Brain Power: Improve Your Mind as You Age

by Michael J. Gelb, Kelly Howell, Tony Buzan (Foreword)

Virtually everyone fears mental deterioration as they age. But in the past thirty years neuroscientists have discovered that the brain is actually designed to improve throughout life. How can you encourage this improvement? Brain Power shares practical, state-of-the-evidence answers in this inspiring, fun-to-read plan for action. The authors have interviewed physicians, gerontologists, and neuroscientists; studied the habits of men and women who epitomize healthy aging; and applied what they describe in their own lives. The resulting guidance — along with the accompanying downloadable Brain Sync audio program — can help you activate unused brain areas, tone mental muscles, and enliven every faculty.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Self Help, Brain, Personal Development, Neuroscience, Science

248 pages, Paperback

Published December 13, 2011

About the author

The world’s leading authority on the application of genius thinking to personal and organizational development, Michael J. Gelb is a pioneer in the fields of creative thinking, innovative leadership and executive coaching. His clients include DuPont, Emerson, Genentech, KPMG, Merck, Microsoft, Nike and YPO.

Michael is a Senior Fellow at The Center for Humanistic Management and a member of the Leading People and Organizations Advisory Board at the Fordham University Gabelli School of Business. Michael was also awarded a Batten Fellowship in Innovation from the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business, and he co-directed the acclaimed Leading Innovation Seminar there for more than 10 years. Michael was honored as “Brain of the Year” (1999) by the Brain Trust Charity – other recipients include Steven Hawking, Garry Kasparov and Edward De Bono.

Michael is the author of 17 books including How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci, Discover Your Genius, Innovate Like Edison, and The Art of Connection: 7 Relationship Building Skills Every Leader Needs Now.

Michael’s books have been translated into 25 languages and have sold more than one million copies. Recent releases include The Healing Organization: Awakening the Conscience of Business to Help Save the World, co-authored with Prof. Raj Sisodia, and Mastering the Art of Public Speaking: 8 Secrets to Transform Fear and Supercharge Your Career.

FUN FACTS

Author, Speaker, Consultant, Juggler!

A professional juggler who performed with the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan, Gelb introduced the idea of teaching juggling to promote accelerated learning and team-building. He is the author of The 5 Keys to High Performance: Juggling Your Way to Success.

A passionate wine lover, Gelb is the originator of a unique and enjoyable approach to teambuilding as expressed in Wine Drinking For Inspired Thinking: Uncork Your Creative Juices.

Michael trained as a teacher of the Alexander Technique, (the method taught at The Juilliard School for cultivating commanding stage presence), while completing his Masters degree. His thesis became his first book – Body Learning: An Introduction to the Alexander Technique.

A fifth degree black belt in the martial art of Aikido, Gelb is co-author with Grandmaster Raymond Keene, of Samurai Chess: Mastering Strategic Thinking Through the Martial Art of the Mind.

Reviews

[Eslam Sami · Rating 4 out of 5]

كتاب جيد يعطي حلول عملية

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basically a literature review of all the major papers on how to keep your brain healthy with age. While it might not give any new information on it's own (about 90% of the information was review for me), it cites every resource it references so it's a great jumping off point to learn about these interesting and important topics. Also, it has a lot of great inspiring quotes throughout to keep you motivated. I'm glad I read it and have added 5 more books to my reading list because of it.

[Manzoor · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very quick read. Loads of information to keep the brain active. Though the book is filled with researches and articles of other authors. Its worth a quick read.

[Holly Gravel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Very easy to read and understand. Good food for thought, not a lot of new ideas, just things that NEED to be implemented!

[Roger Royse · Rating 5 out of 5]

stay smarter longer. A good guide

[Honoree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific read with lots of great information. Most of it I had read or heard before, just not in the context of brain health. Most interesting to note is that the brain is meant to get better with age, so all we've been told and sold about forgetting things or having recalls problems as we age is incorrect -- which is awesome! I'm renewed in my pursuits of languages and reading and learning, as well as taking excellent care of myself and teaching my daughter to do the same.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

read in the hope to keep my brain developing as I mature; enjoyed several suggestions, ie. reading about intelligent older persons and incorporating some of their philosophies in mine. Suggested need to blend mental, physical, healthy eating to develop mind. Will follow up on connected listening exercises.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book, very interesting.

