Smarter: Summary Review
This is a summary review of Smarter containing key details about the book.
What is Smarter About?
"Smarter: The New Science of Building Brain Power" by Dan Hurley explores the latest research in the field of neuroscience and provides practical tips and recommendations on how to optimize brain function and improve cognitive abilities.
Smarter investigates how working memory can be manipulated, and how we can all make ourselves more intelligent. With vivid stories of transformed lives, insight into the latest groundbreaking scientific discoveries and narrating the author's experiences as a human guinea pig, he delivers practical findings for people of every age and ability.
Summary Points & Takeaways from Smarter
Some key summary points and takeaways from the book include:
* Exercise is important for brain health: Regular physical activity has been shown to increase the size of the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for learning and memory.
* Sleep is crucial for cognitive function: Sleep is essential for memory consolidation and the regulation of brain plasticity, which is the ability of the brain to change and adapt in response to new experiences.
* Mental stimulation helps preserve brain function: Engaging in mentally stimulating activities, such as playing chess, learning a new language, or taking up a new hobby, can help keep the brain sharp and delay the onset of age-related cognitive decline.
* Social connections are vital for brain health: Strong social connections and a sense of community have been linked to better cognitive function and a lower risk of dementia.
* Nutrition plays a role in brain function: A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and omega-3 fatty acids has been shown to benefit brain health and improve cognitive function.
* Chronic stress can damage the brain: Chronic stress has been linked to a variety of negative effects on the brain, including decreased plasticity and increased risk of depression and anxiety.
* Meditation and mindfulness can improve cognitive function: Meditation and mindfulness practices have been shown to have a positive impact on the brain, including reducing stress and improving attention and focus.
* Overall, "Smarter: The New Science of Building Brain Power" highlights the importance of taking care of both the body and the mind for optimal brain health and cognitive function.
Who is the author of Smarter?
Dan Hurley is an American health and medical journalist and author. He has written several books and contributed pieces to The New York Times, Wired, The Washington Post, Neurology Today and The Atlantic.
Book details
- Print length: 275 pages
- Genre: Nonfiction, Science, Psychology
What are the chapters in Smarter?
Chapter 1 Motivation: re-imagining boot camp, nursing home rebellions, and the locus of control
Chapter 2 Teams: psychological safety at Google and Saturday Night Live
Chapter 3 Focus: cognitive tunneling, Air France flight 447, and the power of mental models
Chapter 4 Goal setting: smart goals, stretch goals, and the Yom Kippur War
Chapter 5 Managing others: solving a kidnapping with lean and agile thinking and a culture of trust
Chapter 6 Decision making: forecasting the future (and winning at poker) with Bayesian psychology
Chapter 7 Innovation: how idea brokers and creative desperation saved Disney's Frozen
Chapter 8 Absorbing data: turning information into knowledge in Cincinnati's public schools
Chapter 9 Appendix: a reader's guide to using these ideas
What do critics say?
Here's what one of the prominent reviewers had to say about the book: “Hurley captures the history and mystery of intelligence, but, most of all, the exciting new science of intellectual growth. This may be the most important revolution of our time!” — Carol Dweck, Author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
* The editor of this summary review made every effort to maintain information accuracy, including any published quotes, chapters, or takeaways. If you're interested in furthering your personal growth, you may want to explore my list of favorite self-improvement books. These books, which have had a significant impact on my life, are carefully curated and come with summaries and key lessons.
Chief Editor
Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.
