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Calm Clarity: How to Use Science to Rewire Your Brain for Greater Wisdom, Fulfillment, and Joy
One of Fast Company's 7 Best Business Books of 2018. Author of the viral Medium piece, "Poor and Traumatized at Harvard," Due Quach shares her Calm Clarity program to show readers how to deal with toxic stress and adversity.We often don't realize how much control we have over our thoughts, feelings, and actions--on some days, the most minor irritation can upset us, but on others, we are in our best form and can rise to challenges with grace. These fluctuations depend on the neural networks firing in our brains, and we have the power to consciously break hardwired thought patterns. Due Quach developed an intimate understanding of the brain during her personal journey of healing from post-traumatic stress disorder. According to Quach, people function in three primary emotional Brain 1.0, Brain 2.0, and Brain 3.0. In Brain 1.0, people act out of fear and self-preservation. Brain 2.0 involves instant gratification and chasing short-term rewards at the expense of long-term well-being. Brain 3.0 is a state of mind that Quach calls "Calm Clarity," in which people's actions are aligned with their core values. As Quach confronted PTSD and successfully weaned herself off medication, she learned how to activate, exercise, and strengthen Brain 3.0 like a muscle. In Calm Clarity, she draws on the latest scientific research and ancient spiritual traditions alike to show us how we too can take ownership of our thoughts, feelings, and actions in order to be our best selves.
383 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2018
50 people are currently reading
726 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 16, 2019
“A single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives.”
—Henry David Thoreau
I have read other books on the subject of rewiring the brain, and do find the subject fascinating. So I’m familiar with the territory.
Like others, Due Quach (Zway Kwok) expertly writes of the latest research on brain science. However, I felt her book stands out above the others in the way it spoke to me.
Perhaps it is because I related to Due’s particular early life struggles. She found herself in over her head and traumatized at Harvard, and had no resources or support to fall back upon.
It turns out she was suffering from PTSD as a result of her childhood experiences as a first-generation Vietnamese immigrant. Due is very forthcoming about her struggles in order to help others.
A huge plus for me is that Due’s book doesn’t feel gimmicky in the way a few others I’ve read have.
As a result of her wisdom on brain science, I have a new understanding of and a new compassion for myself and some of my earlier life choices. I also feel inspired and hopeful for the future. That in itself is priceless.
—Henry David Thoreau
I have read other books on the subject of rewiring the brain, and do find the subject fascinating. So I’m familiar with the territory.
Like others, Due Quach (Zway Kwok) expertly writes of the latest research on brain science. However, I felt her book stands out above the others in the way it spoke to me.
Perhaps it is because I related to Due’s particular early life struggles. She found herself in over her head and traumatized at Harvard, and had no resources or support to fall back upon.
It turns out she was suffering from PTSD as a result of her childhood experiences as a first-generation Vietnamese immigrant. Due is very forthcoming about her struggles in order to help others.
A huge plus for me is that Due’s book doesn’t feel gimmicky in the way a few others I’ve read have.
As a result of her wisdom on brain science, I have a new understanding of and a new compassion for myself and some of my earlier life choices. I also feel inspired and hopeful for the future. That in itself is priceless.
September 20, 2018
Author seems bent on trying to figure out how to do better business using spiritualism. She does the typical run to the East, study yoga and gets the sense that she is enlightened. Then she forgets the self help part of the book the title suggests and rambles on about her experiences, which are all signs of her specialness, in spiritualism. It's kind of a rags to riches to spiritual materialism story at its finest. She comes up with brain 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 as terms to describe what Freud had already outlined as id, ego and the superego. I get the feeling she is looking to market this light weight fare after this book. More of the same commercial dreck posing as real source material. Pass.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2018
Get in the right head space with the help of Calm Clarity by Due Quach. There are three brain states based on the book. You can recognize which brain state you are in at any given moment and find out how to transition your mind. The book is well written and shares specific examples. If you are ready and open to a new way of looking at things, read it.
June 29, 2018
Are you operating in Brain 1.0, 2.0, or 3.0? This book not only helps you see where you are, but helps you get where you want to be. The author provides interesting context from both personal and scientific perspectives, eloquently bridging the oft-wide divide between spirituality and science. A useful and intriguing read for today's times.
July 9, 2018
Thank you for having survived all the traumas and to tell the stories. Your stories are inspiring and best wishes with the in-person sessions. I hope the in-person sessions will soon be available far and wide.
January 1, 2022
Media type: physical book
Why this book? I was looking for more brain books and then I noticed the Vietnamese author’s name right away. I knew that I had to read this.
A well-researched book with lots of research and studies mentioned.
I really enjoyed reading the introduction about her refugee story, her undergraduate years at Harvard, her time spent in Asia connecting with spirituality, and how the Calm Clarity program came about.
Why this book? I was looking for more brain books and then I noticed the Vietnamese author’s name right away. I knew that I had to read this.
