John Medina

I enjoyed this book to some degree. I found some of the anecdotes and personal stories fascinating, but overall the book was just too dry. Perhaps it’s my fault for reading right before bed, but I couldn’t get further than a couple of pages each time before getting too tired to continue. I also felt the book lost momentum as it got closer to the end. It started out strong, but then I think the author lost steam - or interest (much like I did). I was also hoping for some new or unique takes on what we all already know, and I didn’t get that. I mean, seriously - exercise improves brain function? Ummm… yeah. Male and female brains are different? Duh. Repetition improves memory? No doubt. I was looking for some interesting tips I could apply practically to my own life, and in that aspect I found the book lacking.… (mehr)

Not as good as previous Brain Rules books, but still manages to present many scientific studies in an engaging way. I give it +1 star for an extra value if any of your close ones is struggling with early dementia (esp. Alzheimer's).

This book explains how aging changes our brain and proposes some tactics one can apply to stay sharp in the autumn years. There are no surprising silver bullets, rather an extensive body of evidence that what is good at any age is especially important in the old age. There are some minor issues and we certainly got to know more since the publication of this book, but it is still well presented and well intended.

For me the most valuable chapters were about dementia. It's not only about the processes that lead to the disease but more importantly how one can notice early symptoms and help people deal with them. There is a vicious cycle of coping bahaviours that fuels the progress of the disease and being able to recognize and break them might heavily impact the quality of life with dementia.

If you enjoyed the other Brain Rules books, this will be a good refresher and extension of the series. If you are looking for protocols that will slow down agining proceses, there might be better books available that cover this subject more comprehensively (this one focuses on brain and cognition only).… (mehr)