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Smarter Tomorrow: How 15 Minutes of Neurohacking a Day Can Help You Work Better, Think Faster, and Get More Done
What if you could upgrade your brain in 15 minutes a day? Let Elizabeth Ricker, an MIT and Harvard-trained brain researcher turned Silicon Valley technologist, show you how.Join Ricker on a wild and edifying romp through the cutting-edge world of neuroscience and biohacking. You'll encounter Olympic athletes, a game show contestant, a memory marvel, a famous CEO, and scientists galore. From Ricker’s decade-long quest, you will ● The brain-based reason so many self-improvement projects fail . . . But how a little-known secret of Nobel Prize winning scientists could finally unlock success● Which four abilities—both cognitive and emotional—can predict success in work and relationships . . . and a new system for improving all four● Which seven research-tested tools can supercharge mental performance. They range from low-tech (a surprising new mindset) to downright futuristic (an electrical device for at-home brain stimulation) Best of all, you will learn to upgrade your brain with Ricker’s 20 customizable self-experiments and a sample, 12-week schedule. Ricker distills insights from dozens of interviews and hundreds of research studies from around the world. She tests almost everything on herself, whether it’s nicotine, video games, meditation, or a little-known beverage from the Pacific islands. Some experiments fail hilariously—but others transform her cognition. She is able to sharpen her memory, increase her attention span, boost her mood, and clear her brain fog. By following Ricker’s system, you’ll uncover your own boosts to mental performance, too. Join a growing, global movement of neurohackers revolutionizing their careers and relationships. Let this book change 15 minutes of your day, and it may just change the rest of your life!
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 17, 2021
134 people are currently reading
2764 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
September 27, 2021
3 stars means this was an interesting book (5* would mean it was so good that I was reading it instead of meeting my own deadlines…)
Good points: Good information, both pro and con, on improving executive function, attention, creativity, EQ. Use of research. Interesting stories of successes. Wide variety of ideas for neuro-hacking. And,old self-research method so the reader can decide what works best individually.
Questionable aspects: A warning bell went off when she mentioned a .28 correlation as good. I listened to the audio so wasn’t able to dig deeper, but in my own area of expertise we’re looking for correlations of over .7. That had me listening carefully to stats such as methods raising scores by 10 or 20%. The methods in some cases seemed pretty radical for these small returns. I also always question whether artificial tasks used in the research translate into real-life results.
The book, in Jungian type terms, is very much a “J” book, meaning that the personality types whose last letter in their four-letter code indicate a Judging/closure attitude toward the external world, will be most drawn to the ideas of keeping lab notebooks on yourself, doing frequent goal reviews, and so on. Those who show their Perceiving/information-gathering function to the outer world often need different techniques to follow through on these kinds of endeavors.
I also had this overall concern about the either/or set up of either you use self-help books (which according to the author are all evangelistic in a one-way message and may not work for you) OR neuro-hacking. I think it’s both and. For example, there are great self-help books like 8 Colors of Fitness (Brue) that are research-based, tying what exercise programs work best for which personality types. I could list dozens of titles that point to patterns in what works so that you don’t have to start from scratch. It should be both/and — a neutral source of information that can narrow your exploratory course and a way to safely and accurately identify what truly helps you.
Good points: Good information, both pro and con, on improving executive function, attention, creativity, EQ. Use of research. Interesting stories of successes. Wide variety of ideas for neuro-hacking. And,old self-research method so the reader can decide what works best individually.
Questionable aspects: A warning bell went off when she mentioned a .28 correlation as good. I listened to the audio so wasn’t able to dig deeper, but in my own area of expertise we’re looking for correlations of over .7. That had me listening carefully to stats such as methods raising scores by 10 or 20%. The methods in some cases seemed pretty radical for these small returns. I also always question whether artificial tasks used in the research translate into real-life results.
The book, in Jungian type terms, is very much a “J” book, meaning that the personality types whose last letter in their four-letter code indicate a Judging/closure attitude toward the external world, will be most drawn to the ideas of keeping lab notebooks on yourself, doing frequent goal reviews, and so on. Those who show their Perceiving/information-gathering function to the outer world often need different techniques to follow through on these kinds of endeavors.
I also had this overall concern about the either/or set up of either you use self-help books (which according to the author are all evangelistic in a one-way message and may not work for you) OR neuro-hacking. I think it’s both and. For example, there are great self-help books like 8 Colors of Fitness (Brue) that are research-based, tying what exercise programs work best for which personality types. I could list dozens of titles that point to patterns in what works so that you don’t have to start from scratch. It should be both/and — a neutral source of information that can narrow your exploratory course and a way to safely and accurately identify what truly helps you.
