The Brain Health Book

Using the Power of Neuroscience to Improve Your Life

By: John Randolph PhD

Narrated by: Chris Lutkin

Concerns about memory and other thinking skills are common, particularly in middle age and beyond. Due to worries about declining brain health, some seek out dubious products or supplements purportedly designed to improve memory and other cognitive abilities. Fortunately, scientific research has uncovered a clear-cut set of evidence-based activities and lifestyle choices that are inexpensive or free and known to promote brain and cognitive functioning.

John Randolph translates this science in an engaging and accessible way, including the brain-boosting effects of exercise, social activity, mental stimulation, task management strategies, nutrition, and positive self-care. Interwoven with lessons from neuroscience, positive psychology, social and clinical psychology, and habit-formation research are powerful self-coaching exercises designed to help listeners incorporate lifestyle changes that promote brain health.

Download the accompanying reference guide.©2019 Dreamscape Media, LLC (P)2019 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Very well-read, useful book

I liked the actionable tips with evidence to support the recommendations. I would have liked more evidence to support the finding that 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night is the sweetspot, because that is contradictory to other research findings I have read, which generally have referred to 7 to 9 hours as being the recommended number of hours of nightly sleep for adults. The narrator does not whisper for dramatic emphasis, slur his words, or talk too fast - common failings in many audiobooks. (I would prefer to listen to a mediocre book read well than a superior book read poorly.)

Given that most people spend a third of their life asleep, it seems reasonable to guess that anyone listening to this book will want to follow many of the recommended in it and to be diligent about following up with personal research related to any recommendations that seemed questionable or unclear.