Brain Changer by David Disalvo
Let's be honest. You've tried the sticky-note inspirations, the motivational calendar, and the cute (but ineffective) 'carpe diem' mug -- yet your attitude hasn't changed. It's time to apply cutting-edge science to the challenges of daily life. While everyone desires self-improvement, we are quickly frustrated when trying to implement the contradictory philosophies of self-appointed self-help gurus. Too often, their advice is based on anecdote and personal opinion, not real research. Bestselling author of What Makes Your Brain Happy and Why You Should Do the Opposite David DiSalvo returns with Brain Changer: How Harnessing Your Brain's Power to Adapt Can Change Your Life. Drawing on the latest research in neuroscience, cognitive psychology, behavioral economics, communications, and even marketing, DiSalvo replaces self-help with 'science help.' He demonstrates how the brain's enormous capacity to adapt is the most crucial factor influencing how we feel and act -- a factor that we can control to change our lives. Findings show our brains are fluid and function much like a feedback loop: stimulants from both our environment and from within ourselves catalyze changes in the brain's response. That response then elicits additional inputs that the brain identifies and analyzes to further tailor its response. DiSalvo shows that the greatest internal tool we have to affect the feedback loop is metacognition ('thinking about thinking'). Littered with relatable examples and tackling major aspects of our lives including relationships, careers, physical health, and personal development, Brain Changer shows you how to harness metacognition to enrich your life.
"This book will help the reader learn to stop or postpone thoughts that aren't wanted, consider the basic physical conditions needed for better cognition, and consider personal achievements and effects on othersDiSalvo suggests that by retraining the brain, our thoughts may take us somewhere more satisfying than where we are." --Publishers Weekly "A superb practical primer for thinking about thinking." --Robert Burton, MD, author of On Being Certain and A Skeptic's Guide to the Mind "Forget the self-help mumbo jumbo, DiSalvo boils down decades of actual research from psychological laboratories while giving us proven, scientist-approved tips on how to easily harness our maximum brainpower. From chewing gum, to writing our own obituaries to gargling with lemonade, you'll be amazed by the many ways you can rev up that powerful engine puttering along in your cranium." --Jesse Bering, PhD, author of The Belief Instinct and contributor to Scientific American and Slate magazine "David DiSalvo will change the way you think about your own thinking, and in the process provide you with practical tools for keeping life's challenges in perspective." --Wray Herbert, author of On Second Thought: Outsmarting Your Mind's Hard-Wired Habits "DiSalvo beautifully breaks down metacognition -- our ability to reflect back upon our own thought processes -- and, just as capably, lays out all the ways in which it can be sharpened for greater psychological well-being. An engaging and scientifically-grounded read." --Alice G. Walton, PhD, contributing writer to the American Psychological Association and Forbes magazine "An awareness of the under-the-surface workings of your own brain helps you adapt wisely to challenging circumstances, and Brain Changer offers just such an awareness. Using anecdotes, diagrams, bullet points, and smart tips, DiSalvo shows you how to exert more conscious control over your own thinking processes for better problem-solving and decision-making. Great for psych students and everyone at an impasse in their lives." --Susan K. Perry, PhD, author of Writing in Flow and creativity blogger at PsychologyToday.com "I believe the greatest competitive advantage any professional can gain today is a better understanding of how to leverage brainpower. Not only has David DiSalvo opened up pathways that I never knew existed, more importantly, he gave me the power to see my world from a far greater, more inspiring perspective." --Moe Abdou, founder of 33voices "This eminently useful work illustrates the many ways that the human brain's surprising neuroplasticity can be productively exploited. DiSalvo delineates simple but powerful ways to effect such beneficial cognitive/behavioral change." --Leon F. Seltzer, PhD, author of Paradoxical Strategies in Psychotherapy: A Comprehensive Overview and Guidebook
David DiSalvo is a science journalist who writes about natural science, technology, and culture for publications such as Scientific American Mind, Forbes, Psychology Today, and the Wall Street Journal. He also runs the popular blogs Neuronarrative, Neuropsyched, and The Daily Brain, and has written several books, including the Springer Spektrum-published Did Your Brain Happy Makes... explaining why they should do exactly the opposite, and worked as a consultant and communications specialist for the US Environmental Protection Agency and several government and commercial organizations in the United States and other countries. He currently resides in Orlando, Florida.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781939529008 |
| ISBN 10 | 193952900X |
| Title | Brain Changer |
| Author | David Disalvo |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | BenBella Books |
| Year published | 2013-11-12 |
| Number of pages | 272 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |