book data
274 ratings,
3.91
average rating, 109 reviews
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published
March 18th 2008
by Pear Press
binding
Hardcover, 320 pages
isbn
0979777704
(isbn13: 9780979777707)
description
Most of us have no idea what's really going on inside our heads. Yet brain scientists have uncovered details every business leader, parent, and teache...more
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| Book Nook Cafe: Books to add to your TBR list | 46 | 144 | 23 days ago, 07:34PM | |
| Book Nook Cafe: Books you just finished, are reading or plan to read | 321 | 327 | 05/31/2009 01:03PM | |
| API Seattle Reads: 2009 books | 1 | 4 | 03/04/2009 12:07PM | |
| Multitasking | 1 | 8 | 06/05/2008 04:11AM |
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 701)
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5 stars (78)
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4 stars (113)
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3 stars (68)
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2 stars (11)
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1 star (4)
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avg 3.91
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Read in June, 2008
I think I would give this book 3.5 stars if I could.
The book discusses "12 principles for surviving and thriving at work, home, and school." The real focus seems feels like how we can use this to improve schools.
The 12 rules are:
EXERCISE | Rule #1: Exercise boosts brain power.
SURVIVAL | Rule #2: The human brain evolved, too.
WIRING | Rule #3: Every brain is wired differently.
ATTENTION | Rule #4: We don't pay attention to boring things.
...more
The book discusses "12 principles for surviving and thriving at work, home, and school." The real focus seems feels like how we can use this to improve schools.
The 12 rules are:
EXERCISE | Rule #1: Exercise boosts brain power.
SURVIVAL | Rule #2: The human brain evolved, too.
WIRING | Rule #3: Every brain is wired differently.
ATTENTION | Rule #4: We don't pay attention to boring things.
...more
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Brain rules is really well organized. It's a very un-boring synthesis of current neuroscience research into very comprehensible terms. I only give it four stars because the author (openly) says that the educational implications of the findings are not clear.
Some major take-aways, along with my questions and ruminations:
Attention:
Emotional arousal helps the brain learn. Number of minutes a person can pay attention to presentation style information (a lecture) is the ...more
Some major take-aways, along with my questions and ruminations:
Attention:
Emotional arousal helps the brain learn. Number of minutes a person can pay attention to presentation style information (a lecture) is the ...more
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Read in January, 2008
We participated in a research study led by this author last year, so I was curious to read this book. John Medina was an engaging and thought-provoking speaker, and this is an engaging and thought-provoking. It took a while to read because I had to stop and think after each section. It was relevant to teaching in many ways, but also to life in general.
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Read in August, 2008
A very straightforward read on the latest advance in the understanding of how the brain works. A lot of the chapters draw from some of the accessible trade books on cognitive development. Stories from Deborah Tannen, Oliver Sachs, Howard Gardner, Steven Jay Gould, etc. add stories and examples to Medina's main structure of the book. The book is organized around 12 principles that Medina feels are necessary to a healthy brain (due to what Medina sees as evolutionary factors).
The first pri...more
The first pri...more
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Read in March, 2008
recommended to Nathan by:
Dale Dougherty
A solid attempt at making a practical (useful) book on how the brain works, aimed at everyday people. He focuses on memory and efficiency, and writes in an engaging style. As a long-time researcher in the field he has the science cred, and he explains it well. There's a website (brainrules.net I think) that goes with the book, and when the book is released for real (I got a galley) it'll come with a DVD.
My only complaint is that he's insufficiently scientific in the book. I wante...more
My only complaint is that he's insufficiently scientific in the book. I wante...more
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Read in March, 2008
This is a fabulous book I wish had been written before I started baby-making 30 years ago! It does confirm for me that I did a lot of things right as a parent, but I would have benefited as a mom from knowing things now clearly related by John Medina on when an infant is learning what much more precisely than I knew from observation and experience alone.
the information in this book is priceless for any parent and any person who intends to live life healthily, influence people posit...more
the information in this book is priceless for any parent and any person who intends to live life healthily, influence people posit...more
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Read in November, 2008
This is short, enjoyable read about how we can apply brain science to our lives and society. The author writer in a breezy style. I wish there was more technical information here, but was satisfied that the author laid out tough standards for which research he chose to include in the book. He also wasn't afraid to point out where the science fell short.
He points out, rightly, that our workplaces and schools are designed in such a way that they actually starve the brain of learning op...more
He points out, rightly, that our workplaces and schools are designed in such a way that they actually starve the brain of learning op...more
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The content, when you can get to it, is interesting. But I find his writing style incredibly annoying -- full of anecdotes that don't really have a very tight connection to the content of the chapter. Then, midway thru the book, you learn that he finds that 10-minute chunks interspersed with anecdotes helps students pay attention in lecture. I totally accept that for an oral presentation. But in a written text, it's really annoying. I'm used to reading nonfiction that doesn't seem to be talking...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in January, 2009
Interesting book about the latest research about brain science and how it might apply to school, work, or life in general.
Dr. Medina does something very charming in the introduction -- he promises to only use research from peer-reviewed journals with results that have been duplicated in other laboratories. No "Mozart Effect" or "Left/Right Brain" crap here.