July 22, 2021
Smarter Tomorrow consolidates, verifies and tests tools developed around the world aimed at improving our cognitive selves. I found the read to be addictive, easy and fun. Ricker begins by pointing out some basic information, a subset of which particularly interested me: when we are better at handling our emotions and stress, we have more space to be creative and intellectually effective and efficient. Part of being smart, is being able to manage our emotional responses. We are not necessarily well equipped for modern society; technology continues to develop at lightning speed and our little brains evolve at the snails pace of evolution. Fortunately for all of us, Ricker does a fantastic job at laying out a vast tool chest that she has combed through and organized creating a breezy path for the rest of us to work through our own neurohacking journies. Even if you aren’t striving to be “smarter”, you may be striving to communicate with your loved ones more fluently, or to shed that anxiety dress that you have been wearing since puberty. If, in any category of being human you are thinking, “I am ready to do better”, this book is for you.
June 22, 2021
Want to improve your brainpower, mental clarity, memory? This is a dynamic introduction to applying the scientific method to yourself, for optimal mental performance. The author an MIT, and Harvard educated researcher in neuroscience, is also an adventurer and shares personal stories of "neurohacking." She tries a variety of activities, drinks, even zapping with electricity to achieve mental clarity. More than anything she creates an encouraging and clear way for you to do the same, and join the global movement of neurohackers. As far as popular science and self help goes, this is an unmissable read. Good luck neurohacking! Please note: The book will be available for purchase in a few months, I was only able to get a copy because of a family connection. I got so excited I read it twice, and as an actor am actually going to be recording part of the audio book.
March 10, 2022
I enjoyed this book overall. I found reading about the various experiments interesting. Around half way through the book, it really lost steam to me and I found the chapter on AI rather tedious to trudge through. It really dealt with technology and not neuroscience, so it did feel out of place for me. It was qnintriguing read and while I don't necessarily plan to utilize any of the experiments she included, it did help me reflect on ones I have naturally utilized in my life through trial and error of finding what works best for me personally. It also gave me some ideas on how to refocus efforts and test out new possibilities.
November 13, 2021
Blinkist
Very practical pointers.
---
The key message is this: Executive functioning is a crucial strength that can be neurohacked.
So what exactly is executive functioning? As the name suggests, it’s the mental ability that’s “in charge” of all your other key brain areas. Think of it as your brain’s CEO. The executive function organizes your other abilities, like creativity and memory, to achieve specific goals.
Executive functioning can be broken down into three sub-abilities: working memory, inhibition, and flexibility. First, working memory is the ability to hold information in your mind and manipulate it. You use it when you’re following a conversation and considering all the different points. Then, inhibition is what stops you from blurting out your own opinion when it would be counterproductive to do so. Last, flexibility allows you to move from one idea to the next, and consider all of them as a whole.
Through neurohacking, you can improve your executive functioning. To begin, you need to gauge where you’re at by testing one of your executive sub-abilities.
Let’s take inhibition. One way to probe this is to take the classic Stroop Color and Word test, which you can easily find online. In the Stroop test, you look at various words in different-colored fonts. Your job is to identify either the meaning of the word or the color of the font it’s in.
After you’ve taken a few tests like this and recorded your scores, you should try regular neurohacking “interventions” to boost your performance. One such intervention is the placebo.
It might sound silly, but before you test your executive function again, try wearing something that makes you feel “organized.” That could be a lab coat or a smart suit. Then tell yourself, Scientific studies have proven that wearing this suit will increase my executive functioning. After that, take the test. You might be surprised by just how suggestible you are – and by the improvement in your performance!
The key message here is: Emotional self-regulation is vital for success – and it’s something you can work on.
Just as with executive functioning, there are ways you can improve your emotional self-regulation. But first, as is the neurohacker’s way, you should test yourself to discover your baseline. To do this, ask yourself a set of questions that gauge core aspects of emotional self-regulation.
Set a timeline – for instance, the last 24 hours, 30 days, or 3 months. Then think back over that time. Using a 5-point scale, rate how much you agree with statements like: I could control my impulses when I felt triggered by strong emotions; I could soothe myself when I was upset; and I could change how I was feeling if I wanted to. As these experiments are highly personalized, it’s important that they be consistent on your terms. The crucial thing is that you record your development over time.
