory Bible.

Gigi Vorgan:
Gigi Vorgan (Los Angeles, CA) has written, produced, and appeared in numerous feature films and television projects before teaming up with her husband, Dr. Gary Small, to co-write The Memory Bible, The Memory Prescription,The Longevity Bible, iBrain, The Other Side of the Couch, and The Alzheimer’s Prevention Program. She lives in Los Angeles with Dr. Small and their two children.

Connect with the authors: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Youtube

Enter the Giveaway!

Ends March 3, 2018

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, June 29, 2017

Wellness Feature: Head Strong by Dave Asprey (Review)

Before this book, I had not heard of Dave Asprey. When I came across this second book of his, I was immediately attracted to the topic since I love learning about neuroscience. What did I think of his latest book? Read my review below.

Book Details:

Title: Head Strong: The Bulletproof Plan to Activate Untapped Brain Energy to Work Smarter and Think Faster in Just Two Weeks
Author: Dave Asprey
Publisher: Harper Wave
Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 352 pages
Genre: Health, Fitness and Dieting
Published: April 4, 2017
Content Rating: PG for language

Book Description:

From the creator of Bulletproof Coffee and author of the bestselling The Bulletproof Diet comes a revolutionary plan to upgrade your brainpower—in two weeks or less.

For the last decade, Silicon Valley entrepreneur Dave Asprey has worked with world-renowned doctors and scientists to uncover the latest, most innovative methods for making humans perform better—a process known as "biohacking." In his first book, The Bulletproof Diet, he shared his biohacking tips for taking control of your own biology. Now, in Head Strong, Asprey shows readers how to biohack their way to a sharper, smarter, faster, more resilient brain.

Imagine feeling like your mind is operating at its clearest and sharpest, and being able—possibly for the first time in your life—to do more in less time? What it suddenly became easier to do the very hardest things you do? Or if you could feel 100% confident about your intellect, and never again fear being the person in the room who just isn’t smart enough, or can’t remember something important? How would you treat people if the mood swings, short temper, and food cravings that disrupt your day could simply disappear?

In Head Strong, Asprey shows us that all of this is possible—and more. Using his simple lifestyle modifications (or "hacks") to take advantage of how the structure of your brain works, readers will learn how to take their mental performance to the next level. Combining the latest findings in neuroscience and neurobiology with a hacker-inspired "get it done now" perspective, Asprey offers a program structured around key areas of brain performance that will help you:

Power the brain with exactly what it needs to perform at its best all day long
Eliminate the sources of "kryptonite," both nutritional and environmental, that make the brain slower.
Supercharge the cellular powerhouses of our brains, the mitochondria, to eliminate cravings and turn up mental focus.
Reverse inflammation to perform better right now, then stay sharp and energized well into your golden years.
Promote neuron growth to enhance processing speed and reinforce new learning—hotwiring your brain for success.

Asprey’s easy to follow, two-week program offers a detailed plan to supercharge brain performance, including: which foods to eat and which ones to avoid, how to incorporate the right kinds of physical activity into your day, a detox protocol for your home and body; meditation and breathing for performance, recommended brain-boosting supplements; and how to adjust the lighting in your home and work space to give your brain the quality light it thrives on.

A better brain—and a happier, easier, more productive life—is within reach. You just need to get Head Strong.

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Add to Goodreads

My Review:

Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

Before this book, I had not heard of Dave Asprey. When I came across this second book of his, I was immediately attracted to the topic since I love learning about neuroscience. I really enjoyed learning about the mitochondria and how sugar and the wrong kind of fats affect its performance. This in itself motivated me to continue in my resolve to eliminate most sugar from my diet and to keep eating good fats like avocado, coconut oil and olive oil. A fat brain is a healthy brain!

This book is divided into three parts. In addition, each chapter ends with key points to remember and then three things you can do right now to apply what you've read. I liked this and thought it was a good way to make practical use of the information just read. The first part is all about the mitochondria, neurons and inflammation. I loved this part because I learned quite a few things and I connected other info I had learned from other books I'd read recently.

The second part is about being in control of your head where the author discusses brain fuel, toxic food and toxic metals and the effect of light on our brain. I also enjoyed his chapter on exercise and getting the right kind of exercise. Once again, I learned a lot of new info and I'm more resolved now to move more (since I work on my computer all day), to sleep better and to reduce how much blue light my family and I are exposed to.

The third part is the two-week program. If you're vegan, don't drink coffee or haven't purchased the author's Brain Octane Oil then you'll find this diet hard to follow. The recipes gave me some idea on how to incorporate good fats into my diet. I'm resolved to find grass-fed meat and grass-fed butter. I do believe that we do need to supplement our diet with high-quality supplements because our food supply is depleted and we don't get the nutrients we need on a daily basis. The author includes a section on a variety of supplements that are particularly good for the brain and that can be purchased at any local natural store.

