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No skill is more important in today's world than being able to think about, understand, and act on information in an effective and responsible way. What's more, at no point in human history have we had access to so much information, with such relative ease, as we do in the 21st century. But because misinformation out there has increased as well, critical thinking is more important than ever. These 24 rewarding lectures equip you with the knowledge and techniques you need to become a savvier, sharper critical thinker in your professional and personal life.
Eating is an indispensable human activity. As a result, whether we realize it or not, the drive to obtain food has been a major catalyst across all of history, from prehistoric times to the present. Epicure Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin said it best: "Gastronomy governs the whole life of man."
Every day of your life is spent surrounded by mysteries that involve what appear to be rather ordinary human behaviors. What makes you happy? Where did your personality come from? Why do you have trouble controlling certain behaviors? Why do you behave differently as an adult than you did as an adolescent?Since the start of recorded history, and probably even before, people have been interested in answering questions about why we behave the way we do.
Understanding our humanity - the essence of who we are - is one of the deepest mysteries and biggest challenges in modern science. Why do we have bad moods? Why are we capable of having such strange dreams? How can metaphors in our language hold such sway on our actions? As we learn more about the mechanisms of human behavior through evolutionary biology, neuroscience, anthropology, and other related fields, we're discovering just how intriguing the human species is.
To better put into perspective the various issues surrounding energy in the 21st century, you need to understand the essential science behind how energy works. And you need a reliable source whose focus is on giving you the facts you need to form your own educated opinions.
To understand the roots of personality is to understand motivations and influences that shape behavior, which in turn reflect how you deal with the opportunities and challenges of everyday life. That's the focus of these exciting 24 lectures, in which you examine the differences in people's personalities, where these differences come from, and how they shape our lives. Drawing on information gleaned from psychology, neuroscience, and genetics, Professor Leary opens the door to understanding how personality works and why.
No skill is more important in today's world than being able to think about, understand, and act on information in an effective and responsible way. What's more, at no point in human history have we had access to so much information, with such relative ease, as we do in the 21st century. But because misinformation out there has increased as well, critical thinking is more important than ever. These 24 rewarding lectures equip you with the knowledge and techniques you need to become a savvier, sharper critical thinker in your professional and personal life.
Eating is an indispensable human activity. As a result, whether we realize it or not, the drive to obtain food has been a major catalyst across all of history, from prehistoric times to the present. Epicure Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin said it best: "Gastronomy governs the whole life of man."
Every day of your life is spent surrounded by mysteries that involve what appear to be rather ordinary human behaviors. What makes you happy? Where did your personality come from? Why do you have trouble controlling certain behaviors? Why do you behave differently as an adult than you did as an adolescent?Since the start of recorded history, and probably even before, people have been interested in answering questions about why we behave the way we do.
Understanding our humanity - the essence of who we are - is one of the deepest mysteries and biggest challenges in modern science. Why do we have bad moods? Why are we capable of having such strange dreams? How can metaphors in our language hold such sway on our actions? As we learn more about the mechanisms of human behavior through evolutionary biology, neuroscience, anthropology, and other related fields, we're discovering just how intriguing the human species is.
To better put into perspective the various issues surrounding energy in the 21st century, you need to understand the essential science behind how energy works. And you need a reliable source whose focus is on giving you the facts you need to form your own educated opinions.
To understand the roots of personality is to understand motivations and influences that shape behavior, which in turn reflect how you deal with the opportunities and challenges of everyday life. That's the focus of these exciting 24 lectures, in which you examine the differences in people's personalities, where these differences come from, and how they shape our lives. Drawing on information gleaned from psychology, neuroscience, and genetics, Professor Leary opens the door to understanding how personality works and why.
"It doesn't take an Einstein to understand modern physics," says Professor Wolfson at the outset of these 24 lectures on what may be the most important subjects in the universe: relativity and quantum physics. Both have reputations for complexity. But the basic ideas behind them are, in fact, simple and comprehensible by anyone. These dynamic and illuminating lectures begin with a brief overview of theories of physical reality starting with Aristotle and culminating in Newtonian or "classical" physics.
What is life? What is my place in it? What choices do these questions obligate me to make? More than a half-century after it burst upon the intellectual scene - with roots that extend to the mid-19th century - Existentialism's quest to answer these most fundamental questions of individual responsibility, morality, and personal freedom, life has continued to exert a profound attraction.
In the 24 engaging lectures of The Nature of Matter, no scientific background is needed to appreciate such miracles of everyday life as a bouncing rubber ball or water's astonishing power to dissolve. Moreover, the study of matter has led directly to such inventions as semiconductor circuits for computers, new fabrics for clothes, and powerful adhesives for medicine and industry.
