Strong Brain Blog

A selection of books dealing with brain health and related topics.

• Train Your Brain: 60 Days to a Better Brain: Dr. Ryuta Kawashima  
  …an English-language version of a Japanese book written by Dr. Ryuta Kawashima. The original book sold over a million copies in Japan. Dr. Kawashima found that by performing simple mathematical calculations and reading books aloud, one could retain mental clarity and stave off the mental effects of aging. The book is based on this research.

  The first half of the book contains simple mathematical calculations intermingled with memory tests and counting tests. The book recommends that one should do a set of maths questions everyday and note the time it takes. This is complemented by a memory test, a counting test, and a stroop test (found at the back of the book) which should be undertaken every five days. A set of graphs are provided at the back of the book so that the results of the tests can be logged.

  The concepts presented in Train Your Brain would later be used to create the Nintendo DS game Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day!. [Wikipedia]

• The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science: Norman Doidge M.D.  
  …a book on neuroplasticity [featuring] numerous case studies of patients suffering from neurological disorders and details how in each case the brain adapts to compensate for the disabilities of the individual patients, often in unusual and unexpected ways. Interviews with the patients, clinicians, and research scientists involved in these studies make up a large portion of the contents. Doidge uses examples of previous work carried out by neuroscientists such as Paul Broca, Sigmund Freud, Aleksandr Luria, Donald O. Hebb, Paul Bach-y-Rita, and Eric Kandel to show that the brain is adaptive, and thus plastic. [Wikipedia]
• The Brain’s Way of Healing: Remarkable Discoveries and Recoveries from the Frontiers of Neuroplasticity: Norman Doidge M.D.  
  …an exciting overview of powerful new neuroscience theories that connect mind, body, and soul. Webber’s story, Doidge says, reveals a profound truth: “Simple awareness is an agent of change.’’ [BostonGlobe]

  Doidge explains the current state of the research into neuroplasticity, which he describes as a tapestry of new therapies that are challenging medicine’s perceived limits despite hostility from many tradition-bound practitioners.[HuffingtonPost]

• Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain: How a New Science Reveals Our Extraordinary Potential to Transform Ourselves: Sharon Begley  
  Welcome to the age of neuroplasticity: the notion that adult brains are more adaptable, capable of reprogramming themselves, than was once thought. As a host of popularizers have begun to argue, neuroplasticity has enormous implications not only for our physical health but for our mental health… This new perspective is grounded in (somewhat) recent, solid scientific findings. [Slate]

  Begley’s book is … a lively, largely scientifically accurate, and eminently readable view into the brain’s capacity for malleability. [Can Our Minds Change Our Brains?]

• The Plastic Mind: New science reveals our extraordinary potential to transform ourselves: Sharon Begley
• The Sharp­Brains Guide to Brain Fit­ness:
  How to Opti­mize Brain Health and Per­for­mance at Any Age: Alvaro Fer­nan­dez, Elkhonon Gold­berg, PhD, Pas­cale Mich­e­lon, Ph.D  
  …this guide helps the everyday reader come to a basic understanding of brain functioning and the lifestyle changes that matter the most for keeping the brain in tip top shape…The authors make a compelling case that we need to foster the development and maintenance of a wide range of mental functions– not just IQ or memory– in order to reach our personal goals. [Scientific American]

  A stimulating, challenging resource, full of solid information and practical tips for improving brain health. [Kirkus Reviews]

• The Alzheimer’s Prevention Program: Dr. Gary Small  
  …an authoritative, accessible, and engaging book reporting on what we know about Alzheimer’s disease in terms of potential causes, development, and prevention…real benefits that can be gained from relatively simple lifestyle changes: incorporate physical activity into your daily routine; eat foods that are good for your brain; reduce your stress; sharpen your mind with mental workouts.[PsychCentral]]
• Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes: Maria Konnikova
• Your Brain: The Missing Manual: Matthew MacDonald
• Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything: Joshua Foer
• Rewire Your Brain: Think Your Way to a Better Life: John B. Arden
• Brainfit: 10 Minutes a Day for a Sharper Mind and Memory: Corinne Gediman, Dr. Francis Michael Crinella Ph.D.
• The Secret Life of the Grown-up Brain: The Surprising Talents of the Middle-Aged Mind: Barbara Strauch
• Mind Hacks: Tips & Tools for Using Your BrainMind Hacks: Tips & Tricks for Using Your Brain: Tom Stafford, Matt Webb
• Train Your Brain: Brain Teasers to Sharpen Your Mind: Puzzler Media
• The Language of Mathematics: Making the Invisible Visible: Keith Devlin
• Mind Performance Hacks: Tips & Tools for Overclocking Your Brain: Ron Hale-Evans
• Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation: Daniel J. Siegel M.D