The book comes with a DVD that I didn't watch, because I prefer to learn by reading. For some reason ...more
Dr. Medina does something very charming in the introduction -- he promises to only use research from peer-reviewed journals with results that have been duplicated in other laboratories. No "Mozart Effect" or "Left/Right Brain" crap here.
The book comes with a DVD that I didn't watch, because I prefer to learn by reading. For some reason ...more
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Read in May, 2009
A blend of anecdotes, brain science, and prescriptions for how to live and learn more effectively, this is a book that everyone should read, even though it is far from perfect. For me it was, for the most part, pitched at the right level -- neither too detailed nor too superficial -- providing overviews of the science that underpins many things we sort of know we should (or shouldn't) do, but don't really know why, and thus (in part) fail to do (or not do).
For example, we know tha...more
For example, we know tha...more
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Read in March, 2009
Brain Rules is one of the best books I've read in a long time. The author, John Medina, is a developmental molecular biologist (I think I got that right) that studies how the brain develops, and his passion for what he does rings throughout the book.
The concept is simple -- 12 rules about how your brain works that, since you can't change them, you need to understand and work with for maximum efficiency. From getting enough exercise and sleep to how infants brains are tuned into explo...more
The concept is simple -- 12 rules about how your brain works that, since you can't change them, you need to understand and work with for maximum efficiency. From getting enough exercise and sleep to how infants brains are tuned into explo...more
Read in April, 2009
Everyone should read this book.
Medina provides a highly accessible discussion about "brain science." I will never take my brain function for granted again and have a much better understanding of why I think like I do.
Although I have heard dozens of times that not sleeping enough, not eating properly, not exercising all have extremely detrimental effects on thinking ability, this author explains the consequences in scientific detail.
Medina also...more
Medina provides a highly accessible discussion about "brain science." I will never take my brain function for granted again and have a much better understanding of why I think like I do.
Although I have heard dozens of times that not sleeping enough, not eating properly, not exercising all have extremely detrimental effects on thinking ability, this author explains the consequences in scientific detail.
Medina also...more
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Read in December, 2008
I was disappointed by this book. If you want to read it check it out from the library. I sure wouldn't buy it. Or go to their website http://www.brainrules.net/
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Read in November, 2008
I went to a conference in June and one of the presenters completely revamped his presentation due to this book- he was so taken with what it said. I have read chapter 1- Rule 1- the brain needs exercise- I'm already taken in and trying to decide if I buy this for both my boys for Christmas or just lend them mine. It's actually pretty fascinating, AND entertaining.
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Read in July, 2008
John Medina is an influential character around Seattle. I have heard him speak on several occasions and he writes just like he talks (fast and with a lot of stories). I found this book fascinating from an educator’s perspective. You should read this book to find out why sleep and exercise will help improve your brain power!
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12/26/08
Liana
is currently reading it
I bought this book as a recommended read on twitter. It contains 12 principles for surviving and thriving at work, home, and school. So far I've learned that it is not possible to multi-task. With this information, I am sure my frequent lapses of memory (repeatedly...the other day I walked to the fridge TWICE, forgetting what I was supposed to get BOTH times, right after reading the recipe), I am sure that what I mistook for multi-tasking is really me focusing on one activity haphazardly while t...more
Read in April, 2009
"Brain Rules" is an enjoyable, fast read about common sense things we should know about the brain that we either don't know or that we ignore. Overall there are 12 areas that Mr Medina covers:
Exercise, Survival, Wiring, Attention, Short and long term memory, sleep, stress, sensory integration, vision, gender and exploration.
In all the cases he shows how actions we take can help or harm the brain and learning. There isn't a lot of depth here, its written with a very n...more
Exercise, Survival, Wiring, Attention, Short and long term memory, sleep, stress, sensory integration, vision, gender and exploration.
In all the cases he shows how actions we take can help or harm the brain and learning. There isn't a lot of depth here, its written with a very n...more
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Read in June, 2008
We really have much more powerful minds than we usually think - this book reminds and educates on just how physiologically adept our brains really are, and how we can use them better - better memory, better fitness, better sleep, better knowledge capacity, the whole spectrum. John Medina is a great auhtor- his writing style is engaging and even funny at times. In person (he's part of the university I work and teach at)he comes across exactly the same as he does in his books - passionate and faci...more
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I read this book to learn more about my anthropology sub-group, which was "mind and body"! It is about your brain and how it functions (like how your brain is able to store so many memories, why exercise is important to your brain, etc). It was pretty interesting, although a little bit hard to find the motivation to read. Since it is an educational book, it isn't as enjoyable to read as some other fiction book may be. When I read this book, I had to read another book at the same time, ...more
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Read in April, 2009
I was a little disappointed in the book. I think the hype machine surrounding the book outpaced it. In some ways, I would just as soon stuck with what I learned from the hype machine (interviews, web site, blog posts, etc) rather than bothering with the book. Most of the content had already been presented.
You'd think the depth of the book would counter this, but it didn't so much for me. I realize all the studies in the book were published, peer reviewed, and recreated. But the ...more
You'd think the depth of the book would counter this, but it didn't so much for me. I realize all the studies in the book were published, peer reviewed, and recreated. But the ...more
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