Economic forces are everywhere around you. But that doesn't mean you need to passively accept whatever outcome those forces might press upon you. Instead, with these 12 fast-moving and crystal clear lectures, you can learn how to use a small handful of basic nuts-and-bolts principles to turn those same forces to your own advantage.
Language defines us as a species, placing humans head and shoulders above even the most proficient animal communicators. But it also beguiles us with its endless mysteries, allowing us to ponder why different languages emerged, why there isn't simply a single language, how languages change over time and whether that's good or bad, and how languages die out and become extinct.
Conventional wisdom suggests there is a sharp distinction between emotion and reason. Emotions are seen as inferior, disruptive, primitive, and even bestial forces. These 24 remarkable lectures suggest otherwise-that emotions have intelligence and provide personal strategies that are vitally important to our everyday lives of perceiving, evaluating, appraising, understanding, and acting in the world.
Inside your head sits the most complex object in the known universe - the human brain. This amazing organ has unique powers to make predictions about the future, form relationships with other people, adapt to rapidly changing circumstances, and so much more. We all have a basic conception of how our brains function, but when did you last dive into the fascinating world of neuroscience to truly understand the inner workings of your mind?
For decades, the field of neuroscience has been in a near-constant state of disruptive transformation, as we continually learn more about our incredible brains. Thanks to rapid advances in technology and in our understanding of the brain, today’s neuroscience research goes far beyond trying to understand how the brain works, and into the search for proven ways to optimize brain performance. In Your Best Brain, Professor John J. Medina - an award-winning scientist, New York Times best-selling author, and leading advocate for brain research - delivers 24 exciting lectures that probe the origins of consciousness, memory, emotion, attention, intelligence, and beyond. He focuses on five key areas of study in neuroscience: the brain’s physical structure and function, and how it enabled us to become the planet’s apex predator; the ways in which the brain processes information, and how that relates to intelligence; the intricacies of emotions and socialization, and how empathy is a vital survival mechanism; how our brains develop and change throughout our lifetimes; and how we can best use and expand our cerebral processing performance. After gaining a thorough understanding of the science behind your best brain, you’ll learn scientifically proven methods for improving your memory, boosting your creativity, and keeping your mind sharp for years to come.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
In all of creation, the least likely thing ever to be well understood is the human brain. Professor Medina spins what we know and the fuzzy parts we think we know into an engaging and entertaining story. Easy to follow and peppered with fascinating anecdotes and examples, this is a good listen for anyone, regardless of educational level or background in the sciences. As an MD and son of a neurology professor, it is the best telling of this story I have yet found.
25 of 25 people found this review helpful
wow! I am blown away by the narrator in this book. He is charismatic and very well informed. His cadence and tone really hook you and keep you paying attention; you can practically hear his smile as he peppers in anecdotes and real world situations to support what he is speaking about. I highly recommend this audio book.
44 of 45 people found this review helpful
This is one of the greatest of the great courses. I found the lectures compelling, timely and well-explained. I even re-listened to a few segments because they were so fascinating. Awesome series! I highly recommend this one.
19 of 19 people found this review helpful
This lecture series teaches you about the structure and function of the brain, and is also packed with practical tips on how to get the best out of your own brain.
What makes this lecture series stand out from the rest is the ‘lecturer’. I’ve put that word in quote marks because he’s so unlike the standard lecturer that it doesn’t feel right to use the regular word. He’s more like the host of a children’s TV programme, in the nicest possible way. He’s incredibly animated, frequently rising to peaks of excitement that send his voice into a shrill falsetto. That’s his style, to come across as being spectacularly enthused about his subject. He doesn’t sound like an academic, but he clearly knows his stuff and he shares this knowledge using lots of anecdotes and metaphors to illustrate an array of fascinating facts about an organ that just sits there, with the consistency of tofu, and doesn’t appear from the outside to do a fat lot. Appearances can be deceptive.
The practical tips are about a number of things: How to keep your brain alive and well for longer, how to improve your memory, how to avoid stress, and the importance of sleep. All good stuff and well worth a listen.
17 of 17 people found this review helpful
Any additional comments?
If you are interested in brain science or human behaviour this courses is well worth your time and money. The course is informative with the material being presented in an easily digestible form that doesn't dumb it down too much. I have listened to numerous books and courses on these topics and this course is the best for beginners and those wanting a refreshing refresher. The lecturer tries to maximise the presentation of the topics so you will remember them.Ultimately, this is one of the best purchases I have made, and is probably the best of The Great Courses I have listened to.
Note. The lecturer sounds like a slightly higher pitched, slightly more excitable Penn Jillette and that might not work for everyone. I like Penn Jillette, so it was a bonus for me.
