Brain Rules

12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School

By: John J. Medina

Narrated by: John J. Medina

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 - such as the brain's need for physical activity to work at 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 information? Is it true that men and women have different brains?

In Brain Rules, molecular biologist Dr. John Medina 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 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 finds, to his surprise, that we have a "Jennifer Aniston neuron". You'll meet a boy who has an amazing memory for music but can't tie his own shoes.

Visit brainrules.net/dvd to view videos mentioned in the book.

©2008 John J. Medina (P)2008 Pear Press

Somewhat interesting

Some chapters I found interesting, but some had way too many little stories that I didn't care for. He claims that would help you remember. It didn't for me.

Great content, terrible narration

I usually find books read by the author to be greatly favorable over those that are not. This might be the one case in which I would have rather heard a professional's voice over the author's. This was difficult to endure, and I only managed to get through it because the content was so very compelling.

What a Fun Way to Learn About The Human Brain

Medina is awesome.

What he manages to do with this work, is to make learning fun. It is full of all sorts of vivid mental pictures, as he explains the amazing organ, that is the brain. There is no off the wall, half-baked conjecture. He only includes information that is proven and tested. If he does not know something, (Or the science community in general does not know)he will simply say "we don't know".

Lots of fun - I have went though this book a few times, and seem with each review, I enjoy it more.

Great listen

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would recommend this book to anyone. It has a host of scientifically based information presented in an easy to understand manner. It comes with many suggestions of how to use this knowledge to help in many aspects of everyday life.

A must listen for all people.. especially teachers

Where does Brain Rules rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 10 - and I've been an audible member since 2000.

What does John J. Medina bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His personal touches and perfect inflections to the words he wrote.

Any additional comments?

My only beef is all ten of the key points are proven facts... by more than one scientific study but he weaves in the evolutionary theory through out the book as if it were proven fact. But I still say this book is a must...