"An introduction to neuroscience which sticks to a man-on-the-street vocabulary."
--The New Yorker
"Will explain that mysterious space between your ears . . . in an accessible way."
--Psychology Today
"Excellent. . . . Ratey takes the reader on a wondrous journey."
--The Providence Sunday Journal
Random House Publishing Web Site, Dec., 2002
Summary
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 knowledge that can enable us to improve our lives.
In A User's Guide to the Brain, Ratey clearly and succinctly surveys what scientists now know about the brain and
how we use it. He looks at the brain as a malleable organ capable of improvement and change, like any muscle, and
examines the way specific motor functions might be applied to overcome neural disorders ranging from everyday shyness
to autism. Drawing on examples from his practice and from everyday life, Ratey illustrates that the most important
lesson we can learn about our brains is how to use them to their maximum potential.