Brain: An Owner's Guide

by Elizabeth R. Ricker

Become body literate with An Owner's Guide, the next book in The Body Literacy Library, an enlightening series that democratizes health for a new generation of readers.

An Owner’s Guide is an informative and practical guide to all aspects of brain health, from maximizing your mental well-being today to protecting your brain against future serious health issues. Leading neuroscientist Eli Ricker explains how the brain works, discusses how you can take care of and protect your brain, and explains what you can do to improve your memory and concentration at any age. Ricker also looks at what constitutes mental "well-being" and the science behind a positive mindset, resilience, concentration, and memory, as well as low mood, depression, and brain fog. Dementia and other brain disorders are a huge concern for many, and Ricker looks at how these occur, the latest medical research, and what you can do to protect your brain for life.

Author Elizabeth Ricker is an engaging and media-friendly neuroscientist who specializes in brain health research, with a particular emphasis on brain "hacking," memory, and concentration. She translates medical jargon into simple, clear prose, answering frequently asked patient queries, such as "How can I improve my concentration?," "Do brain games work?," "Is dementia hereditary?," "What is good brain food?," "Why do I have brain fog?," and much more.

From the importance of sleep and stress management to why dementia is a feminist issue, this hardworking book applies science to the everyday, with simple illustrations, checklists, FAQs, and myth busters, all supported by the latest medical research. An Owner’s Guide can help you better understand your mind and aims to enhance your long-term quality of life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Neuroscience, Science

200 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 6, 2025

Reviews

[Indus · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like to know things or learn things, this book is great. I am not a neuroscientist but I am fascinated by how our brains work. This book dives into the why and how of brains.

I enjoyed reading about the brain’s stages from utero to babies to children to teens and adults.

We’ve heard jokes about manopause, but it’s a real thing called andropause and this book talks about it.

This book even has a brain health questionnaire you can take.

Reading about the importance of hydration, nutrition, proper rest and even lighting was enlightening and fun to read. You will also read about how your mind affects your gut health.

There are great tips for positive brain health and productivity - like how to have better brain power, use and creativity

Something else covered in the book was learning about learning differences from the brain’s perspective, which was informative and interesting.

This book really covers a lot of detail but dispenses the details in a condensed, easy to follow format.

Brain: An Owner’s Guide is a great book that I will recommend to people who are interested in brain health and those who like to learn new things.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always had a strong interest in science, but my exploration of neuroscience and the inner workings of the brain has been limited. Discovering this book was a delightful surprise, as it offers an accessible overview of the brain for the layperson. Through insightful vignettes, it illustrates how everyday life impacts the brain's anatomy and function and provides practical advice on how to optimize our brain’s performance.
The book condenses complex neuroscience and neuropsychology literature into easily digestible pieces, forming a clear lens through which to look inward. Equally important, the information within fosters empathy for those around us, providing the keys to enrich our most important relationships and broaden our perspective on humanity.
Can’t recommend highly enough!

Note-Obtained this book pre-release through a beta reader program in exchange for an honest review.

[Rui Ariyapala · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was part of the early access program and I must say Elizabeth R. Ricker's ability to distill seemingly complex ideas of our brain into comprehensible bite-sized chunks is remarkable. It's one thing being able to understand challenging topics, but it is another to convey it to readers with a refreshing informative tone. The author takes you on a journey from your own neuroanatomy, brain development, pathology (psychological to neurological), all the way to empowering readers to maximize the most of their brain, with pragmatic tools ranging from healthy habits to improving brain performance. I cannot wait to get my hands on the hardcopy and tell my family, friends and colleagues to get one too. I gained so much insights about the brain, it made me almost believe I may have one between my own ears.

[Simi Dube · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book to give an authentic review, and wow does it make me want the paper copy!! The visuals are so vibrant and appealing, I really can't wait to get the hard copy so I can pore through it. This book is simply an excellent overview of everything the lay person needs to know about the brain, with a super smart neuroscientist guiding you through it. It's written very clearly, and I learned so much I didn't know about how the brain works. I really loved the sections on psychological and neurological differences, it was just the right amount of detail for me to feel informed without feeling overloaded. This book is gorgeous, informative and helpful. Highly recommend!

[Sankaran Ganapathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read quite a few books on the subject of our human brain. This is the first book that explains in an eminently readable and easily understandable way the complex nature of our brain . Especially the section that gives a 10-minute test to analyse our brain performance in various functions, and how to improve our day-to-day functions like decision making, etc, is very helpful. I also appreciated the mind-body connection explanations in the book, as it is easily understandable.
The author deserves kudos for simplifying a difficult subject and making it applicable in our day-to-day life . Would recommend it to anyone interested in improving their brain's performance.

[Clarice Montjoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want to learn more about your brain but dislike thinking of yourself as a “dummie” or “idiot”? Brain: An Owner’s Guide is an engaging and accessible manual that introduces you to your brain in an easily digestible way. I received an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review, but I’m already planning to purchase a full copy for my teen to help foster personal understanding and growth during this chaotic stage of life.

[Kimberly Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A comprehensive and engaging book for anyone who's interested in a better understanding of the stuff between our ears. Filled with information, including specifics on topics like left-handedness, the effects of dehydration, and how to maintain a healthy brain. Illustrations, charts, and sidebars make the book visually stunning. It's clear the author truly knows her stuff!

[Varun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our brain is core to our identity. This book tells you everything you need to make sure it functions as well as possible, so you can be the best version of yourself. Extremely engaging and easy to read, even piecemeal.

[Luciano Elementi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple read for when you want to learn something, but don't really want to focus too much. Two pages per subject are clearly laid out in sections where you learn something here and there, something new, something compelling. The book, graphics, and wording are easy and enjoyable

[Intan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alhamdulillah have finished the book. Sangat menyenangkan untuk dibaca, visualnya menarik dan bahasanya mudah dimengerti. Learned a lot, especially how the author talks about different aspects of the brain jot only how to improve its performance.

[Irina Skylar-Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had early access to certain chapters. It's written in clear, engaging prose! Great read for anyone curious about the brain!

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good stuff!

[Ron · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't get into enough depth, everything felt barely touched and not very actionable. Didn't finsh.

[Chico Hindarto · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is easy to read for common people without knowledge of neuroscience or other related disciplines.