Most Popular Books by John Medina

An updated and expanded edition of the international bestseller Most of us have no idea what’s really going on inside our heads. Yet brain scientists have uncovered details that every business leader, parent, and teacher should know — for instance, that physical activity helps to get your brain working at its best. How do we learn? What do sleep and stress do to our brains? Why is multitasking a myth? Why is it so easy to forget — and so important to repeat new information? In Brain Rules, Dr John Medina, a molecular biologist, shares his lifelong interest in brain science, and how it can influence the way we teach our children and the way we work. In each chapter, he describes a brain rule — what scientists know for sure about how our brains work — and offers transformative ideas for our daily lives. In this expanded edition — which includes additional information on the brain rules and a new chapter on music — you will discover how every brain is wired differently, why memories are volatile, and how stress and sleep can influence learning. By the end, you’ll understand how your brain really works — and how to get the most out of it.

Most of us have no idea what’s really going on inside our heads. Yet brain scientists have uncovered details every business leader, parent, and teacher should know—like the need for physical activity to get your brain working its best. How do we learn? What exactly do sleep and stress do to our brains? Why is multi-tasking a myth? Why is it so easy to forget—and so important to repeat new knowledge? Is it true that men and women have different brains? In Brain Rules, Dr. John Medina, a molecular biologist, shares his lifelong interest in how the brain sciences might influence the way we teach our children and the way we work. In each chapter, he describes a brain rule—what scientists know for sure about how our brains work—and then offers transformative ideas for our daily lives. Medina’s fascinating stories and infectious sense of humor breathe life into brain science. You’ll learn why Michael Jordan was no good at baseball. You’ll peer over a surgeon’s shoulder as he proves that most of us have a Jennifer Aniston neuron. You’ll meet a boy who has an amazing memory for music but can’t tie his own shoes. You will discover how: Every brain is wired differently Exercise improves cognition We are designed to never stop learning and exploring Memories are volatile Sleep is powerfully linked with the ability to learn Vision trumps all of the other senses Stress changes the way we learn In the end, you’ll understand how your brain really works—and how to get the most out of it.

What’s the single most important thing you can do during pregnancy? What does watching TV do to a child’s brain? What’s the best way to handle temper tantrums? Scientists know. In his New York Times bestseller Brain Rules, Dr. John Medina showed us how our brains really work--and why we ought to redesign our workplaces and schools. Now, in Brain Rules for Baby, he shares what the latest science says about how to raise smart and happy children from zero to five. This book is destined to revolutionize parenting. Just one of the surprises: The best way to get your children into the college of their choice? Teach them impulse control. Brain Rules for Baby bridges the gap between what scientists know and what parents practice. Through fascinating and funny stories, Medina, a developmental molecular biologist and dad, unravels how a child’s brain develops - and what you can do to optimize it. You will view your children--and how to raise them--in a whole new light. You’ll learn: Where nature ends and nurture begins Why men should do more household chores What you do when emotions run hot affects how your baby turns out, because babies need to feel safe above all TV is harmful for children under 2 Your child’s ability to relate to others predicts her future math performance Smart and happy are inseparable. Pursuing your child’s intellectual success at the expense of his happiness achieves neither Praising effort is better than praising intelligence The best predictor of academic performance is not IQ. It’s self-control What you do right now--before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and through the first five years--will affect your children for the rest of their lives. Brain Rules for Baby is an indispensable guide.

Marvel at the neuroscientific reasons why smart teens make dumb decisions! Behold the mind-controlling power of executive function! Thrill to a vision of a better school for the teenage brain! Whether you''re a parent interacting with one adolescent or a teacher interacting with many, you know teens can be hard to parent and even harder to teach. The eye-rolling, the moodiness, the wandering attention, the drama. It''s not you, it''s them. More specifically, it''s their brains. In accessible language and with periodic references to Star Trek, motorcycle daredevils, and near-classic movies of the ''80s, developmental molecular biologist John Medina, author of the New York Times best-seller Brain Rules, explores the neurological and evolutionary factors that drive teenage behavior and can affect both achievement and engagement. Then he proposes a research-supported counterattack: a bold redesign of educational practices and learning environments to deliberately develop teens'' cognitive capacity to manage their emotions, plan, prioritize, and focus. Attack of the Teenage Brain! is an enlightening and entertaining read that will change the way you think about teen behavior and prompt you to consider how else parents, educators, and policymakers might collaborate to help our challenging, sometimes infuriating, often weird, and genuinely wonderful kids become more successful learners, in school and beyond.