After you’ve gauged your ability to regulate your emotions, it’s time to try another neurohacking intervention. Try thinking of something that causes you some degree of emotional distress. This could be an encroaching deadline, an unresolved argument with a family member, or a failure in some area of your professional life. Hold this in your mind for five minutes.
Then, try ten minutes of mindfulness meditation. To do this, sit in a quiet space, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing. If you feel your attention wandering, draw it gently back to your breath. By learning to control distressing thoughts in this way, you’ll strengthen the neuronal connections that regulate your emotions.
Here’s the key message: Use neurohacking to boost your memory and learning speed.
Being a fast learner with a good memory is key to personal and professional success. First off, a good memory saves time. If you speak a foreign language fluently, you don’t need to stop midway through a conversation in that language to confer with Google Translate.
Second, these qualities inspire confidence. How would you feel if your surgeon had to stop during your operation and consult YouTube videos?
Third, being able to learn quickly will be increasingly important in the future. As artificial intelligence promises to make many low- and semi-skilled jobs redundant, it’s expected that millions of people will have changed jobs by the year 2030. Those who are able to pick up new skills quickly will adapt best to this new world.
If you don’t have the best memory or learning capacity, this future can seem like a daunting prospect. Happily, neurohacking can help you improve. First, of course, you should test your baseline skill so you can measure improvement.
To test your baseline memory ability, get someone you know to write down 20 random words. Then, using a timer, look at the 20 words for one minute. Try to lock in as many as you can. After the minute is up, cover the word list. Next, take a break for a minute – don’t think about the words! When your break is done, set the timer for another minute and try to recall as many words as you can.
To improve your memory and learning skills, there are some excellent spaced-repetition apps that will exercise your brain. The free flashcard app Anki is perfect for this, but you can use physical flashcards if you prefer. Then pick a topic that excites you – a new language or a scientific discipline, for instance.
Study this way for 15 minutes each day . Then, when you feel ready, test your baseline knowledge again by seeing how many words you recall on your chosen topic. You might be surprised by your progress!
The key message is this: Creativity is something you can cultivate.
The more you engage in creativity, the better – that’s the lesson that experimental schools in Shanghai have learned. Rather than grade children solely on the quality of their art, teachers in these institutions encourage them to produce as much work as they can. Creative quantity is one of the criteria on which they’re marked.
And there’s a reason for that: the more creative activity you engage in, the easier it is to overcome the self-consciousness that can be an obstacle to making anything. This hyperproductivity can really pay off, too. Some of the greatest artists and creatives have been tireless in their output. Take Picasso, who created more than 20,000 paintings, sculptures, and drawings – or Bach, who composed more than 1,000 musical pieces. Doing something more gives you the confidence to do it better.
Though creativity is the hardest ability to quantify, there are ways you can test and measure your own. One way to gauge it involves thinking of a common object – say, a rock. Next, write down as many uses for that object as you can think of. For instance, weapon, anchor, ornament, etc. Make a note of the number of things you came up with.
Then, to enhance your creativity, perform a neurohacking intervention. Just as with the executive function exercise, try a placebo. But rather than wearing a lab coat or a suit, try scenting your room with a fragrance like cinnamon, citrus, or peppermint. Then say your “magic words” – something like, Clinical studies have shown that inhaling this scent will increase my creativity. Afterward, try some creative activity, like writing, painting, or decorating your house. You may feel your creative impulses flowing more freely than usual.
To measure your progress, keep retaking the test that involves thinking of uses for a common object. Hopefully, over time, you’ll be more consistently inventive – and more confident in your creativity.
Very practical pointers.
---
The key message is this: Executive functioning is a crucial strength that can be neurohacked.
So what exactly is executive functioning? As the name suggests, it’s the mental ability that’s “in charge” of all your other key brain areas. Think of it as your brain’s CEO. The executive function organizes your other abilities, like creativity and memory, to achieve specific goals.
Executive functioning can be broken down into three sub-abilities: working memory, inhibition, and flexibility. First, working memory is the ability to hold information in your mind and manipulate it. You use it when you’re following a conversation and considering all the different points. Then, inhibition is what stops you from blurting out your own opinion when it would be counterproductive to do so. Last, flexibility allows you to move from one idea to the next, and consider all of them as a whole.
Through neurohacking, you can improve your executive functioning. To begin, you need to gauge where you’re at by testing one of your executive sub-abilities.
