Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School [With DVD]

by John Medina

Book Overview

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 teacher should know--like the need for physical activity... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0979777704
• ISBN13: 9780979777707
• Release Date: February 2008
• Publisher: Pear Press
• Length: 301 Pages
• Weight: 5.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Good condition

One of the pages has a big stain that looks like a rusty stain, but glad it’s not placed on the print/text. Library name is stamped in red ink in front and back of the inside of the book.

Why is a book on the brain in the top 25 of Amazon's leadership books?

I believe personal productivity and performance as a leader are directly correlated. Just like we have to lead a team, we have to lead ourselves to a higher level of a productivity and effectiveness. In all of the leadership classes I teach, emphasis is placed on knowing yourself. When you know yourself it provides you the ability to adapt to weaknesses and leverage your strengths (increase your personal productivity and effectiveness). Knowing how your brain functions is part of knowing yourself. This book is so insightful and valuable that I sent copies to my clients. The value of the book hinges on the understanding of the brain and how it works which allows me to leverage that knowledge for increased personal productivity and in my interactions and relationships with others. Myth Busters for the brain! The book is a fairly easy read because the author uses stories to illustrate the functionality of the brain. This book is not a "leadership-lite" book filled with cute and truthful antidotes, but a book with hard science communicated in an interesting way. Dr. John J. Medina is a developmental molecular biologist. He also shares what scientists don't know about how the brain works! This book gave me many, many take-aways and here are just six ... I. Some parts of the brain are just like a baby's and can grow new connections and strengthen existing connections. We have the ability to learn new things our entire life. Medina states this was "not the prevailing notion until 5 or 6 years ago." So much for the "you can't teach and old dog new tricks excuse." The old dog line is exposed for what it really is...an excuse. II. Humans can only pay attention for about ten minutes and then need some kind of reset. III. The brain can only focus on one thing at a time. This is further rationale on the futility of multi-tasking. IV. Exercise increases brain power and aerobic exercise twice a week reduces the risk of general dementia by 50% and Alzheimer's by 60%. V. There is a biological need for an afternoon nap. VI. The brain is very active during sleep and loss of sleep hurts cognitive and physical ability. Buy and read Brain Rules. It will benefit you. One of the reasons I read leadership books is to learn new things but also to get old truths hammered into my thick skull so they result in action. Action! So you may know or have heard of some of the truths in "Brain Rules" but I guarantee the author brings them to you in a unique an interesting way with solid depth that will allow you to easier implement those truths into how you handle yourself and others on a daily basis. Dr. James T. Brown PMP PE CSP Author, The Handbook of Program Management

Fascinating look at the space between your ears, as well as practical application...

When an author and industry expert you hold in high regard says a book is the best one s/he's read in 2008, it's probably a good idea to take notice. So when Garr Reynolds of Presentation Zen fame recommended Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School by John Medina, I decided that should be something I get sooner rather than later. After reading, I can see why he recommends the book so highly. Medina's 12 "brain rules" are based on solid science, but they're presented in such a way that you can actually apply your new-found knowledge. Contents: 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. Short-Term Memory - Rule #5: Repeat to remember. Long-Term Memory - Rule #6: Remember to repeat. Sleep - Rule #7: Sleep well, think well. Stress - Rule #8: Stressed brains don't learn the same way. Sensory Integration - Rule #9: Stimulate more of the senses. Vision - Rule #10: Vision trumps all other senses. Gender - Rule #11: Male and female brains are different. Exploration - Rule #12: We are powerful and natural explorers. Acknowledgements Index When Reynolds reviewed the book on his site, he focused on how these rules pertain to the art of making presentations. Attention, as explained by Medina, means that the brain does not multitask (much to your bosses dismay), we notice patterns and abstract meanings better than recording detail, and you have basically 10 minutes before the audience checks out without a new stimulus. Vision, the sensory "trump card", is the dominant sense, our brain controls what we see (and it's not totally correct), the processes to "see" something are very complex, and most importantly, we remember and learn best through pictures and not written/spoken words. That one insight alone should be enough to make you totally rethink the way we attempt to present to people... Now, even if you're not approaching the book from a presentation angle, the book is still outstanding. Something like memory, an act we take for granted, is a deep mystery that we still don't understand. Medina shows by studies and real-life examples how things *might* work, knowing full well we haven't even begun to understand but a fraction of what goes on there. Sleep, something that boosts brain power, is *not* a time of relaxation for the brain. In fact, it often kicks into overdrive. Why? There are still no definitive answers. But he does go on to prove how *lack* of sleep can utterly render you incapable of rational thought and physical action. When you've worked through all 12 of the brain rules, you'll have a more complete understanding of how you can affect the quality of your brain functioning, all the while being entertained and amazed at what lies between your ears. Every time I got to the end of a chapter, I started to put the book down