42 of 45 people found this review helpful
The breadth of this lecture series is considerable, although I was hoping for a little more depth. The lecturer is very careful to qualify his information with peer reviewed research, which is refreshing. I guess I primarily had hoped that there was more new information out there, since I had already heard much of this from other sources. Narrated well. The lecturer is a skilled public speaker who knows how to maintain attention during a lecture.
70 of 76 people found this review helpful
John Medina needs his own TV show. What a great set of lessons and easy to understand communication. Accessible, entertaining, evocative, inspiring. Thank you.
36 of 39 people found this review helpful
Informative and easy to understand. For all my fellow baby boomers a positive and instructive listen. I highly recommend to all ages.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
Would you listen to Your Best Brain: The Science of Brain Improvement again? Why?
I have been in the medical field for over 30 years and found the science behind sleep, memory, emotion and other functions of the brain fascinating. You don't need to be knowledgeable in the medical arts to enjoy this book however. The Author and narrator is wonderful. He breaks down his subject in such a way that anyone will understand what he is talking about. The Professor wrote and narrates the book. He is jovial and obviously enjoys sharing his knowledge with you. You will learn why you feel as you do and it will make sense to you the way he has written the book. It is presented as a series of lectures and very easy to follow.
What did you like best about this story?
I loved learning new facts about the brain and its workings.
Which character – as performed by Professor John Medina – was your favorite?
There was no characters in this book.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Absolutely. the lectures were engaging, entertaining and full of interesting facts. I will listen to this book again simply to remember all the details the Professor spoke of.
Any additional comments?
Even if you aren't medical give this book a listen. It is one of the best nonfiction offerings I have read.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Brilliant!
Prof Medina is a gifted lecturer & presents the material with the confidence and passion of an expert in the field. Essential listening for all who own a brain....
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
What do you think the narrator could have done better?
The narrator has a lot to say but the style of the delivery is perhaps more suitable to early adolescents or pre-teen children than to adults. He is so keen to be accessible and easy to understand that it sometimes comes over as a little patronising. 'Don't get intimidated by all those long words, now!' He seems an affable enough chap but could do with trusting his audience a little more.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Great explanations of how the brain works in relation to our feelings emotions and general wellbeing and how to optimise it's functions. Well read in a way that holds your interest and even quite amusing at times.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
This course is really well put together , the narrators enthusiasm for his subject is great the explanations and detail into each chapter are exceptional , if your a novice with a keen interest in understanding the mechanics of the brain and its fundamental functions upon human behaviour you will be so glad you invested the time to listen as it has helped me with my study and it will help you too , once you have listened thru once you will find yourself dipping into each lecture of choice and absorbing a little more with every listen , great investment in your time .
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Particularly enjoyed the sections about keeping your mind healthy and mental health problems. I would particularly recommend this course to anyone looking to get a better understanding of their thought processes and how they can improve them, but anyone else should also find it interesting
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Really liked this, found the lecturer a bit irritating at first but he grew on me! Content very good, and great for anyone who is looking for an induction to brain function.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Professor John Medina is brilliant! Brain Science is Brilliant! John's narration makes it fun and accessible to all. Look forward to hearing it all again!
I have loved this course and have found myself craving the next insight to human brain function.
John Medina's presentation style is ebullient and engaging and he comes across as a warm, friendly and passionate teacher.
As an interested commuter with time on my hands (and not a psychology student) the content is all the introduction to brain geography and, subsequently, human behavior I was after and I will be seeking out more in depth material on the lectures that particularly grabbed my attention.
From recognising aspects of my own behaviour to why the hell your kid is acting that way, I highly recommend this course.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
I truly enjoyed this scientifically rich yet easy to listen course spiced with well-balanced sense of humour! Full marks!
Presented in an easy to understand and fun style Prof Medina introduces you to the complexities of the Brain. If you're interested in an introduction to neuro-science and how your brain ticks then worth a listen.
Although all the movie references were correct, I tend to think that too much references to them leads inexperienced readers to think that these are usually fact based. While most apply facts a huge chunk of even science or fact based TV programs respond to the need to entertain than provide reference material..
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
I was not impressed that this whole series of lectures are evolutionary theory rather than brain science.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I love professor Medina's personality and passion. He makes it very enjoyable and easy to understand. Recommended to anyone interested in brain function
4 of 6 people found this review helpful
Struggled through the first couple lectures but it really picked up after that. Learnt some very interesting things and got some great advice.
I enjoyed the content, a good layperson's guide to the brain. but I really didn't like the delivery, weird cadence and vocal tones, overenthusiastically delivered text, and a strange laughing approach.