Brightsurf Science News and Current Science News Events
 

Buy Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by John J. Ratey by Eric Hagerman available and for sale on Brightsurf


Previous Page

View Larger Image

Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain


by John J. Ratey
by Eric Hagerman

List Price: $24.99
Price: $16.49
You Save: $8.50 (34%)
Available: Usually ships in 24 hours
Sales Rank: 468
Studio: Little, Brown and Company
Binding: Hardcover
Number Of Pages: 304
Publication Date: January 10, 2008
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company


EDITORIAL REVIEWS

Product Description
A groundbreaking and fascinating investigation into the transformative effects of exercise on the brain, from the bestselling author and renowned psychiatrist John J. Ratey, MD.



Did you know you can beat stress, lift your mood, fight memory loss, sharpen your intellect, and function better than ever simply by elevating your heart rate and breaking a sweat? The evidence is incontrovertible: Aerobic exercise physically remodels our brains for peak performance.


In SPARK, John J. Ratey, M.D., embarks upon a fascinating and entertaining journey through the mind-body connection, presenting startling research to prove that exercise is truly our best defense against everything from depression to ADD to addiction to aggression to menopause to Alzheimer's. Filled with amazing case studies (such as the revolutionary fitness program in Naperville, Illinois, which has put this school district of 19,000 kids first in the world of science test scores), SPARK is the first book to explore comprehensively the connection between exercise and the brain. It will change forever the way you think about your morning run---or, for that matter, simply the way you think


CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 5.0 based on 38 reviews)

An Energizing Read ... now for my running shoes  
I knew next to nothing about the brain's physiology and less about the physiology's relationship to the rest of the body. While I remain no expert in the realm of neuroscience, I found `Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain' a captivating read. For the novice - meaning me - I learned something about the value of exercise in maintaining, on occasion improving, the health of the brain. Ratey approaches, and grows, his analysis by topic (learning, stress, anxiety, ... , aging). It all made sense. As a migraine sufferer I'd liked to have seen something on migraines and exercise. I guess it's up to me to put on my running shoes and see what happens!
July 07, 2008

The right mix of science and practical information  
This is a brief for exercise as an element of brain fitness. The author is a Harvard Medical School Professor. There is a lot of science here --any more and I would have been lost. The idea is simply this --we are designed to be moving animals. Our brains are controlled by chemicals which must be kept in balance and cells which must be replensished and grow. Vigorous, regular exercise, like a pill we take every morning but wihtout the side effects, helps manage all of this complexity. We don't know exactly how this works but it works and is a prescription to ward off stress, depression, anxiety, dementia and other like afflictions which all have biochemical roots. In the same way that exercise benefits the heart, Dr. Raney persuasively argues it benefits the organ of the brain. My advice--read the book, go out and get a heart monitor and make vigorous exercise a standard part of your day and life.
July 06, 2008

Buy This Before It Is Out of Print!  
Run, don't walk, to get this book. This should be required reading for every Doctor and School Teacher. This book will help me preserve many years of cognitive ability that I was surely destined to lose before I read it and started following Dr. Ratey's recommendations.

I found this book easy to read, extremely informative and highly motivating. The few places where I seemed to get bogged down in the science were quickly replaced by huge chunks of information that really inspired me to do the simplest of things that will protect and improve my mental stability. The information in this book really is a "no brainer!"

Buy it. Read it. Do it and you will be far ahead of almost anyone else in strengthening and preserving your mental health for the rest of your life!

To die is inevitable. However, I think this, along with legitimate brain training like "The Brain Fitness Program Software" that I just bought ($395 from PositScience) is a huge part of the key to avoiding dementia and Alzheimer's so that my brain isn't useless before my body wears out.

July 02, 2008

How reading this book changed my behavior  
After reading SPARK, I bought a heart monitor and started a daily vigorous exercise program. Haven't missed a day yet, three weeks later. We sent copies to all of the teachers in the family, to encourage them to talk up the school in chapter 1 and how much the students there have progressed academically since the school switched to tailored exercise programs for students. I wanted to read this book aloud to everyone on my plane!
June 14, 2008

Sometimes knowing the benefits helps with the first step....  
Spark! An amazing book, hands down...why? Many books explain how exercise helps with wt. control, physical benefits of getting in shape, and other fountain of youth aspects . These are great reasons to exercise, but Spark hits on an entire different niche, the mental benefits and effects on the brain. Sometimes just knowing how and why exercise helps with bad moods, depression and anxiety is all the push people need to get moving. I have read a few negative responses, but hey, guess you can't please everyone...right. I 100 percent enjoyed and found the book to be fascinating and helpful with my own bouts of depression. Let's make a deal to all those who have something negative to say regarding Spark...before making a comment, go for a run and then write how you feel and we'll go frome there.....health in motion

June 06, 2008


SIMILAR PRODUCTS

A User's Guide to the Brain: Perception, Attention, and the Four Theaters of the Brain
by John J. Ratey

Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School (Book & DVD)
by John Medina

The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science (James H. Silberman Books)
by Norman Doidge

Welcome to Your Brain: Why You Lose Your Car Keys but Never Forget How to Drive and Other Puzzles of Everyday Life
by Sandra Aamodt, Sam Wang

The Disorganized Mind: Coaching Your ADHD Brain to Take Control of Your Time, Tasks, and Talents
by Nancy A. Ratey

© 2008 BrightSurf.com