Let’s take inhibition. One way to probe this is to take the classic Stroop Color and Word test, which you can easily find online. In the Stroop test, you look at various words in different-colored fonts. Your job is to identify either the meaning of the word or the color of the font it’s in.
After you’ve taken a few tests like this and recorded your scores, you should try regular neurohacking “interventions” to boost your performance. One such intervention is the placebo.
It might sound silly, but before you test your executive function again, try wearing something that makes you feel “organized.” That could be a lab coat or a smart suit. Then tell yourself, Scientific studies have proven that wearing this suit will increase my executive functioning. After that, take the test. You might be surprised by just how suggestible you are – and by the improvement in your performance!
The key message here is: Emotional self-regulation is vital for success – and it’s something you can work on.
Just as with executive functioning, there are ways you can improve your emotional self-regulation. But first, as is the neurohacker’s way, you should test yourself to discover your baseline. To do this, ask yourself a set of questions that gauge core aspects of emotional self-regulation.
Set a timeline – for instance, the last 24 hours, 30 days, or 3 months. Then think back over that time. Using a 5-point scale, rate how much you agree with statements like: I could control my impulses when I felt triggered by strong emotions; I could soothe myself when I was upset; and I could change how I was feeling if I wanted to. As these experiments are highly personalized, it’s important that they be consistent on your terms. The crucial thing is that you record your development over time.
After you’ve gauged your ability to regulate your emotions, it’s time to try another neurohacking intervention. Try thinking of something that causes you some degree of emotional distress. This could be an encroaching deadline, an unresolved argument with a family member, or a failure in some area of your professional life. Hold this in your mind for five minutes.
Then, try ten minutes of mindfulness meditation. To do this, sit in a quiet space, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing. If you feel your attention wandering, draw it gently back to your breath. By learning to control distressing thoughts in this way, you’ll strengthen the neuronal connections that regulate your emotions.
Here’s the key message: Use neurohacking to boost your memory and learning speed.
Being a fast learner with a good memory is key to personal and professional success. First off, a good memory saves time. If you speak a foreign language fluently, you don’t need to stop midway through a conversation in that language to confer with Google Translate.
Second, these qualities inspire confidence. How would you feel if your surgeon had to stop during your operation and consult YouTube videos?
Third, being able to learn quickly will be increasingly important in the future. As artificial intelligence promises to make many low- and semi-skilled jobs redundant, it’s expected that millions of people will have changed jobs by the year 2030. Those who are able to pick up new skills quickly will adapt best to this new world.
If you don’t have the best memory or learning capacity, this future can seem like a daunting prospect. Happily, neurohacking can help you improve. First, of course, you should test your baseline skill so you can measure improvement.
To test your baseline memory ability, get someone you know to write down 20 random words. Then, using a timer, look at the 20 words for one minute. Try to lock in as many as you can. After the minute is up, cover the word list. Next, take a break for a minute – don’t think about the words! When your break is done, set the timer for another minute and try to recall as many words as you can.
To improve your memory and learning skills, there are some excellent spaced-repetition apps that will exercise your brain. The free flashcard app Anki is perfect for this, but you can use physical flashcards if you prefer. Then pick a topic that excites you – a new language or a scientific discipline, for instance.
Study this way for 15 minutes each day . Then, when you feel ready, test your baseline knowledge again by seeing how many words you recall on your chosen topic. You might be surprised by your progress!
The key message is this: Creativity is something you can cultivate.
The more you engage in creativity, the better – that’s the lesson that experimental schools in Shanghai have learned. Rather than grade children solely on the quality of their art, teachers in these institutions encourage them to produce as much work as they can. Creative quantity is one of the criteria on which they’re marked.
And there’s a reason for that: the more creative activity you engage in, the easier it is to overcome the self-consciousness that can be an obstacle to making anything. This hyperproductivity can really pay off, too. Some of the greatest artists and creatives have been tireless in their output. Take Picasso, who created more than 20,000 paintings, sculptures, and drawings – or Bach, who composed more than 1,000 musical pieces. Doing something more gives you the confidence to do it better.
Though creativity is the hardest ability to quantify, there are ways you can test and measure your own. One way to gauge it involves thinking of a common object – say, a rock. Next, write down as many uses for that object as you can think of. For instance, weapon, anchor, ornament, etc. Make a note of the number of things you came up with.