The book includes a bibliography with reference notes and an index. Overall, I think that knowing the science of why I should eat certain foods and eliminate others or change my lifestyle habits is powerful for me. It gives me the motivation to make the changes that I know will be good for me and my family. Even making a few key changes can make a whole lot of difference. Head Strong is a good reference book.

To read more reviews, please visit Dave Asprey's page on TLC Book Tours.

Disclosure: Thanks to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

About the Author:

DAVE ASPREY, founder of the Bulletproof Executive blog, is a Silicon Valley investor and technology entrepreneur who spent fifteen years and over $300,000 learning to hack his own biology. Dave lost one hundred pounds without counting calories or doing excessive exercise; upgraded his IQ by more than twenty points; and lowered his biological age--all the while learning to sleep better in less time. Mastering these seemingly impossible things transformed him into a better entrepreneur, a better husband and a better father. Dave's blog reaches 1.5 million unique monthly visitors, and his #1 ranked podcast has been downloaded 5 million times.

You can also connect with Dave on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Wellness Feature is our way of highlighting products and books for optimal physical, emotional and intellectual well-being. Feel free to tell us about any book or product that promotes well-being or that you would like to see reviewed here.

Monday, December 30, 2013

Switch on Your Brain by Dr. Caroline Leaf

Switch on Your Brain: The Key to Peak Happiness, Thinking, and Health by Dr. Caroline Leaf
BakerBooks
ISBN: 978-0801016240
Published: Sept 1, 2013
Trade paperback, 240 pages

I love neuroscience. I also love the Holy Scriptures. So what a surprise when Dr. Caroline Leaf, a communication pathologist in the field of cognitive neuroscience, summarizes in this book a large part of her research in recent years to link scientific principles to Scripture. Oh my word, I LOVED this book! It blends two of my favorite subjects.

I always trusted and believed God’s Word to contain wisdom and accurate statements about human behaviour and psychology. Finally, a scientist who recognizes this! Dr. Leaf states: Science is catching up with the Bible daily. How true, because God is THE greatest scientist. He created the heavens, the earth and us in it, including all the laws that govern nature, such as the law of gravity and quantum physics.

Dr. Leaf had devoted her life work, since the 1990s, in helping people see that they can renew their minds in a tangible way by learning to control their thoughts and emotions. She says that by doing this through conscious effort, we can actually change the programming and chemistry of our brain, even in the most challenging neurological situations. In other words, we are not victims of our biology or circumstances. How empowering! How hopeful and enlightening. How totally fascinating! The concept of neuroplasticity was always supported by God as stated in Romans 12:2. I knew this because of my studying the Bible for years now, but having a scientist explain the science behind Biblical principles is so gratifying. It makes me appreciate my Creator all the more.

What I also appreciated about this book is that it’s easy to read. Dr. Leaf explains neuroscience in simple terms and her use of repetition of the concepts only served to make me appreciate their value. The more I dug into this book, with highlighter and pen, jotting down notes, looking up Scriptures, the more I realized that my Bible studies have made me wiser and more intelligent because of the time I spent in deep study and meditation. In the last few years, however, because of my busy schedule I have not had the same kind of contemplative studies, and I have seen the difference in how I handle stress.

In the first part of the book, Dr. Leaf explains the science of thought and what it means to switch on your brain. In part two, Dr. Leaf has developed a 21-Day Brain Detox Plan, a practical and detailed plan that helps an individual get rid of toxic thoughts. This non-traditional therapeutic approach has helped her patients who suffered a TBI (traumatic brain injury) make remarkable progress. I’ve read through the program, and I figure it won’t be easy to implement, but I plan to use it because I know I could use help getting rid of some toxic thoughts that trigger my depression and mood swings.

I have to say that if you are an individual who does not read the Bible, this book may be a little overwhelming, especially those who believe that the Bible and science don’t mix. I knew all the Scriptures she mentions in her book so I was super comfortable with her applications. Also, Dr. Leaf includes in the back of the book 10 full pages of notes and references, as well as 19 full pages of recommended reading of books and scientific articles. This is perfect for me! I highly recommend this book to anyone who calls themselves a Christian (or appreciates the Bible) and wants to explore the potential of their minds to change their lives for the better.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read.

Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product. Available at your favourite bookseller from BakerBooks, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Love Anthony by Lisa Genova

Love Anthony by Lisa Genova
Gallery Books
ISBN: 978-1439164693
Published April 2, 2013
Trade Paperback, 336 pages

After reading Lisa Genova’s previous two books--Still Alice that deals with Alzheimer’s Disease and Left Neglected that deals with traumatic brain injury--I knew I wanted to read Love Anthony, a story that deals with an autistic boy. Neuroscience is a topic I’m fascinated with, and Genova, a Harvard-trained neuroscientist, writes fiction inspired by her field of work.

Love Anthony is essentially a story about two women, each at crossroards in their life, whose lives change because of the connection to an autistic boy. Olivia is mourning the loss of her son Anthony, a boy who had autism. She retreats to Nantucket Island alone, desperate to find the meaning of her son’s life. Beth, also living in Nantucket, is a wife and mother of three girls, who just discovered her husband Jimmy is cheating on her.

