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Странная девочка, которая влюбилась в мозг: Как знание нейробиологии помогает стать привлекательнее, счастливее и лучше (Healthy Brain, Happy Life: A Personal ... and Do Everything Better)
Известная на весь мир нейробиолог Венди Сузуки проснулась как-то утром и поняла, что по большому счету она — неудачница. Имея огромные заслуги в научной сфере, в личной жизни она не добилась ничего! Мужа нет, детей нет, друзей нет, да и физическая форма оставляет желать лучшего. Опираясь на свои глубокие познания о мозге, Венди разработала авторскую методику физических упражнений, которая способна не только изменить вас внешне, но и поменять ваш образ мыслей и всю вашу жизнь.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2015
796 people are currently reading
5410 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Suzuki
4 books235 followersDr. Wendy A. Suzuki is a Professor of Neural Science and Psychology in the Center for Neural Science at New York University. Her major research interest is brain plasticity with the focus on the brain's ability to form and retain new long-term memories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 273 reviews
March 17, 2023
This book seems to try to be equal parts Oliver Sacks and Sex in the City and while I like both those things, they don't work well together (I like tuna and milkshakes to, but again not mixed together). I read this book hoping for some insight into work life balance and Dr. Suzuki does talk a lot about expanding her life outside the lab and the benefits it had brought her. I am, however, struck that she was only able to do this AFTER she had tenure and a track record of successful funding. This leaves me thinking work life balance for academics might only be achieved after establishing yourself and with the blessings of job security. Had she had these exercise and meditation revelations while in grad school I wonder if she would have had the successful career which allowed her to play hookey and hop off to Colorado to ski with her boyfriend. In summary the book comes across as good on the science but oblivious as to the privileges that facilitated the balance she achieved.
July 21, 2015
Lots of good information, and some interesting case studies, it's just that I never really got into a groove reading this. The writing seemed to ricochet between highly technical, neuroscientific language and simplistic, almost blog-like stories about her life. Just as I would get super-focused on the science bits, she moved into stories of her life that just didn't require the same intensity of focus. Maybe it's just me, but I would have loved some diagrams of the brain to refer to as she was describing how the brain reacted in different studies. I kept stopping to Google terms like parahippocampal cortex.
February 6, 2017
For the record, по-русски книжка называется "Странная девочка, которая влюбилась в мозг: Как знание нейробиологии поможет стать привлекательнее, счастливее и лучше" (!).
(Подсказка: надо каждый день заниматься "физкультурой" и медитировать. И завести песика.)
В одном отзыве чудесно написано, что это сочетание "Секса в большом городе" и нейробиологии, которые сами по себе хороши, но вместе никак не сочетаются, как, например, молочные коктейли и тунец.
(Подсказка: надо каждый день заниматься "физкультурой" и медитировать. И завести песика.)
В одном отзыве чудесно написано, что это сочетание "Секса в большом городе" и нейробиологии, которые сами по себе хороши, но вместе никак не сочетаются, как, например, молочные коктейли и тунец.
December 7, 2015
Some technical learning about the brain (much of which I was already familiar with), with a lot of blog like memoir mixed in. It was boring me. Of course, we should exercise and meditate and it took her a long time to get there.
May 4, 2015
√ We Have An Enormous Capacity To Change Into The Very Best Version Of Ourselves
HEALTHY BRAIN, HAPPY LIFE is a fun read, filled with all kinds of exciting ways to expand your brain power. My favorite parts of the book are these little sections that the author calls "Brain Hacks." These sections are lists of easy ways to really supercharge your brain and make use of the latent power in it.
Here's the theme in a nutshell: "One thing I know for sure is that brain plasticity endows us with an enormous capacity to change into the very best version of ourselves that we can be." Dr. Suzuki explains that she uses 20 years of research in neuroscience to apply these same principles to her own personal life. She admits that she "Went from living as a virtual lab rat --an overweight middle aged woman would had achieved many things in science, but who could not seem to figure out how to also be a healthy, happy woman..."
