The Caffeine Advantage

by Bennett Alan Weinberg, Bonnie K. Bealer, Paul Kulkosky (Foreword by)

We all know that caffeine helps keep you awake and alert, but the things we don't know about caffeine could fill a book. Now Bennett Alan Weinberg and Bonnie K. Bealer, the award-winning authors of The World of Caffeine, the foremost reference book on the science and culture of caffeine, have done just that -- creating an authoritative self-help guide to caffeine's little-known practical secrets and benefits. Based on groundbreaking new research, The Caffeine Advantage offers step-by-step programs that show you how caffeine can improve your IQ, memory, mood, athletic ability, physical condition, and performance at work. In the process, Weinberg and Bealer debunk common myths and misconceptions -- that caffeine causes hypertension, anxiety, heart disease, even cancer -- and show the many positive and life-changing effects of strategic caffeine use.

Everyone in today's competitive environment is looking for an edge, and caffeine can provide the little boost that gives you the advantage you need to succeed. The key is knowing what caffeine can do for you and how to use it effectively. Here are just some of its amazing advantages:

Improves your ability to think clearly and solve problems, and can actually raise your IQ

Increases your short-term memory, helps you concentrate, and relieves boredom

Is a powerful antioxidant, combating muscle damage and helping you to stay younger

Improves your mood and overcomes depression, creating an "attitude of success"

Helps you run, swim, and cycle longer and faster

Increases the painkilling power of common analgesics and is itself a strong pain reliever

Grows brain cells in the areas of the brain responsible for long-term memory

Already widely acclaimed by many of the foremost academic researchers in the world, including Dr. Paul Kulkosky, whose foreword introduces the book, The Caffeine Advantage delivers a comprehensive program for working smarter, not harder, and for improving mood, athletic fitness, and mental performance.

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[AdamW · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I randomly encountered this book in the library, I picked it up because the subtitle made me laugh: "How to Sharpen Your Mind, Improve Your Physical Performance, and Achieve Your Goals--the Healthy Way"! The premise is exactly as advertised, that caffeine, when used correctly, can be a superpower. Since coffee has been my religion for my entire adult life, I read the book simply to be amused by some other zealots. To be fair, the authors attempt to be rigorous in their claims by demonstrating the scientific evidence in peer reviewed journals. The book will probably give a lot of food for thought for the budding caffeine drinker. The one insight I gained was a quantification of my intuition that caffeine doses at or below 300mg (depending on person's weight, metabolism, and rate of intake, of course) are beneficial in many aspects, while levels beyond that can have negative effects. I also found the studies on caffeine intake right before a nap (compared with a nap alone and also with no nap) and the effect on cognitive abilities to be very interesting. In summary, if you like caffeine and want a better understanding on the effects, this is a good, quick read.

[P. Es · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read it but it's GOT to be good...>;-)