Rule #0 Read this Book

The Summary John Medina has written one of the best brain books I have read. He is a molecular biologist and director of Brain Center for Applied Learning at the Seattle Pacific University. He explains the latest research on the brain, and there have been a lot of advances recently on how the brain works. He boils them down to 12 rules that will help you in all walks of life. If you want an owner's manual for the brain then this is probably the one that should be handed out with every new-born. The Audience Everyone and I mean everyone should read this book! As long as they have a homo-sapien brain, if you have one of the older models; homo erectus, neanderthal you should probably wait for evolution! This is truly an owner's manual for the brain! If you are a student or knowledge worker you should run; yes running will actually help you digest the material in the book better (Rule #2 - Exercise - exercise boosts brain power); to buy it and read it! Medina outlines some of his own thoughts on how to leverage the rules in the home, school and work. The Details John Medina has written one of the best brain books I have read (Rule #5 Short Term Memory - repeat to remember, Rule #6 Long Term Memory - repeat to remember). There are many books out at the moment that talk about the latest research on brains but John's is undoubtedly the best. Neuroscience has taken some giant leaps in the understanding of how the brain works in the last 20 years. I was researching AI back in the early 90's and since then there has been a lot of new research in this area. For the last year I have been catching up and reading everything I can find on neuroscience and that was how I stumbled across Medina's book. I nearly put it aside since it seemed too basic but boy am I glad I didn't. This book is fun to read and I learned a lot. I love John's approach of only including research that follows certain criteria. For a study to appear in this book it has to pass the Medina Grump Factor (MGF) - (John refers to himself as a grumpy scientist) 1) Research must be published in a peer-reviewed journal 2) The research must be successfully replicated Even though the material in this book is based on cutting edge research you should not feel intimidated. This book is well written and the material is presented following many of rules that are outlined. The book is actually a pleasure to read! Following these rules has lead Medina to not only structure the book so it is easy to digest; adding stories, chunking information, providing summaries etc but he has also included a DVD with videos and an accompanying website with more information and references. This is truly a full sensory experience (Rule #4 - Attention - We don't pay attention to boring things!, Rule #9 - Sensory Information - Stimulate more of the senses, Rule #10 Vision - Vision trumps all other senses) If you want to understand your brain and improve it; and everyone should want to understand their brain and improve i

Updated Easy to Understand Brain Science for Everyone

This book is chock full of the latest brain science in an easy to understand format by an extremely engaging, funny, sharp man who will change the way you think about yourself, others, and the human brain. It's a must read for teachers and business owners but it's honestly totally accesible to anyone from any walk of life and the concepts apply across the board to everyone on earth. Best of all, it dispels many commonly held beliefs (right brain/left brain, 'you only use 10% of your brain' etc) in very clear terms. I am buying copies of this book for all family and friends for the next year until I've gotten through their birthdays and holidays. It really is that good. Do yourself a favor and spend the paltry amount of cash this excellent book costs. You will wind up inspired! Incidentally, if you ever have the opportunity to see John lecture, see if you can find a way to attend. His presentations are the living embodiment of the fundamentals from the book and he will have you in stitches to boot!

Stop Battling Your Brain!

The genius of this book is that it uses the most recent scientific research, discussed in a very entertaining way, to identify 12 rules for optimizing your most important tool - your BRAIN. Read the chapter on "Attention" and you will never give a presentation in the same way again. Read the chapter on "Sleep" and you will understand why an afternoon nap can be the most productive 20 minutes of your work day. Read the chapter on "Exercise" and you'll finally get why great ideas (ok, and maybe some clunkers but at least you're thinking!)come to you in the middle of your workout. Like the author, you may toss the guest chair and put a treadmill in your office with a bracket for your laptop - this gives new meaning to the concept of management by walking around. The bottom line is that brain science is beginning to produce really useful information about how our brains are wired; this book is a user's manual on how to work with the way we're wired instead of fighting against it. I highly recommend it.