How can I keep people engaged during my presentations? What can I do to my office so that I look forward to coming to it on Monday? How can I improve the productivity of our team, our department, our company? Scientists know. Brain Rules for Work by developmental molecular biologist and author Dr. John Medina, explores the various aspects of work through the lens of peer-reviewed science. Having written New York Times bestselling works Brain Rules, Brain Rules for Baby and Brain Rules for Aging Well, Dr. Medina turns his expertise towards the professional world, guiding us through what brain science and evolutionary biology have to say about topics from office space and work/life balance to power dynamics and work interactions in the time of COVID-19. Medina''s charming descriptions and hilarious anecdotes break the science down to practical applications that you can put into use next Monday to improve your work life and the work lives of those around you. You''ll learn: Why taking breaks in nature during the workday improves productivity How planning a meeting beforehand makes it more effective Why an open office plan isn''t a good office plan How a more diverse team is a more potent team What exactly about talking to co-workers online is so exhausting Why allowing for failure is vital to a company''s success What power can do to an executive who has just been promoted Procrastination is not due to laziness, rather an avoidance of negative feelings Which personality tests will help you find the right fit for the job-hint: it''s not the Myers-Briggs The surprising source of a leader''s charisma And what our work lives will look like in a post-pandemic world Whether you are an employee at a company looking to become successful or an executive who wants to ensure the success of your employees, Brain Rules For Work is both a useful tool and a compelling guide for you and your co-workers.

What’s the single most important thing you can do during pregnancy? What does watching TV do to a child’s brain? What’s the best way to handle temper tantrums? Scientists know. In his New York Times bestseller Brain Rules, Dr. John Medina showed us how our brains really work—and why we ought to redesign our workplaces and schools. Now, in Brain Rules for Baby, he shares what the latest science says about how to raise smart and happy children from zero to five. This book is destined to revolutionize parenting. Just one of the surprises: The best way to get your children into the college of their choice? Teach them impulse control. Brain Rules for Baby bridges the gap between what scientists know and what parents practice. Through fascinating and funny stories, Medina, a developmental molecular biologist and dad, unravels how a child’s brain develops – and what you can do to optimize it. You will view your children—and how to raise them—in a whole new light. You’ll learn: Where nature ends and nurture begins Why men should do more household chores What you do when emotions run hot affects how your baby turns out, because babies need to feel safe above all TV is harmful for children under 2 Your child’s ability to relate to others predicts her future math performance Smart and happy are inseparable. Pursuing your child’s intellectual success at the expense of his happiness achieves neither Praising effort is better than praising intelligence The best predictor of academic performance is not IQ. It’s self-control What you do right now—before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and through the first five years—will affect your children for the rest of their lives. Brain Rules for Baby is an indispensable guide.

How come I can never find my keys? Why don''t I sleep as well? Why do my friends keep repeating the same stories? What can I do to keep my brain sharp? Scientists know. Brain Rules for Ageing Well, by developmental molecular biologist Dr. John Medina, gives you the facts - and the prescription to age well - in his engaging signature style. With so many discoveries over the years, science is literally changing our minds about the optimal care and feeding of the brain. All of it is captivating. A great deal of it is unexpected. In his New York Timesbestseller Brain Rules, Dr. Medina showed us how our brains really work - and why we ought to redesign our workplaces and schools to match. Now, in Brain Rules for Ageing Well, he shares how you can make the most of the years you have left. In a book destined to be a classic on ageing, Medina''s fascinating stories and infectious sense of humour breathe life into the science. Brain Rules for Ageing Wellis organised into four sections, each laying out familiar problems with surprising solutions. First up, an overview- looking under the hood of an ageing brain as it motors through life. The second part focuses on the feeling brain, using topics ranging from relationships and stress to happiness and gullibility to illustrate how our emotions change with age. The third focuses on the thinking brain, explaining how various cognitive gadgets such as working memory and executive function change with time. Each section is sprinkled with practical advice- for example, a certain style of dancing may be better for your brain than eating fish. Medina explains not only how taking certain actions can improve your brain''s performance, but also what is known about the brain science behind each intervention. The final section is about the future. Your future. It''s filled with topics as joyful as retirement and as heartbreaking as Alzheimer''s. Medina connects all of the chapters into a plan, checklist-style, for maintaining your brain health. You may already be experiencing the sometimes unpleasant effects of the ageing process. Or you may be deeply concerned about your loved ones who are. Either way, Brain Rules for Ageing Wellis for you.