One of her main discoveries is the powerful mind-body link. The author emphasizes how powerful exercise is. "Exercise is responsible for the majority of the positive brain changes seen with environmental enrichment." And so, Dr. Suzuki invests much time talking about the power of the brain-body connection. Towards that end, she combines physical workouts as a way to energize your brain: "The body has a powerful influence on her brain functions and conversely but the brain has a powerful influence over how are bodies feel and work and heal." Exercise causes definite changes in your body--it boosts the level of three key chemicals that affect mood.
The key is to make your workouts intentional. Towards that end, the author suggests ways to do this--for example, proclaiming affirmations out loud. "Intentional exercise happens when you make exercise both aerobic and mental...You are fully engaged in the moment and trigger a heightened awareness of the brain body connection." In the Brain Hacks suction, the author lists different exercises that would best fit you.
Another great section is the section on creativity. You can actually improve your creative thinking; it is "a particular version of regular thinking they can be practiced and approved like any other cognitive skill." Once again, the author lists great suggestions in the Brain Hacks section on ways to jumpstart your creativity. The key point is to learn something new and "Try to use as many senses as you can." For example, one fun suggestion is to "Sit outside and blindfold yourself for 4 minutes. Then, listen to the world sounds in a new way."
√ All in all, HEALTHY BRAIN, HAPPY LIFE is a fun, inspiring read. The author is full of great, uplifting ideas. My favorite chapter is the one on creativity. The end of the book contains an extensive Reference section, in which the author documents the various points she makes.
Highly recommend!
Advanced copy for impartial review
HEALTHY BRAIN, HAPPY LIFE is a fun read, filled with all kinds of exciting ways to expand your brain power. My favorite parts of the book are these little sections that the author calls "Brain Hacks." These sections are lists of easy ways to really supercharge your brain and make use of the latent power in it.
Here's the theme in a nutshell: "One thing I know for sure is that brain plasticity endows us with an enormous capacity to change into the very best version of ourselves that we can be." Dr. Suzuki explains that she uses 20 years of research in neuroscience to apply these same principles to her own personal life. She admits that she "Went from living as a virtual lab rat --an overweight middle aged woman would had achieved many things in science, but who could not seem to figure out how to also be a healthy, happy woman..."
One of her main discoveries is the powerful mind-body link. The author emphasizes how powerful exercise is. "Exercise is responsible for the majority of the positive brain changes seen with environmental enrichment." And so, Dr. Suzuki invests much time talking about the power of the brain-body connection. Towards that end, she combines physical workouts as a way to energize your brain: "The body has a powerful influence on her brain functions and conversely but the brain has a powerful influence over how are bodies feel and work and heal." Exercise causes definite changes in your body--it boosts the level of three key chemicals that affect mood.
The key is to make your workouts intentional. Towards that end, the author suggests ways to do this--for example, proclaiming affirmations out loud. "Intentional exercise happens when you make exercise both aerobic and mental...You are fully engaged in the moment and trigger a heightened awareness of the brain body connection." In the Brain Hacks suction, the author lists different exercises that would best fit you.
Another great section is the section on creativity. You can actually improve your creative thinking; it is "a particular version of regular thinking they can be practiced and approved like any other cognitive skill." Once again, the author lists great suggestions in the Brain Hacks section on ways to jumpstart your creativity. The key point is to learn something new and "Try to use as many senses as you can." For example, one fun suggestion is to "Sit outside and blindfold yourself for 4 minutes. Then, listen to the world sounds in a new way."
√ All in all, HEALTHY BRAIN, HAPPY LIFE is a fun, inspiring read. The author is full of great, uplifting ideas. My favorite chapter is the one on creativity. The end of the book contains an extensive Reference section, in which the author documents the various points she makes.
Highly recommend!
Advanced copy for impartial review
June 18, 2015
More like stapled together lesson plans from a NYU course (with some dating life in New York thrown in as binder) than a book, this was okay. The regions of the brain were interesting at first, but Suzuki repeats the tech data ad infinitum to the point I started skimming and skipping. She loves her field of study, whoa.
There are a few takeaways and I appreciate her research in the field of exercise and brain health.
There are a few takeaways and I appreciate her research in the field of exercise and brain health.