A well-researched book with lots of research and studies mentioned.
I really enjoyed reading the introduction about her refugee story, her undergraduate years at Harvard, her time spent in Asia connecting with spirituality, and how the Calm Clarity program came about.
August 28, 2018
Calm Clarity combines spiritual connection with neuroscience to explain how our brains trap and release us from trauma. Due's impactful experiences draw you in while illuminating complex psychological and neurological concepts in an easy to access format. The result is a better understanding of how to heal your brain, find your authentic path and function in a less reactive way.
February 14, 2019
My husband brought this book home from a business conference, and the author was the keynote speaker. Due Quach was a first generation immigrant who suffered from PTSD, and the story chronicles her spiritual journey. I was surprised it was chosen for a business conference. It makes a good case for the benefits of meditation, but I didn't find it to be a good read. It was very repetitive and hard to follow her train of thought.
January 25, 2019
It’s good for the write to get her things together and keep on living fully but i didn’t find practical info as I expected.
June 25, 2019
The author experienced an extraordinarily amount of trauma in her life. Later she became obsessed with getting wealth and power. Eventually she felt empty. This led to a search for meaning. She delved into numerous religions, philosophies, and yoga - viewing all from a scientific, skeptical mind, reading each one's core texts and practicing them. Eventually she came up with a practice to elevate her life condition and help others as well, which she says is the key to genuine happiness. Although I don't share all of her views, several of her discoveries did reinforce some parts of the life philosophy I practice (Nichiren Buddhism in the SGI-USA organization). For example, her brain 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 correspond to some of "the 10 Worlds", which are part of the 3,000 possible Worlds in a momentary state of life - a core principle in our Buddhist philosophy. There were other concepts as well that I related to. This was heartening to me.
I also learned a lot from her. I admire and respect her determination and ability to turn her life around with great tenacity and sincerity. She has developed her inner life which saved her (she had PTSD and was extremely depressed in her earlier years). It is really admirable. She then returned to the poor neighborhoods of Philadelphia, where she and her family had originally immigrated to decades ago (her family was from Viet Nam and had to escape due to the war). She created a program to help the youth there. She not only succeeded in helping them, but was able to create another program to help corporations function in a more optimal and harmoniously way.
As far as the book presentation -I enjoyed the first part of the book covering her life story a lot. The later parts had 2 aspects. One aspect is the instructions on how to do the mindfulness practice (chapter 8) and it is very straightforward. The 2nd aspect of the later sections of the book was very valuable, but also very, very technical and hard to follow. I think this is partly because of the repetition of the various terms - constantly being comparing them back and forth in a short amounts of time. It required a great deal of concentration (and repeat reading). It was a worthwhile challenge to me. She clarifies the different states our mind / life is in, how to recognize it and how to shift into a happier, more humane way of life. As far as the technical information though, I imagine that many people, though, if they are not familiar with these topics, might be lost in the later sections and maybe not finish the book. Perhaps if of each term had it's own longer section and then it was compared it to the next term in its own longer section, it might be easier to grasp. What I am saying is that the later parts of the book are very scholarly and might eliminate parts of the general public, who could benefit from reading this.
Overall, I am very happy I read this book. There are many wonderful aspects to it. The author's personal story is very touching and shows that even in severe circumstances there is hope and a purpose to one's life. Her Calm Clarity plan has helped many youths and others, which is good to know. The author also mentions that she is still on her journey to keep learning about life's puzzles.
[I listened to the audio version of this book. The reader, Emily Woo Zeller, is excellent. I then bought the paperback version].
I also learned a lot from her. I admire and respect her determination and ability to turn her life around with great tenacity and sincerity. She has developed her inner life which saved her (she had PTSD and was extremely depressed in her earlier years). It is really admirable. She then returned to the poor neighborhoods of Philadelphia, where she and her family had originally immigrated to decades ago (her family was from Viet Nam and had to escape due to the war). She created a program to help the youth there. She not only succeeded in helping them, but was able to create another program to help corporations function in a more optimal and harmoniously way.
As far as the book presentation -I enjoyed the first part of the book covering her life story a lot. The later parts had 2 aspects. One aspect is the instructions on how to do the mindfulness practice (chapter 8) and it is very straightforward. The 2nd aspect of the later sections of the book was very valuable, but also very, very technical and hard to follow. I think this is partly because of the repetition of the various terms - constantly being comparing them back and forth in a short amounts of time. It required a great deal of concentration (and repeat reading). It was a worthwhile challenge to me. She clarifies the different states our mind / life is in, how to recognize it and how to shift into a happier, more humane way of life. As far as the technical information though, I imagine that many people, though, if they are not familiar with these topics, might be lost in the later sections and maybe not finish the book. Perhaps if of each term had it's own longer section and then it was compared it to the next term in its own longer section, it might be easier to grasp. What I am saying is that the later parts of the book are very scholarly and might eliminate parts of the general public, who could benefit from reading this.
