Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

New IQ

Rate this book
Working memory – a bigger asset than IQ
Working memory – your ability to work with information – influences nearly everything you do.

What if you could find a way to better handle a hectic schedule or expertly manage risks? What if you could gain an advantage in climbing the career ladder or in sports? What if there were a way to improve your outlook on life, and face each day with more optimism and confidence?

Tracy and Ross Alloway, leading experts, show how working memory is the key to all that and more. They present important and recent breakthroughs in the field, including research on how Facebook can become ‘Smartbook’, how working memory can improve your children’s marks, how it changes as you age, and how working memory is linked with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and Alzheimer’s.

But here’s the best news: You can improve your working memory! This book will give you three tests to find out how good your working memory is – and over 50 targeted exercises so you can sharpen it.

‘The New IQ’ offers unprecedented insight into one of the most important cognitive breakthroughs in recent years – a vital new approach to making your brain stronger, smarter and faster.

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

8 people are currently reading
142 people want to read

About the author

Tracy Packiam Alloway

34 books15 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
8 (17%)
4 stars
14 (30%)
3 stars
13 (28%)
2 stars
8 (17%)
1 star
3 (6%)
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Profile Image for Vicii.
174 reviews16 followers
March 23, 2016
There was some useful information in this book and I got the whole thing about working memory. However to me it felt like an overwritten paper that could have been condensed and written better with a different viewpoint. For a book on the subject I would have expected less of a research paper feel to it.
Profile Image for Angie Lerman.
4 reviews
July 28, 2015
one inspiring book to read. this book discuss a lot about how to improve and manage brain's performance, practicing brain to always on it's best. shortly i just wanna say this book is quite awesome :)
Profile Image for Suzy.
244 reviews1 follower
July 19, 2014
This book was very helpful and useful. Definitely gives you things to think about.
Profile Image for Wendy.
38 reviews
June 28, 2015
The genuine evidence that exists in the book is unfortunately peppered with personal belief, doctrine and tenuous relationship and recipe advice. Frustrating.
1 review
July 16, 2025
Not very good.

Most if not all claims are unsubstantiated with irresponsible references to 'science / studies show...' and no explanation of research method, analysis, nor nuances. It feels like a mass-media style over generalisation of research outcomes without consider the limitations, which are often specifically discussed in the paper, of the research.

The definition of working memory is overly inclusive and inconsistent throughout -- when discussing its usefulness, it is everything that Prefrontal cortex does; but when discussing methods / exercises that can improve it, the exercise only improves very narrow and specific aspects of it.

Another problematic part is the artificial distinction it makes with the 'old IQ'. The idea of working memory described in the book aligns more to what is being tested in IQ tests.

plus one star for:

Very light read with some fun self assessment.
25 reviews
February 29, 2024
This was a breezy read as a psychology student. I credit it for increasing my awareness of the significance of working memory in everyday life. I especially enjoyed reading about strategies to reduce cognitive load and to improve working memory both mentally and physically, and I appreciated the summary at the end.

I had to use my working memory to ignore the repeated mentions of Jungle Memory though. And part III of the book simply felt like filler material - e.g. I don’t care for the hypothetical Wutopia. I think this book would have been better if it was more focused on the practical than the theory, considering the target audience is self-help readers.
Profile Image for Velle est Posse.
7 reviews
April 23, 2021
I simply love this book! It helps me train my brain and cognitive abilities to think stronger, smarter and faster! I love the information I’m getting and practicing some of the exercises. Even shared it to friends worldwide. Thanks Tracy and Ross.. I need this kind of training to help me out with depression stages. Thank you for this awesome book! I wish I won’t easily forget but trying not to blame Aging on this one 😅 Thanks for this book really, it helps me and a lot of people 👍🏼👏🏻
Profile Image for Rooba GunaSingh.
5 reviews1 follower
August 22, 2024
I have always wondered how on earth people with average IQs could outperform those with better IQs in some areas. This book has offered me a unique perspective on intelligence that really makes sense.

The Prefrontal Cortex aka working memory, is the protagonist of this book. Ross and Tracy have done an excellent job of compiling cognitive tests and research findings on working memory.

This book also presents what kind of habits can affect your working memory in the short and long time; and how can you manage those challenges in your life.

While the book is insightful, I felt that it could have been written more effectively in some places. There were a few sections where I lost interest and had to push myself to finish it.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.