August 20, 2015
If I could, I'd probably actually rate this book 2.5 stars.
I am subscribed to some newsletters through my local public library, and one of the newsletters sends daily book recommendations. That is how I discovered Suzuki's book. I love reading about the brain, and was interested in seeing the connection between the brain and exercise.
Like other reviewers, I was unfortunately put off a bit by the book's structure. The book claims to be "an accessible blend of memoir and science narrative." While I feel that description is true, I also feel that the book tried to do too many things, and it just didn't work. The basic overview of the brain, and summaries of studies relating to the topic, were interesting. The author's personal examination of improving her life and connecting it to her neuroscience background were relatable. The personal stories about her dating life throughout her journey were reflective, but difficult to connect to the other two. I understand what she and her co-author were trying to do in connecting the science with some self-help elements (similarly to the recent books by Gretchen Rubin). The flow seemed disjointed, especially with the boxed insertions of side note information that was hit and miss with respect to relevancy. I think the book would have been better suited to be one thing (science) or another (self-help); it just wasn't well-executed as both. That, or the writing needed more work on concept connectivity.
I was hoping to come away with some "aha" moments as a result of reading this book, but there weren't many for me. It was mainly an affirmation that exercise is good for not only your body, but your mind as well. Meditation, which is oftentimes incorporated into yoga, was another one of her recommendations for having a happier life. Yin yoga was something I had independently found beneficial for me earlier this spring. That, too, served as an affirmation of what I already know/do.
If you are someone who already exercises and meditates regularly, I think you will feel as I did reading this book. If you are interested in the brain, and relatively new to exercise and meditation, it may be more up your alley -- if you can get past some of its structural/flow flaws. I unfortunately doubt I'll be recommending this book to others interested in the brain and/or self-improvement.
I am subscribed to some newsletters through my local public library, and one of the newsletters sends daily book recommendations. That is how I discovered Suzuki's book. I love reading about the brain, and was interested in seeing the connection between the brain and exercise.
Like other reviewers, I was unfortunately put off a bit by the book's structure. The book claims to be "an accessible blend of memoir and science narrative." While I feel that description is true, I also feel that the book tried to do too many things, and it just didn't work. The basic overview of the brain, and summaries of studies relating to the topic, were interesting. The author's personal examination of improving her life and connecting it to her neuroscience background were relatable. The personal stories about her dating life throughout her journey were reflective, but difficult to connect to the other two. I understand what she and her co-author were trying to do in connecting the science with some self-help elements (similarly to the recent books by Gretchen Rubin). The flow seemed disjointed, especially with the boxed insertions of side note information that was hit and miss with respect to relevancy. I think the book would have been better suited to be one thing (science) or another (self-help); it just wasn't well-executed as both. That, or the writing needed more work on concept connectivity.
I was hoping to come away with some "aha" moments as a result of reading this book, but there weren't many for me. It was mainly an affirmation that exercise is good for not only your body, but your mind as well. Meditation, which is oftentimes incorporated into yoga, was another one of her recommendations for having a happier life. Yin yoga was something I had independently found beneficial for me earlier this spring. That, too, served as an affirmation of what I already know/do.
If you are someone who already exercises and meditates regularly, I think you will feel as I did reading this book. If you are interested in the brain, and relatively new to exercise and meditation, it may be more up your alley -- if you can get past some of its structural/flow flaws. I unfortunately doubt I'll be recommending this book to others interested in the brain and/or self-improvement.
June 22, 2024
I can see why some people didn't like this book as it combines science and memoir. If you're at a time in your life when you're struggling with envy or are really hard on yourself you might not be able to appreciate the author's own struggles, but I found them realistic and sometimes moving. A highly successful young woman realizes she doesn't have a life at all, and slowly begins to figure out how to add in the things she skipped over while climbing to success.
I enjoyed this, but there's not a lot of hard science here. She does give the reader a number of "Brain Hacks" - things to do in about 4 minutes to begin to tap into what she's talking about. Some of those activities were better than others.
