Your Best Brain: The Science of Brain Improvement

By: John Medina, The Great Courses

Narrated by: John Medina

Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2014 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2014 The Great Courses

Have no doubt, this is worth it!

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.

Essential Listening for All who Own a Brain

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....

One of the best set of lectures I have listened to

After listening to the book "Brain Rules" I bought this set of lectures. I knew it would have been great. What I find fascinating is that although the book and the lectures cover similar territory you can still enjoy both and learn different things. Your best brain is outstanding, informative, with excellent delivery. I will definitely listen to it again.

Excellent book

Medina is an amazing lecturer. I would give his performance 6 stars if I could. The content of the course is a good mix of peer reviewed studies and examples to explain the findings of the studies.

Initially skeptical of the format

I have to admit I’m addicted to peer reviewed publications and initially I was troubled by Professor Medina's very picturesque narration but when I relinquished control to his unique style, encapsulating very complex subjects into everyday world examples, a very unusual and emotional pattern of comprehension began to emerge.

Thank you so much!

Fun and full of knowledge

Professor Medina is my hero in the audiobooks. His talking speech and the way he teaches is very engaging. The topics are divided into chapters interesting enough that you wanted to continue with enthusiastic. It's feels like he's talking with you in a cozy living room. You'll learn a lot about your brain.

Informative but too much emphasis on evolution

Informative, but too much reliance on evolution as a reason for everything. I will lend my full support for evolutionary theory just as soon as purposeful, self replicating life forms can be recreated in a lab, and that any proof of trans species dna mutations can be validated. The “driving evolutionary force of survival” is a contradiction of terms, a paradox if you will, since any driving force at all must be intentional, not a hodgepodge of randomly scattered genetic mutations that favors survivability by chance. It’s like playing the powerball and winning millions of times to get rods and cones of a retina. Or a prefrontal cortex, with the ability to pick lottery numbers, or explain the basics of calculus. It’s just too implausible. Let’s keep all religions out of any science field , including the religion of evolution (because it’s exactly that).

A little disappointed.

Zimbardo lied. Please, publish the truth about his experiment. Say more on rationalists community and ways to improve yourself.

Amazing

You want to figure out how to improve your quality of living and mental aspects, this book is for you. Didn’t realize how unhealthy my lifestyle is until heading this.

Brain Theory and Practice

The why and how of getting a better brain. A good combination of theory and practice.