A User's Guide to the Brain - by John J Ratey (Paperback)

About the Book

In "A User's Guide to the Brain, " Harvard professor Ratey not only lucidly explains the intricacies of the brain and its functions but also paves the way for a profoundly better understanding of ourselves and our world. 12 illustrations.

Book Synopsis

John Ratey, bestselling author and clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, lucidly explains the human brain's workings, and paves the way for a better understanding of how the brain affects who we are. Ratey provides insight into the basic structure and chemistry of the brain, and demonstrates how its systems shape our perceptions, emotions, and behavior. By giving us a greater understanding of how the brain responds to the guidance of its user, he provides us with knowledge that can enable us to improve our lives.

In A User's Guide to the Brain, Ratey clearly and succinctly surveys what scientists now know about the brain and how we use it. He looks at the brain as a malleable organ capable of improvement and change, like any muscle, and examines the way specific motor functions might be applied to overcome neural disorders ranging from everyday shyness to autism. Drawing on examples from his practice and from everyday life, Ratey illustrates that the most important lesson we can learn about our brains is how to use them to their maximum potential.

Review Quotes

"[A]n introduction to neuroscience which sticks to a man-on-the-street vocabulary." --The New Yorker

"Will explain that mysterious space between your ears . . . in an accessible way." --Psychology Today

"Excellent. . . . Ratey takes the reader on a wondrous journey." --The Providence Sunday Journal

About the Author

Best selling author, John J. Ratey, MD, is an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and an internationally recognized expert in Neuropsychiatry. He has published over 60 peer-reviewed articles, and 11 books published in 15 languages, including the groundbreaking ADD-ADHD Driven to Distraction series with Ned Hallowell, MD.