I enjoyed this, but there's not a lot of hard science here. She does give the reader a number of "Brain Hacks" - things to do in about 4 minutes to begin to tap into what she's talking about. Some of those activities were better than others.
January 1, 2018
I didn't get very far into this before I knew it was not for me. The writing was making it hard not to feel condescended to. I want to know your credentials. Tell me about your education. Your degrees. Your fields of study. Your collaborators. But if you use the terms award winning and world-renowned about *yourself?* I'm going to quickly be in danger of checking out. Don't tell me your stories will be riveting. Make them riveting. And if the scientist you are quoting is still alive (and isn't Neil deGrasse Tyson) he is not legendary.
After that introduction when she swung into the story about the study of the brains of London Taxi drivers I knew the chances of learning anything new in the book were unlikely. That study has to have been cited in dozens of books by now. I know I've been reading about it for ages.
"Wendy discovered that there is a biological connection between exercise, mindfulness, and action. With exercise, your body feels more alive and your brain actually performs better."
"Wendy discovered FOR HERSELF that there is a biological connection between exercise, mindfulness, and action. With exercise, your body feels more alive and your brain actually performs better." There. Fixed it for her. It's not a new discovery. Nor was she the discoverer.
After that introduction when she swung into the story about the study of the brains of London Taxi drivers I knew the chances of learning anything new in the book were unlikely. That study has to have been cited in dozens of books by now. I know I've been reading about it for ages.
"Wendy discovered that there is a biological connection between exercise, mindfulness, and action. With exercise, your body feels more alive and your brain actually performs better."
"Wendy discovered FOR HERSELF that there is a biological connection between exercise, mindfulness, and action. With exercise, your body feels more alive and your brain actually performs better." There. Fixed it for her. It's not a new discovery. Nor was she the discoverer.
September 2, 2020
Refreshing book.
Light writing style for such havy topic, but still very informative, applicable and inspiring.
Light writing style for such havy topic, but still very informative, applicable and inspiring.
April 8, 2024
95% memoir, 5% science and that 5% could have been an email.
April 6, 2023
I found this book... difficult. The author(s) flip flopped between in-depth scientific explanations of neurology and anecdotal life stories. While I found them both fairly interesting, I didn't find they were woven together very well.
I was also hugely turned off by the massive fat-phobia and diet culture evident throughout, beginning in the intro where she describes one of her "issues" being that she was 20 lbs overweight, continuing with describing how cranky she was when she started restricting calories but how the being constantly hungry was worth it when a guy at the gym hardly recognized her because of her weight loss, and then mentioning near the end that her tv "guilty pleasure" was Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition. Not ok.
I may make more of an effort to regularly exercise based on her research findings on how it positively affects the brain, but I think reading an article about it would have sufficed.
I was also hugely turned off by the massive fat-phobia and diet culture evident throughout, beginning in the intro where she describes one of her "issues" being that she was 20 lbs overweight, continuing with describing how cranky she was when she started restricting calories but how the being constantly hungry was worth it when a guy at the gym hardly recognized her because of her weight loss, and then mentioning near the end that her tv "guilty pleasure" was Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition. Not ok.
I may make more of an effort to regularly exercise based on her research findings on how it positively affects the brain, but I think reading an article about it would have sufficed.
March 25, 2019
Мотивирующая книга. Влияние спорта/физкультуры на работу мозга. Одним словом, зарядку нужно делать каждый день. Многое в книги можно сократить. Вполне практичные приёмы тренировки мозга, например:
1. попробуйте пообедать в полной темноте , как отсутствие визуальных впечатлений повлияет на вкусовые ощущения.
2. когда будете в музее, выберите незнакомое произведение, и спокойно пару минут поразглядывать, при этом отвлечься от окружающей действительности.
3. интенсати - вид аэробики и медитация любящей доброты.
Спорт+ медитация+правильное питание+ общение с приятными людьми = суть книги:)
1. попробуйте пообедать в полной темноте , как отсутствие визуальных впечатлений повлияет на вкусовые ощущения.
2. когда будете в музее, выберите незнакомое произведение, и спокойно пару минут поразглядывать, при этом отвлечься от окружающей действительности.
