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: 4.5 based on 75 reviews)

Spark by Shake. Topalian (New York, New York United States)

5 Stars
October 22, 2009
This is an excellent book, interesting science, which should motivate everyone to EXERCISE consistently. At times the science was a bit too detailed, but it's good for the brain to challenge oneself and study it.

Spark by Bigswatter (Middlesex,NJ)

4 Stars
October 18, 2009
Finally, support for the Physical Education programs in Education! Great compilation of information on how exercise increases academic achievement! Though sometimes sidetracked by useless descriptive narrative of people, the numerous facts and results are convincing. An easy, quick read.

Informative and Convincing by Jiang Xueqin (Toronto, Canada)

4 Stars
September 14, 2009
In "Spark" Harvard Medical School John Ratey begins with an Illinois school district where administrators have implemented a fitness program and seen startling success in student's academic records. The administrators discovered that regular intense cardio-vascular exercise make students more alert and focused in the classroom, and able to absorb and retain information better. That's the power and miracle of exercise, Dr. Ratey says, and completey ignores the fact that smart committed administrators with initiative and drive are going to succeed no matter what program they implement (whether it be a reading program or a meditation program or an outdoor education program). The breathless writing in "Spark" -- exercise will relieve stress, anxiety, depression, attention deficit disorder, addiction, hormonal changes in women, and aging -- can be annoying at times, as is the overcomplicated science behind exercise's effect on the brain that can be skimmed at times and ignored at times. But there's no doubt that John Ratey offers sage and useful advice, and that the world would indeed be a lot better if people exercised more.

Great Evidence for the Benefits of Exercise! by Pamela S. Lee (North Carolina)

4 Stars
August 24, 2009
This book is fabulous, and I loved learning all the ways in which exercise can enhance health (particularly brain function) in both normal and clinical populations. However, it loses a star for not doing a better job of citing its sources. I would have loved to look up some of the studies Ratey mentions, but he doesn't provide citations. Nonetheless, this book is definitely worth reading!

Exercise the Body and Reward the Brain by William B. Rodenhi (Los Osos, Calif)

5 Stars
August 06, 2009
Enjoyed this book because it was well written and understandable. It shows how aerobic exercise can have such a huge impact on your personality, on how you think and respond. This should be required reading for anyone dealing with children. It should be read and reread and notes taken. Do yourself and favor and read this book!

SIMILAR PRODUCTS

	A User's Guide to the Brain: Perception, Attention, and the Four Theaters of the Brain by John J. Ratey (Author) John Ratey, bestselling author and clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, here lucidly explains the human brain’s workings, and paves the way for a better understanding of how the brain affects who we are. Ratey provides insight into the basic structure and chemistry of the brain, and demonstrates how its systems shape our perceptions, emotions, and behavior. By giving us a greater understanding of how the brain responds to the guidance of its user, he provides us with...
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