How come I can never find my keys? Why don''t I sleep as well as I used to? Why do my friends keep repeating the same stories? What can I do to keep my brain sharp? Scientists know. Brain Rules for Aging Well, by developmental molecular biologist Dr. John Medina, gives you the facts, and the prescription to age well, in his signature engaging style. With so many discoveries over the years, science is literally changing our minds about the optimal care and feeding of the brain. All of it is captivating. A great deal of it is unexpected. In his New York Times best seller Brain Rules, Medina showed us how our brains really work, and why we ought to redesign our workplaces and schools to match. In Brain Rules for Baby, he gave parents the brain science they need to know to raise happy, smart, moral kids. Now, in Brain Rules for Aging Well, Medina shares how you can make the most of the years you have left. In a book destined to be a classic on aging, Medina''s fascinating stories and infectious sense of humor breathe life into the science. Brain Rules for Aging Well is organized into four sections, each laying out familiar problems with surprising solutions. First up, the social brain, in which topics ranging from relationships to happiness and gullibility illustrate how our emotions change with age. The second section focuses on the thinking brain, explaining how working memory and executive function change with time. The third section is all about your body: how certain kinds of exercise, diets, and sleep can slow the decline of aging. Each section is sprinkled with practical advice, for example, the fascinating benefits of dancing, and the brain science behind each intervention. The final section is about the future. Your future. Medina connects all the chapters into a plan for maintaining your brain health. You may already be experiencing the sometimes-unpleasant effects of the aging process. Or you may be deeply concerned about your loved ones who are. Either way, Brain Rules for Aging Well is for you.

Should your company use personality tests? Which ones are helpful and which ones should be avoided? And just what traits can personality tests detect? Brain Rules author Dr. John Medina answers these and other questions in this audiobook companion to his newest book, Brain Rules for Work, called Personality. In this chapter, John explores some of the history of personality tests and examines what role these tests should play in hiring practices. Whether you’re a manager looking to incorporate personality tests into your hiring program or an employee interested in the science (or lack thereof) behind many of the most popular tests, Personality is an entertaining and informative read.

Anyone who has watched a wrinkle slowly gouge their face like a strip mine, or has been disturbed by a loss of memory, has uncomfortably confronted the human ageing process. The inexorable march of time on our bodies begs an important question: why do we have to grow old? Written in everyday language, The Clock of Ages takes us on a tour of the ageing human body - all from a research scientist''s point of view. From the deliberate creation of organisms that live three times their natural span to the isolation of human genes that may allow us to do the same, The Clock of Ages also examines the latest discoveries in geriatric genetics. Sprinkled throughout the pages are descriptions of the aging of many historical figures, such as Florence Nightingale, Jane Austen, Bonaparte and Casanova. These stories underscore the common bond that unites us all: they aged, even as we do. The Clock of Ages tells you why.

What does grief have to do with the workplace? It turns out a whole lot. Brain Rules author Dr. John Medina writes in Grief, an audiobook companion to his new book Brain Rules for Work, about how grief can affect our lives, including our working lives, and elaborates on what businesses can do when their employees are grieving. Grief is especially pertinent today, as workers across the United States have experienced loss in their lives and turmoil in their working lives due to COVID-19. If you’re an employee who has experienced grief or a manager who has bereaved employees on staff, Grief is a must-read.