Then, to enhance your creativity, perform a neurohacking intervention. Just as with the executive function exercise, try a placebo. But rather than wearing a lab coat or a suit, try scenting your room with a fragrance like cinnamon, citrus, or peppermint. Then say your “magic words” – something like, Clinical studies have shown that inhaling this scent will increase my creativity. Afterward, try some creative activity, like writing, painting, or decorating your house. You may feel your creative impulses flowing more freely than usual.
To measure your progress, keep retaking the test that involves thinking of uses for a common object. Hopefully, over time, you’ll be more consistently inventive – and more confident in your creativity.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2021
LOVED this addictive book! This book is clear, accessible, well-researched, actionable, and most important of all, it is encouraging and kind to the reader. First of all, what stands out the most is the ease with which the author writes and speaks to you. The tone is very humble, conversational, and full of empathy...imagine someone is walking you through various types of neurohacking, but that person is your most cherished friend whom you could spend hours talking with! She balances the content well between stories, facts, and guidance. Whether you're a novice or an expert in neuroscience, this book will be accessible to you. And what I really enjoyed about this book is that it is about application and experimentation of the neuro knowledge that she shares and breaks down for you! As a habitual self-experimenter and a Neuroscientist, this book was satisfying in every way...but I think this book would be illuminating even for a self-experimenting novice (but let's be honest, which human really is?). I hope more and more people find this gem to start their own personal journeys towards optimizing their cognition through their own version of neurohacking, guided wonderfully by this author :)
August 14, 2021
As a stay-at-home parent, I try to keep my own brain active while helping my 4 young kids reach their full potential. This book is a wonderful tool for us. It clearly lays out metrics and methods for improving intellectual abilities- from sharpening memory to increasing creativity. I've had my kids perform the exercises- I just tell them that we're playing games. They've loved it and I've loved that they're getting smarter while having fun!
August 15, 2021
I loved this book! It is incredibly practical and affirming. I have long been a connoisseur of self-help books, but this is different—more. It is not just "feel good" or "discipline yourself." It is incredibly well researched and based in science, but also empowers the readers to find the techniques that work best for themselves, provides a map, and outlines steps to get you there. The author's approach helps me with motivation to keep going, but also with unloading any guilt if I stop using a technique. There is no guilt in stopping if something is not working and you can prove it!
The author’s conversational style is easy to read, and not at all like what one might expect from a document with citations. (I love the citations. I read this for myself, but I’m a therapist with training and interest in using neuroscience to achieve mental health and healing.) There is so much information, and it is all accessible. Also, every time I formed a question while reading, the author answered it within a few pages. The concept of testing and tracking oneself for improvement is genius, and the author gives a great foundation for how to think about it, how to assess oneself, how to track and reflect on what works. I’m already devising a few things I want to test beyond the author’s suggestions. I am impressed by the tools she provides. I know her approach to be sound, based on my own training and research as I pursued my degrees. In short, I can’t say enough good stuff about this book. (I'm enthusiastic, but honest: I didn't resonate to the "Sci Fi to Sci Fact" chapter as much, myself. That is my personality--but I know some people will love it!) I’m already encouraging friends and clients to check the book out to see if it they want to use the neurohacking approach.
The author’s conversational style is easy to read, and not at all like what one might expect from a document with citations. (I love the citations. I read this for myself, but I’m a therapist with training and interest in using neuroscience to achieve mental health and healing.) There is so much information, and it is all accessible. Also, every time I formed a question while reading, the author answered it within a few pages. The concept of testing and tracking oneself for improvement is genius, and the author gives a great foundation for how to think about it, how to assess oneself, how to track and reflect on what works. I’m already devising a few things I want to test beyond the author’s suggestions. I am impressed by the tools she provides. I know her approach to be sound, based on my own training and research as I pursued my degrees. In short, I can’t say enough good stuff about this book. (I'm enthusiastic, but honest: I didn't resonate to the "Sci Fi to Sci Fact" chapter as much, myself. That is my personality--but I know some people will love it!) I’m already encouraging friends and clients to check the book out to see if it they want to use the neurohacking approach.
August 17, 2021
So much thought has gone into creating this book (Smarter Tomorrow)! The author, Elizabeth Ricker, has clearly been diligent in her research and even self-experiments with many stories and interesting facts to support the thought process of what neurohacking is and how one can best engage in it. I really enjoyed the book which is also well structured! The chapters provide a quick estimate of read time and a clear goal to help orient the reader and then ends with a takeaway section to help you solidify what you just read. Elizabeth does an amazing job in exploring concepts with the reader in a detailed yet friendly and conversational way that makes the reading easy.