3. интенсати - вид аэробики и медитация любящей доброты.
Спорт+ медитация+правильное питание+ общение с приятными людьми = суть книги:)
April 26, 2018
книжка гораздо более развлекательная, чем я ожидала. ну это и хорошо, и издательство поступило более, чем правильно, дав книге в русском варианте такое название. иначе, я бы разочаровалась. это такой дневник Бриджит Джонс. только вместо Бриджит профессор нейробиологии, у нее кстати был таинственный соавтор, которая, как я поняла помогает писать многим. и я вот думаю, а у профессора нейробиологии как и у меня много фигни в голове, этот не так сказал, тот не так посмотрел, здесь разлюбила, там заедала. милота. аудитория примеряет и умиляется, думаю у сухих академических историй по нейропластичности продажи меньше. историю про пациента с расстройством памяти я читала уже наверное раза 3. но здесь первый раз она так эмоционально окрашена. книга хорошая, рекомендую читать
August 14, 2019
Однажды автор приуныла и решила заняться физкультурой.
Потом она вспомнила, что нейробиолог по профессии, и написала книжку с объяснениями, почему упражнения помогают взбодриться. Для объема добавлен обзор свежих исследований мозга и истории из личной жизни.
Читается легко, но полезной информации маловато.
Потом она вспомнила, что нейробиолог по профессии, и написала книжку с объяснениями, почему упражнения помогают взбодриться. Для объема добавлен обзор свежих исследований мозга и истории из личной жизни.
Читается легко, но полезной информации маловато.
May 26, 2015
Very fun read. Meant to just give it a quick skim before bed, and ended up staying up half the night to finish it! An interesting combination of the author's expertise as a scientist with her personal experiences.
July 29, 2024
Near 4 stars. I love books about the brain. I could easily breeze through the parts that weren’t about the brain.
March 6, 2019
This book mixes genres in a bad way. It combines very informal memoir in the style of a "dishy" conversation with a friend with what I will call "pop-science". The "dishy" part is irritating because the author repeatedly lists her personal achievements and to-do list. The "pop-science" part is irritating because it reads like the glossary of a science book instead of providing actionable information as the main thrust. The problem is that the author writes as if the reader is an eighth-grader watching her big brother pop wheelies on his bike. She alternates between talking down to the reader (at one point she supplied a long explanation of what a control group is) and then later she is providing definitions of technical vocabulary. "Hey, reader! Look at me!"
For this kind of book, there is a balance that the author must walk. I would assume the audience for a book of this kind is already prepared to handle a certain level of scientific information given that we have picked it up based on the title, the author's credentials, and the dust jacket summary. The focus should either be on the author's personal journey, in which she discovers some truths about life or maybe overcomes a situation, or it should focus on the subject-matter, which was purportedly the neuroscience of happiness.
I will confess that I had to stop reading this one because I found the writing so terrible. Normally, I remove a book from my Goodreads shelf when it achieves the "life's too short to read bad books" merit badge. This book needed an editor with a drawer full of red pens.
For this kind of book, there is a balance that the author must walk. I would assume the audience for a book of this kind is already prepared to handle a certain level of scientific information given that we have picked it up based on the title, the author's credentials, and the dust jacket summary. The focus should either be on the author's personal journey, in which she discovers some truths about life or maybe overcomes a situation, or it should focus on the subject-matter, which was purportedly the neuroscience of happiness.
I will confess that I had to stop reading this one because I found the writing so terrible. Normally, I remove a book from my Goodreads shelf when it achieves the "life's too short to read bad books" merit badge. This book needed an editor with a drawer full of red pens.
March 30, 2019
A truly uninspiring read
“Me... Me... Me... I... I... I... My... My... My...” The entirety of the book is focused on Wendy Suzuki’s personal journey discovering her better self, with tiny, random facts about the brain scattered throughout. In her own words, “...in many ways this entire book is a narrative about my journey to find my own personal creative process.” I would compare it to reading the (almost too personal) diary of a narcissistic neuroscientist.