Exploitez au mieux vos capacités intellectuelles Dans la nouvelle édition mise à jour de ce livre de référence, John Medina expose les 12 lois du cerveau dont l’existence a été prouvée par la science et propose des idées innovantes pour améliorer notre manière d’enseigner, de travailler, de vivre ! Vous allez découvrir que... - L’activité physique booste nos facultés intellectuelles - Nous sommes faits pour apprendre et explorer continuellement - Les souvenirs sont instables et susceptibles d’être déformés - Le sommeil est étroitement lié à notre capacité d’apprentissage - La vue l’emporte sur tous les autres sens - Notre cerveau est incapable de bien faire plusieurs choses à la fois - Etc. EN REFERMANT CE LIVRE, VOUS AUREZ COMPRIS COMMENT VOTRE CERVEAU FONCTIONNE RÉELLEMENT ET COMMENT VOUS POUVEZ EN TIRER LE MEILLEUR PARTI. « L’un des livres les plus instructifs, les plus intéressants et les plus utiles de notre époque. » - Garr Reynolds, auteur de Présentation Zen

«John Medina analizza il funzionamento del cervello in un linguaggio semplice, spiegando il suo ruolo sul posto di lavoro... uno stile di scrittura che fa balzare le parole fuori dalla pagina. » «USA TODAY» E se il posto di lavoro fosse costruito su misura per il cervello, come un guanto è fatto su misura per una mano? Come sarebbero le sedi lavorative se la logica del profitto prendesse sul serio la logica della funzione cerebrale? Come progetteremmo i flussi di lavoro? Come sarebbero gli spazi fisici di lavoro? Quale ambiente favorirebbe al meglio la creatività, la produttività e la semplice capacità di fare le cose? L’obiettivo di John Medina è rispondere a domande del genere. Indagheremo il modo in cui l’applicazione delle neuroscienze comportamentali e cognitive può migliorare la produttività. Queste informazioni sono rilevanti sia che lavoriate nella sede della vostra azienda sia nello spazio confortevole di casa che avete adibito a ufficio. Scopriremo perché ci sentiamo così stanchi dopo le riunioni su Zoom, vedremo cosa possiamo fare al nostro ufficio, per essere più sereni, evitare conflitti ed essere più creativi. Esamineremo i principi delle neuroscienze cognitive che sono alla base del lavoro di squadra, e scopriremo i modi più efficaci per strutturare le nostre presentazioni. Scopriremo i vantaggi del lavoro agile (economici per le aziende, e un più equilibrato stile di vita per i lavoratori), sapremo riconoscere lo stile di gestione dei nostri capi (se si basa sul prestigio o sulla dominanza) e a disinnescarne i difetti. Con il suo usuale stile divertito, ironico e ricco di storie – ma sempre informativo e aggiornato alle ultimissime ricerche nel campo delle neuroscienze – Medina ci guida, ancora una volta con efficacia, attraverso dieci semplici regole nell’intricato groviglio della nostra moderna vita lavorativa. Il cervello al lavoro è la migliore divulgazione scientifica messa al servizio di ognuno di noi.

La mayoría de nosotros no sabe qué pasa dentro de nuestro cerebro. Por ejemplo, ¿sabías que todas las mentes humanas reaccionan positivamente ante una fotografía de la actriz Jennifer Aniston? ¿O que en los genes de Michael Jordan estaba escrito que jamás sería bueno en beisbol aunque fuera un astro del baloncesto? ¿Que es posible recordar todas las melodías de música clásica, pero olvidar cómo atar las agujetas? Este libro es una recopilación de las doce reglas según las cuales funciona el cerebro humano, y cómo al entenderlas es posible aplicar ideas revolucionarias que mejoran nuestra vida diaria. El doctor John Medina explica cómo la ciencia de la mente humana puede transformar la manera en la que criamos a nuestros hijos o educamos a nuestros alumnos. Las historias fascinantes que aparecen en Tu cerebro manda y el sentido del humor con que se relatan cambiarán por completo la manera de usar tu mente. Descubrirás que cada cerebro tiene un cableado diferente, que nuestro cuerpo está diseñado para recorrer ¡20 kilómetros diarios!, que los recuerdos son volátiles y que el estrés puede minar nuestra capacidad de aprendizaje. Cuando termines de leer este libro entenderás cómo funciona realmente tu cerebro y cómo puedes aprovecharlo al máximo.