Brain Rules Series

If workplaces had nap rooms, multitasking was frowned upon, and meetings were held during walks, we'd be vastly more productive. Brain Rules reveals – in plain English – 12 ways our brains truly work. 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 to get your brain working its best. How do we learn? What exactly do sleep and stress do to our brains? Why is multi-tasking a myth? Why is it so easy to forget—and so important to repeat new knowledge? Is it true that men and women have different brains? In Brain Rules, Dr. John Medina, a molecular biologist, shares his lifelong interest in how the brain sciences might influence the way we teach our children and the way we work. In each chapter, he describes a brain rule—what scientists know for sure about how our brains work—and then offers transformative ideas for our daily lives. Medina’s fascinating stories and infectious sense of humor breathe life into brain science. You’ll learn why Michael Jordan was no good at baseball. You’ll peer over a surgeon’s shoulder as he proves that most of us have a Jennifer Aniston neuron. You’ll meet a boy who has an amazing memory for music but can’t tie his own shoes. You will discover how: Every brain is wired differently Exercise improves cognition We are designed to never stop learning and exploring Memories are volatile Sleep is powerfully linked with the ability to learn Vision trumps all of the other senses Stress changes the way we learn In the end, you’ll understand how your brain really works—and how to get the most out of it.

What's the best way to raise a smart, happy child through age 5? Scientists know. Brain Rules for Baby offers parents facts – not just advice – in an engaging, practical way. What’s the single most important thing you can do during pregnancy? What does watching TV do to a child’s brain? What’s the best way to handle temper tantrums? Scientists know. In his New York Times bestseller Brain Rules, Dr. John Medina showed us how our brains really work—and why we ought to redesign our workplaces and schools. Now, in Brain Rules for Baby, he shares what the latest science says about how to raise smart and happy children from zero to five. This book is destined to revolutionize parenting. Just one of the surprises: The best way to get your children into the college of their choice? Teach them impulse control. Brain Rules for Baby bridges the gap between what scientists know and what parents practice. Through fascinating and funny stories, Medina, a developmental molecular biologist and dad, unravels how a child’s brain develops – and what you can do to optimize it. You will view your children—and how to raise them—in a whole new light. You’ll learn: Where nature ends and nurture begins Why men should do more household chores What you do when emotions run hot affects how your baby turns out, because babies need to feel safe above all TV is harmful for children under 2 Your child’s ability to relate to others predicts her future math performance Smart and happy are inseparable. Pursuing your child’s intellectual success at the expense of his happiness achieves neither Praising effort is better than praising intelligence The best predictor of academic performance is not IQ. It’s self-control

"How come I can never find my keys? Why don’t I sleep as well as I used to? Why do my friends keep repeating the same stories? What can I do to keep my brain sharp? Scientists know. Brain Rules for Aging Well, by developmental molecular biologist Dr. John Medina, gives you the facts—and the prescription to age well—in his signature engaging style. With so many discoveries over the years, science is literally changing our minds about the optimal care and feeding of the brain. All of it is captivating. A great deal of it is unexpected. In his New York Times best seller Brain Rules, Medina showed us how our brains really work—and why we ought to redesign our workplaces and schools to match. In Brain Rules for Baby, he gave parents the brain science they need to know to raise happy, smart, moral kids. Now, in Brain Rules for Aging Well, Medina shares how you can make the most of the years you have left. In a book destined to be a classic on aging, Medina’s fascinating stories and infectious sense of humor breathe life into the science. Brain Rules for Aging Well is organized into four sections, each laying out familiar problems with surprising solutions. First up, the social brain, in which topics ranging from relationships to happiness and gullibility illustrate how our emotions change with age. The second section focuses on the thinking brain, explaining how working memory and executive function change with time. The third section is all about your body: how certain kinds of exercise, diets, and sleep can slow the decline of aging. Each section is sprinkled with practical advice—for example, the fascinating benefits of dancing—and the brain science behind each intervention. The final section is about the future. Your future. Medina connects all the chapters into a plan for maintaining your brain health.

How can I keep people engaged during my presentations? Why are video meetings so tiring? What can I do to my office so that I look forward to coming back to it on Monday? Scientists know. In Brain Rules for Work, Dr. John Medina, a molecular biologist keen on neural development, reveals what’s possible when the 9-to-5 is tailored to the brain like a glove is tailored to a hand. In his signature engaging style, the New York Times bestselling author of Brain Rules, Brain Rules for Baby, and Brain Rules for Aging Well simply unlocks the science of catering our modern-day work lives to the primal needs of the mind. Backed by research and without hubris, he reveals what behavioral and cognitive neuroscience have to say about topics from office space and work-life balance to power dynamics and pandemic-era work interactions. Medina’s charming descriptions and hilarious anecdotes break the science down to practical applications that you can put into practice next Monday to improve your work life and the work lives of those around you. You’ll learn: Why a more diverse team is a higher-performing team Why an open-concept office plan isn’t a good office plan How to make virtual meetings less exhausting Why taking workday breaks in green space improves productivity How power intoxicates newly promoted executives—and what to do about it Why leaders who use a lot of empathy and a little toughness are effective Why companies that invest in workers with families see better returns The ingredients for changing bad habits (hint: it’s not just patience and willpower) Whether you are an employee at a company looking to become successful or an executive who wants to ensure the success of your employees, Brain Rules for Work is both a useful tool and a compelling guide for you and your coworkers.