[Kristie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the information.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read, but full of useful information that I intend to apply to my life to keep my brain as young and functioning as possible.

[Neela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually I finished reading the book in three weeks. It gives lot of hope on keeping your brain sharp. Gives many ideas on how to develop good memory. Would like to keep this book on hand.

[Sam Saher Atia · Rating 4 out of 5]

"...ان من يبتهج بالخلوة هو اما حيوان بري او اله..."

[Rob McFarren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid book. Starts with a nice strong premise and then the middle chapters bring together fairly easy practices or ideas to help you continually work on improving your mind. A lot of that wasn't new information, but it's put together concisely. The last chapter then presents their Brain Sync program, which I'm eager to try out!

[Stephen Downs · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very good entry level read filled with excellent information and tips as well as recommendations for further research (and not self promoting). Gives enough details on several methods which are geared towards the betterment of mental health and acuity and some link or authors to explore should the reader want to dive deeper into these methods. Definitely recommended!

[Mohammed Yasseen · Rating 5 out of 5]

كتاب ممتاز ويعد مجمع للعديد من الكتب والمقالات والأفكار المختلفة التي تهدف لتحسين حياة الإنسان وقدراته العقلية كلما تقدم في السن. الكتاب يحتوي على الكثير من المعلومات والإقتباسات المفيدة التي من شأنها تعزيز جوانب مختلفة من حياتنا.

[Samantha Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some good points in the book to remember and apply, but advocating meat and dairy as a way to improve brain function makes no sense to me at all.

[Hajed · Rating 4 out of 5]

كتاب جيد عن المحافظة على صحة دماغك من اجل شيخوخة جيدة. المحتوى عبارة دراسة ادبية literature review تحليل وتجميع العلوم والدراسات حول الموضوع.

[Salma Mohamed]

قوة الدماغ

[هبة فؤاد · Rating 5 out of 5]

ممتاز

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quicker, easier read than some. With some good reminders and a tid bit or two.

[Fateen · Rating 5 out of 5]

كتاب مفيد حدا لفهم طريقة عمل الدماغ والعقل اللاواعي

[هبة فؤاد · Rating 5 out of 5]

ممتاز

[Jaison Banji · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book gives you tips on how to keep your brain working, thinking and resting - all in an effort to keep your brain healthier for a long time.

[AA · Rating 4 out of 5]

أحد النقاط المزعجة بالعديد من الكتب هي تركيزهم على أن الأطفال أفضل من البالغين في تعلم المهارات الجديدة واللغات الجديدة.

هذا الكتاب ينفي هذه الفكرة تمامًا ويوضح بأن البالغ يتعلم أفضل "وهذا المنطقي بالنسبة لي" لكن يحتاج البالغ لتمرين عقلة فالعقل (مثل العضلات) يحتاج تمارين مستمرة ليعمل بقوة كاملة.

مفيد ومهم.

[Julie Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you've spent any time at all reading about the brain, this won't give you a lot of new information, but it's a pretty easy introduction to the subject. But I would recommend Brain Rules by John Medina over this.

[Randy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recommended by a friend to counteract the trauma of turning seventy. It actually had some ideas that worked for me particularly those concepts relating to self-limiting language such as thinking of oneself as a sage rather than a geezer or a seer rather than a codger. The book covers a lot of stuff that, for me, wasn't new information regarding diet, exercise, etc. But is was a good review. It comes with sound files that I haven't reviewed yet but look forward to trying after spending time with the authors.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read. Some pretty familiar material -- eat a Mediterranean diet, exercise, have an attitude of gratitude, keep mentally active, have friends, meditate. There's a free download of some "brain synchronization" mp3 files, and that is intriguing enough that I will listen to the recordings.

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is ok. The best part for me was the first section on having a positive attitude about aging. Loved many if the quotes. Otherwise, pretty much same old.....oops, I mean same repetitive stuff I've heard before.......

[John Orman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has short bios of people who stayed productive long into their golden years. That includes Georgia O'Keefe and Clint Eastwood (pre-chair, I guess!). States the importance of diet, exercise, continued learning, and healthy relationships to maintaining our grip on reality.

[Cristobal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book has some very interesting ideas and tips on how to have your mind age better. Unfortunately, a lot of the time the information is presented in what feels like an infomercial. I give it three stars because of the great content but it could use a major reediting.