Additionally, there are very tactical recommendations that are easy for the readers to follow and try out themselves - she also doesn't tell readers to blindly follow each and every experiment. Instead, she encourages folks to be self-aware and adapt to what may work best for each person. I highly recommend this book and plan to read it again!
Additionally, there are very tactical recommendations that are easy for the readers to follow and try out themselves - she also doesn't tell readers to blindly follow each and every experiment. Instead, she encourages folks to be self-aware and adapt to what may work best for each person. I highly recommend this book and plan to read it again!
August 11, 2021
Elizabeth Ricker delivers an engaging book on the concept of neuro hacking , i.e. testing various interventions to improve your brain.
This book is the culmination of years of research, distilled into a fascinating 300+ pages read. Broken into five sections, the book provides a distilled summary of what neurohacking is and how to apply it to yourself. The author writes in detail about 7 interventions, which the author has tested on herself. In true research fashion, the content of this book is backed up with over 450 citations.
Anyone could benefit from reading this book and will enjoy the format and style of this scientific self help book. I personally really appreciated all of the road markings (eg there is an estimate of the reading time required at the beginning of each chapter), exercises and succinct summary of key take aways.
Thank you to the author and Little Brown and Company for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is the culmination of years of research, distilled into a fascinating 300+ pages read. Broken into five sections, the book provides a distilled summary of what neurohacking is and how to apply it to yourself. The author writes in detail about 7 interventions, which the author has tested on herself. In true research fashion, the content of this book is backed up with over 450 citations.
Anyone could benefit from reading this book and will enjoy the format and style of this scientific self help book. I personally really appreciated all of the road markings (eg there is an estimate of the reading time required at the beginning of each chapter), exercises and succinct summary of key take aways.
Thank you to the author and Little Brown and Company for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 16, 2021
This book was a fun and worthwhile read. There were so many interesting tidbits about the brain and improving mental performance, it felt like there was always another nugget to be found on the next page. This book often reminded me of reading craft books from my youth, in that it contains so many projects that captured my imagination and got me excited about undertaking them.
The 15 minute self-experiments are laid out clearly and in a way that they seem approachable and easy to complete. I've so far only had time to do the HIIT experiment but am looking forward to doing more. I also found that the takeaways at the end of every chapter were very helpful for finding subjects I wanted to revisit.
I didn't now what neurohacking was before reading this book, but if that sounds like something you might even be slightly interested in I would absolutely recommend picking up the book.
The 15 minute self-experiments are laid out clearly and in a way that they seem approachable and easy to complete. I've so far only had time to do the HIIT experiment but am looking forward to doing more. I also found that the takeaways at the end of every chapter were very helpful for finding subjects I wanted to revisit.
I didn't now what neurohacking was before reading this book, but if that sounds like something you might even be slightly interested in I would absolutely recommend picking up the book.
November 3, 2022
I recommend starting at the back of this book. Flip through the list of experiments, find one you'd like to try, then go back to the chapter referred to in the experiment to pick up the test(s) associated with it, dig into the index to clear up any confusion caused by skipping most of the text, and get started.
The introductory and narrative material that takes up most of the first 250 pages of the book would have been more helpful 15+ years ago, before the proliferation of smartphones and smartwatches and fitness trackers. But in the here and now, it's a lot to wade through to get to the action. And if you've tracked steps or calories or your heart rate or something similar with a personal device, you're already 80% of the way to the disciplined approach to self experiments spelled out here.
The introductory and narrative material that takes up most of the first 250 pages of the book would have been more helpful 15+ years ago, before the proliferation of smartphones and smartwatches and fitness trackers. But in the here and now, it's a lot to wade through to get to the action. And if you've tracked steps or calories or your heart rate or something similar with a personal device, you're already 80% of the way to the disciplined approach to self experiments spelled out here.
July 17, 2021
This book packs a whole survey course on brain improvement into a fun, quick read. The breadth is impressive - covering medicine, neuroscience, physiology, even science fiction - but more importantly it distills all this background into a straightforward step-by-step plan for improving your brain and your life. You bring the problem, and Ricker offers a menu of possible solutions (aka experiments) that are simple, cheap or free, and research-backed.
This book will probably be most useful to those with an existing motivation for improving their brain, eg. having trouble being productive in the afternoon. But even those with just a passing curiosity (like me at the start) will find tons of memorable stories and insights that are sure to come in handy someday.