The chapters alternates between the stories of both women. Both stories had elements that appealed to me as a woman and mother. I could empathize with Olivia and my heart broke for her as she relives some of her best and worst moments with Anthony. I felt terrible for Beth because of her situation. I liked reading about Anthony and learning about what it might feel like to have autism. The book’s beginning and ending were very good, but I felt the story dragged at time somewhere in the middle. I felt Beth’s story was too detailed and there could have been less of it and more of Anthony.

Also, the ending left me with mixed feelings. Beth begins to write a book and it’s written from the perspective of an autistic boy. It’s strongly suggested that it’s actually Anthony communicating to his mother through Beth, you know, channeling. I really wish this hadn’t been implied. Why add a paranormal element to a story that was fine without it? However, this is mentioned at the very end of the novel, and is a short scene. It’s really the story of Anthony that made me enjoy this book. I was touched by him and was crying at one point when Olivia recalls how he dies. I have a son who is ten and could not imagine losing him.

The setting on the island of Nantucket is so prominent that it becomes a character, making the reader truly feel the isolation and bleakness of winters there. Genova’s description of island life is beautiful and I could imagine it so clearly in my mind.

This story truly made me more empathetic toward families who have children with autism. It made me understand the difficulties and challenges that come with raising children who are different and may not speak, give eye contact or want to be touched. I look forward to seeing what else Genova chooses to write about that will make her readers more compassionate.

Note: This book is rated P = Profanity (mild) for a few f-words and S = sexual content for a brief sex scene (not explicit).

Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: I bought this book and was not told how to rate or review this product.

Friday, August 10, 2012

The Woman Who Changed Her Brain by Barbara Arrowsmith-Young (Audio Book Review)

The Woman Who Changed Her Brain by Barbara Arrowsmith-Young
Post Hypnotic Press
Released May 24, 2012
Narrator: Lisa Bunting
Duration: 9 hours 15 minutes
Unabridged

Fascinating! Absolutely fascinating. When I saw this title, I knew I wanted to read it. Part memoir and part educational and resource book, The Woman Who Changed her Brain, is about the story and work of Barbara Arrowsmith-Young, a remarkable woman and Canadian pioneer in the practical application of “neuroplasticity.” Not only was she born with severe learning disabilities that had her struggling with language, spatial awareness, and symbolic thinking, but she overcame them after she came upon the works of famous Russian neuropsychologist Alexander Luria, which inspired her to invent cognitive exercises that changed her brain!

Arrowsmith-Young explains how the brain is not a machine, it is malleable, plastic, and can change itself. It can be rewired or remapped so to speak. It is ever-changing, physically, chemically and functionally. She states, “Just as our brains shape us, we can shape our brains.” And so that is what she did by doing cognitive exercises for many hours daily until there was a shift. The author interweaves her personal story (her own anguish and constant learning battles) with the school she went on to open and the brain training program she developed that has helped thousands of children and adults. I found both her story and that of the case studies fascinating and touching. Some might find that there are too many case studies but I liked hearing them all.

I love the field of neuroscience and since I work with individuals who suffer cognitive deficiencies because of diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and stroke, I always look to learn more so as to better understand the population I work with. My knowledge of neurological deficits and how they are manifested has been opened up with this book. When she mentioned that some children diagnosed with ADHD or other behavioral problems may be in fact suffering from neurological deficits, a light bulb went on in my head. I worked in this field and saw countless children given drugs (Ritalin) at an early age when perhaps they could have been helped through tailored cognitive exercises?

I enjoyed listening to the audio version of this book. The narrator's voice was that of a mature woman, which suited this book since the author uses the first person POV and so I almost felt like it was the author herself talking to me. The narration was appropriate to the subject. Listening to this audio has convinced me I need to get the print book too. Because there is information in this book that I would love to access readily, I would have liked if the chapters would have been indicated on the CDs, so that if I want to listen again to, let's say, the chapter that dealt with object and face recognition, I would know on which CD it was found.

This book is inspirational. Being a practical person, though, I would have liked to know more (oh, much more!) regarding the tailored cognitive exercises Arrowsmith-Young developed. This is a brilliant, compassionate woman and her revolutionary teaching methods have inspired me in my own career. In other words, I now want to do more research on how to help those suffering from a neurological deficiency. And it has also inspired me to challenge myself to keep my brain as active as possible.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about how the brain functions. I think it's an enlightening book for teachers, parents, and anyone working in the helping field. It will increase your empathy toward others as you might recognize that the reason Joey is misbehaving in class is because he has a symbolic thinking deficit and cannot properly process the teacher's instructions. One of the best book I've read in 2012.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read.
You can find more info on this audiobook and other educational ones at Post Hypnotic Press.

Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: Thanks to Carlyn Craig from Post Hypnotic Press (through Audiobook Jukebox) for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.