I say narcissist because you will lose track of the number of times Wendy references to her “prestigious” recognition and awards. From start to finish, she can’t stop reinforcing her credibility by reminding the user how awesome she is at her job. Wendy frequently makes small comments such as, “I have come a long way baby!” This particular one is in reference to her success as a speaker.
It doesn’t work as an informative book on brain functionality, and it doesn’t even work as an inspiring personal journey, it’s too self-centered for that.
“Me... Me... Me... I... I... I... My... My... My...” The entirety of the book is focused on Wendy Suzuki’s personal journey discovering her better self, with tiny, random facts about the brain scattered throughout. In her own words, “...in many ways this entire book is a narrative about my journey to find my own personal creative process.” I would compare it to reading the (almost too personal) diary of a narcissistic neuroscientist.
I say narcissist because you will lose track of the number of times Wendy references to her “prestigious” recognition and awards. From start to finish, she can’t stop reinforcing her credibility by reminding the user how awesome she is at her job. Wendy frequently makes small comments such as, “I have come a long way baby!” This particular one is in reference to her success as a speaker.
It doesn’t work as an informative book on brain functionality, and it doesn’t even work as an inspiring personal journey, it’s too self-centered for that.
June 29, 2022
I really enjoyed this book! It was a great mix of a memoir and science based fact. I loved that it dove deeper into the facts behind WHY exercise and happiness are related. I didn’t know that neurogenesis was triggered by exercise! I learned so many things about science and the various parts of the brain. While I have heard that exercise is good for you, this is the one book that actually started me on my own exercise journey.
June 24, 2015
This sort of thing just fascinates me - the way our brain works, how exercise contributes to concentration, how meditation improves brain function, etc - but I feel I've ready better books on the subjects. The author is a very likable personality, and I liked the "memoir" aspect of it, but it got bogged down in all the science terms.
August 16, 2018
Experiential Learning the brain-life link
We all have a brain. Through the brain we experience all that is material in this world, but also all that is immaterial, like happiness. If you want to be happy, take good care of your brain. The lessons learn in this book are highly valuable and important to change ours into learning minds.
We all have a brain. Through the brain we experience all that is material in this world, but also all that is immaterial, like happiness. If you want to be happy, take good care of your brain. The lessons learn in this book are highly valuable and important to change ours into learning minds.
September 24, 2022
Signed up for some hard neuroscience, got the sex in the city story of a neuroscience professor detailling her lovelife with some neuroscience of how exercise improves your brain.
Disclaimer. Did not finish the book, got to 80%? My audiobook app stopped working, not even motivated to put effort finding the book elsewhere.
Disclaimer. Did not finish the book, got to 80%? My audiobook app stopped working, not even motivated to put effort finding the book elsewhere.
September 10, 2018
Read wonderfully by the author, this book was fun & enlightening. Wendy is a great teacher, telling the story of her research & personal transformation as one story. I'm so glad she is doing what she's doing & I hope she write & record more as she goes deeper into life & work.
June 16, 2015
Arm chair brain science!
January 30, 2025
I recently heard Wendy Suzuki speaking on a podcast I enjoy, and this prompted me to read Healthy Brain, Happy Life. I liked the information she'd shared on the impact of exercise on the brain, and hoped to learn more. Unfortunately, I didn't find this book to offer anything beyond what I had gleaned from the podcast conversation, and I also felt confused and distracted by the dips into memoir-style writing.
December 29, 2017
Written by a neuroscientist, the book was right down my alley to read over semester break. As an educator and former psychology major, the brain fascinates me. I found the sections on neuroplasticity, creativity, and dementia especially interesting. The brain hacks at the end of each chapter were practical and helpful for readers as we move beyond the analytical to actual practice. It wasn’t an earth-shattering book and I really didn’t care about why all the men she dated didn’t work out, but it was worth the read.
October 6, 2024
So glad I heard about this book from the Huberman podcast episode with Wendy Suzuki. This book effectively combined Suzuki’s narrative and neuroscience.
November 9, 2024
Entertaining with some interesting info! Not sure it’s the most life changing book, but it’s a good read
December 27, 2024
Neuroscience + psychology + self betterment? Sign me uppp
Displaying 1 - 30 of 273 reviews