This book will probably be most useful to those with an existing motivation for improving their brain, eg. having trouble being productive in the afternoon. But even those with just a passing curiosity (like me at the start) will find tons of memorable stories and insights that are sure to come in handy someday.
August 1, 2021
I was immediately intrigued when the author listed a notebook as a useful companion tool for this book-- I am an avid note taker and the idea of finding some actionable ways to take advantage of this habit was exciting. I liked how well the explanations for running self-experiments and analyzing the data were detailed and that the personal anecdotes embraced the fail/try again nature of scientific method and the time commitment involved.
This is a great new approach to understanding how much we can do to improve our cognitive load with an impressive background on each area that provides easy-to-understand research as support. I'm excited to see what my observations reveal and what my results might be.
This is a great new approach to understanding how much we can do to improve our cognitive load with an impressive background on each area that provides easy-to-understand research as support. I'm excited to see what my observations reveal and what my results might be.
August 10, 2021
Disclosures: I received an advanced e-copy to review and worked with the author on later chapters of the book.
As a neuroscientist I was excited to see Ricker provide information that was well researched and supported in a way that almost anyone could understand. This book is based on her experiences with self-experimentation and sets up the reader to begin their own self-experimentation if they choose to do so. I flew through this book and appreciated her anecdotes throughout. I had no idea what to expect going in and it was amazing to see the progression of the book as it lead up to the chapters that I was already intimately familiar with from the editing process. Highly recommend for anyone who is curious about neuro hacking and looking for a place to start!
As a neuroscientist I was excited to see Ricker provide information that was well researched and supported in a way that almost anyone could understand. This book is based on her experiences with self-experimentation and sets up the reader to begin their own self-experimentation if they choose to do so. I flew through this book and appreciated her anecdotes throughout. I had no idea what to expect going in and it was amazing to see the progression of the book as it lead up to the chapters that I was already intimately familiar with from the editing process. Highly recommend for anyone who is curious about neuro hacking and looking for a place to start!
July 11, 2024
I really don’t know how to feel about this book. It was actually an enjoyable read and I did learn few stuff. I liked the author, she’s very curious and always looking ways to get smarter. The bottom line is that the book is not convincing enough. Although I’ll do couple of things she mentioned, overall it felt confusing book, she focused on too many different topics rather than explaining or discussing about one particular intervention. So if I was interested in doing one of the interventions I’d have to go and read another book about it. As the book says, this is not a detailed guide but a book on how to start on neurohacking. On a lifetime we don’t get to read a lot of books, if I had to choose again, I wouldn’t choose this one.
August 11, 2021
This is a witty, poignant, and beautifully crafted piece that was a super fun read! From the personal stories of the author to the science behind it all, she does an amazing job explaining seemingly challenging concepts like "Neurohacking" and simplifies these ideas such that they can be received by the common reader! It is a book like no other. A meld of scientific studies as well as the author's own serve as proof.
Go and nab yourself a copy of this book; you will not regret it! The strategies mentioned in the book are applicable to daily life and completely doable, so go out and try them!
Go and nab yourself a copy of this book; you will not regret it! The strategies mentioned in the book are applicable to daily life and completely doable, so go out and try them!
July 8, 2022
Eh. The first 1/3 felt wildly practical, but half-way through seemed less useful. Maybe that was a function (lack) of editing - the first third felt very tightly-packed with info to the point I was re-reading sections and taking notes. Then the chapters felt less applicable and the "experiments" (practical applications) less relevant. It may also be simply a book that has a lot of useful info for a lot of different people, and not all of it is relevant to everyone, and that's OK. That's also why I'm glad it was a library book ;)
Recommended for anyone interested in the topic - you have nothing to lose and may find some very good info for you.
Recommended for anyone interested in the topic - you have nothing to lose and may find some very good info for you.
December 19, 2023
A very quick introduction to neurohacking and biohacking in general. It explains how to set up a study on yourself: setting goals, testing a hypothesis, and analyzing data. Most of the book explains different things that you could improve about yourself. A lot of sample tests are provided, as well as recommendations for better tests, equipment, etc. It talks about how much you can rely on different potions and powders - not much since it points out that the scientific data is mostly inconclusive. The main argument is that everyone's body is different and until you study yourself scientifically instead of hopping from fad to fad, you won't know what works for you.
