How to Make Your Brain Your Best Friend

A Neuroscientist's Guide to a Healthier, Happier Life

By: Rachel Barr

Narrated by: Rachel Barr

'Fun, but still deeply, rigorously researched.' - Professor Neil Shyminsky

'A true masterpiece. Rachel Barr has done a phenomenal job breaking down the complexities of the human mind.' - Jeffrey Meltzer, LMHC

'Insightful and relatable psychoeducation that demystifies the brain . . . it’s a resource I’ll proudly keep on my shelf as a therapist.' - Joshua Fletcher, anxiety therapist

Your brain is the most remarkable thing in the known universe.

Always trying to mend itself, and always trying to protect you, it’s in a constant state of flux — adapting, reconfiguring, finding new pathways . . . And it has an astonishing capacity for recovery.

Only it doesn’t always get it right.

Rachel Barr struggled through years of devastating loss, heartache, and uncertainty until neuroscience gave her the first spark of self-belief she had felt in her adult life — and proof that, because of the brain’s near-infinite potential for neuroplastic change, it’s never too late to carve out neural pathways to form new habits, new skills, and new ways of thinking.

Whether you want to nerd-out on Neuroscientific acronyms, finally understand what’s going on in your head, or take refuge in an audiobook that’s like a warm hug for your mind, How to Make Your Brain Your Best Friend is a delight-filled, evidence-based guide to taking better care of your brain — so it, in turn, will take better care of you.

Rachel Barr holds a master’s degree in molecular neuroscience and wrote How to Make Your Brain Your Best Friend while completing her PhD in the electrophysiology of memory and sleep.

Beyond the lab, her videos as ‘Rachel the Neuroscientist’ demystify the fundamental principles of brain science, empowering her million-plus followers to make informed decisions about their mental health.

Born and raised in Fife, she studied in Bristol and is now based in Quebec, where she shares her home — and keyboard — with Gnocchi the cat.

©2025 Rachel Barr (P)2025 DK Audio

Informative, science-based, neuroscience, told through compelling stories and with hope

Come along as the author explains the chemistry and physical structures of the brain while offering science-based ideas for using your biology to your full advantage.

1st book review ever

I don’t think I’ve ever written a book review, but this seems important. I can’t recommend this book (especially the audio) enough. The world would be brighter if it were required reading.

Fantastic book!

I really enjoyed how this book was laid out. I’m not sure my brain is my new best friend yet but the author might be

Heartfelt and informative

This is a heartfelt and truly informative read. As a mental health counselor, I found her insights both professional and deeply relatable. It’s one of those books that not only enriches your own practice but also feels like a warm conversation between colleagues. I’ll definitely be recommending it to fellow professionals and even to clients who are looking to understand their minds better. It’s a gem in our field.

Loved this book!

Author shared information in a relatable way. Practical ways to add suggestions into your days🎈
Great book to listen too and I ordered hard copy for future use. Thank you for making science and storytelling interesting.