A User's Guide to the Brain: Perception, Attention, and the Four Theaters of the Brain

JohnRatey,bestsellingauthorandclinicalprofessorofpsychiatryatHarvardMedicalSchool,herelucidlyexplainsthehumanbrain’sworkings,andpavesthewayforabetterunderstandingofhowthebrainaffectswhoweare.Rateyprovidesinsightintothebasicstructureandchemistryofthebrain,anddemonstrateshowitssystemsshapeourperceptions,emotions,andbehavior.Bygivingusagreaterunderstandingofhowthebrainrespondstotheguidanceofitsuser,heprovidesuswithknowledgethatcanenableustoimproveourlives.InAUser’sGuidetotheBrain,Rateyclearlyandsuccinctlysurveyswhatscientistsnowknowaboutthebrainandhowweuseit.Helooksatthebrainasamalleableorgancapableofimprovementandchange,likeanymuscle,andexaminesthewayspecificmotorfunctionsmightbeappliedtoovercomeneuraldisordersrangingfromeverydayshynesstoautism.Drawingonexamplesfromhispracticeandfromeverydaylife,Rateyillustratesthatthemostimportantlessonwecanlearnaboutourbrainsishowtousethemtotheirmaximumpotential.