July 26, 2021
It's clear that the author brings years of expertise and a deep level of humility to the topic of neurohacking. She writes in a way that is accessible, yet with a level of depth that doesn't oversimplify a complex topic. I have so many curiosities I now want to follow. The book encouraged me to approach some areas of my life with a more experimental lens, which has left me feeling hopeful. If you are looking for ways to better understand the science behind neurohacking and actionable ways to get started, this book is a must read!
July 28, 2021
We humans have always been intrigued by the possibility of upgrading our minds. But does it really work? I like Ricker’s ‘personalisation’ thesis that suggests that every brain is unique on some levels and thus we each need to experiment to discover an intervention that works for us. This book is a culmination of Ricker’s ten year explorations in cognitive enhancement, in the tradition of curiosity driven science. I recommend it to anyone curious to have a guidebook of interventions one can experiment with.
August 8, 2021
Love this book! It is written in a very approachable way - smart, funny, actionable, incredibly well researched. I appreciated that each chapter starts out by listing the goal and time investment and concludes with a summary of key takeaways. The book is very informative, entertaining, and practical all at the same time. The author is a true expert in neurohacking and makes her expertise accessible and engaging, whether you have a scientific background or not. I am excited to put some of the ideas/experiments to use in my own life!
August 11, 2021
Really thought this book was well-written to allow anyone to absorb the content and try out neurohacking on their own. Liked that each chapter had a lead-in telling me how much time to expect to spend on it as well as key takeaways. It allowed me to focus on the chapters that were the most valuable / interesting to me. Elizabeth writes in a very readable, friendly style, and I liked how she used her personal experience to illustrate some of the examples. Highly recommend for anyone looking to learn more about neurohacking or try it out themselves!
August 11, 2021
The author is a gifted writer - she manages to break down a complex topic in a way that’s easy to digest and a pleasure to read. It felt like she was personally there having a conversation with me and explaining neurohacking over tea. I haven’t tried all the techniques yet, but look forward to reading it again and again and trying everything! I also appreciated the way she structured and organized the book - it exemplified ways to maximize absorbing the information and getting the most out of it. Definitely a good read!
December 21, 2021
Elizabeth Ricker posted a review of her book from Harvard magazine on her Instagram which described it as a “cookbook” for neurohacking written in “approachable bite sized bits.” That’s an apt description. I found this book to be a good resource for sharing insight and strategies for helping my high school students overcome “bottlenecks” in productivity and even for facing their fears/anxieties that prevent them from committing fully to their academics. So for that, I’m glad to have read this.
August 1, 2021
Really enjoyed this read. The term "neurohacking" was a bit intimidating for this layperson, but within just a few paragraphs, the author's clear, accessible prose drew me straight in. I also really liked how much evidence the author provided as the basis for her recommendations; her background as an MIT and Harvard trained neuroscientist makes her a very credible authority in the topic area. I am officially convinced that self-experimentation and optimization is a journey I want to take!
August 2, 2021
This book has convinced me that we can indeed improve our cognitive skills effectively.
She gives compelling research data to support this and then gives very concrete tools and guidance. She is a believer in the scientific method, and shows the reader how to do baseline assessments, implement a change, and then measure afterwards. This is essentially a workbook that will get opened multiple times. Highly recommend.
She gives compelling research data to support this and then gives very concrete tools and guidance. She is a believer in the scientific method, and shows the reader how to do baseline assessments, implement a change, and then measure afterwards. This is essentially a workbook that will get opened multiple times. Highly recommend.
August 19, 2021
Smart, compassionate, funny, and clever. Elizabeth Ricker knows what she’s talking about, and more importantly, she wants *you* to know what you’re talking about. You can tell this book was written with the reader in mind - Ricker wants you to be your best self, not for her or anyone else, but for you. The descriptions of how to get there are easy to understand and cool to read, which keeps you moving easily through the book. Highly, highly recommend!!
August 16, 2021
This engaging, funny, and empowering book gives you the tools and encouragement to be your best self- while still being yourself and embracing your uniqueness. With personal anecdotes, interesting and approachable descriptions of research studies in cognitive science, and a menu of interventions to try, any reader (including a neurohacker newb like myself) will find specific sections of the book that resonate with them, and will be motivated to start self-experimenting!
December 5, 2021
This book was easy to understand, informative and offered methods I found really helpful in boosting my memory. Though initially I was not sure what neuro hacking meant and if this read would be within my grasp, I'm pleasantly surprised at how laymen friendly this book is and the 15 minute experiments were very user-friendly and doable! I appreciated the ease of the author's writing style and would highly recommend this book in my educators circle and beyond.
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