Overall, I am very happy I read this book. There are many wonderful aspects to it. The author's personal story is very touching and shows that even in severe circumstances there is hope and a purpose to one's life. Her Calm Clarity plan has helped many youths and others, which is good to know. The author also mentions that she is still on her journey to keep learning about life's puzzles.
[I listened to the audio version of this book. The reader, Emily Woo Zeller, is excellent. I then bought the paperback version].
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2020
I tried really hard to slog through this because it did have some interesting moments but overall it was so boring I couldn’t do it anymore.
July 6, 2022
First few chapters were good and relevant. Its a memoir. Far too much, off topic talking about herself and how shes worked as a director in the biggest company of "enter country here". Constant bragging got really boring. It was cringe worthy. "Most senior woman in finance in vietnam". After chapter 3 it was just her talking about herself and nothing was relevant to what the cover of this book says. I switched off. I could literally write this woman's CV from scratch with all her accomplishments. I kept reading until chapter 6 when she talks about the job offer she had from a billionaire then I was done.
May 1, 2020
The book started strong with actual scientific research and understanding of the neuroscience behind how we think, feel and respond. The author lost me when she started talking about her spiritual journey. Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of wisdom in eastern philosophies that I truly appreciate and try to practice myself. She lost me however when she started talking about getting visions, seeing purple lights and crystal healing. I ended up skipping those parts of the book entirely. It’s simply not for me. It got a very “new age” kind of feel to it, too fluffy.
December 31, 2019
This book moved me so profoundly that I am now taking meditation classes and training to become a yoga instructor. I’ve given this book as a gift to several friends and family members who had to undergo surgery like I did last year.
May 24, 2021
This was like reading a very long personal journal of the author on her spiritual journey and finding answers to unlock the meditation benefits. But I like this genre, so there were certain concepts that I liked. I jus wish it was in a condensed format.
September 17, 2018
Brain 3.0, Brain 2.0, Brain 1.0...
February 2, 2019
Enjoyable read overall but just be wary that most of this book is a memoir.
April 14, 2019
A lot of explanation of why this type of meditation works.
Not much on how to meditate
Not much on how to meditate
June 15, 2020
Just wow. Learnt so much from this book. To fully gasp the whole idea must reread few chapters.
July 26, 2020
The author describes her fascinating journey. After seeing her speak at a conference, the book was a deeper drive and workshop on self awareness. I aspire to Brain 3.0
February 14, 2021
Due gives great personal stories, scientific evidence, and practical advice. I got a lot out of the book.
December 23, 2021
The author spent a lot of time researching brain science and came up with three classifications for our mental states. Brain 1.0 she describes as our inner godzilla, the fearful, primitive, emotionally reactive part of our brain. Brain 2.0 she labels as the inner teen wolf, a state where we are never satisfied, always wanting more. Brain 3.0, the inner sage, is where we reach "calm clarity," aligned with our higher self neither grasping for more or getting caught up in our emotions. She shares her journey from traumatized child to spiritual seeker, her skepticism and the mystic experiences she couldn't deny, her fascination with neuroscience and how she came to discover Brain 3.0, and meditations to help the reader achieve that state.
I enjoyed the blend of science and ancient spiritual wisdom, but at times the author became so analytical and verbose that I got bogged down in the reading. Still, what she offers is a fresh take on how to reduce stress, become more mindful, access inner wisdom and improve mental well-being.
I enjoyed the blend of science and ancient spiritual wisdom, but at times the author became so analytical and verbose that I got bogged down in the reading. Still, what she offers is a fresh take on how to reduce stress, become more mindful, access inner wisdom and improve mental well-being.
February 8, 2025
I had mixed feelings about this book. The author seemed intelligent, determined, and inspiring. That said, I feel the focus should have been shifted from the author's personal spiritual journey to the message she was trying to convey. Although her journey into the spiritual traditions of the East were interesting to read, some extraneous details were added that the reader wouldn't necessarily care about. Examples: Where she's traveling to next, how she'll get there, why she stayed longer etc.
This book would have benefitted greatly from more emphasis on the teachings themselves and information on mindful living.
All of the above aside, this is still worth a read if you want to learn more about meditation, Buddhism, or are interested in spiritual traditions or practices of the East. It was interesting hearing the author's story and her triumph over the adversity she'd faced. I just wish there was more science and spiritual information in it.
This book would have benefitted greatly from more emphasis on the teachings themselves and information on mindful living.
All of the above aside, this is still worth a read if you want to learn more about meditation, Buddhism, or are interested in spiritual traditions or practices of the East. It was interesting hearing the author's story and her triumph over the adversity she'd faced. I just wish there was more science and spiritual information in it.
Want to read
June 18, 2018I found it to be very interesting and some parts relatable to myself or others in my life. I am going to give it to an individual that I feel will benefit the most from reading it.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews