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Mozart's Brain and the Fighter Pilot: Unleashing Your Brain's Potential [Hardcover]

Richard Restak M.D.
3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)

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Book Description

Nov 20 2001
In Mozart’s Brain and the Fighter Pilot, eminent neuropsychiatrist and bestselling author Richard Restak, M.D., combines the latest research in neurology and psychology to show us how to get our brain up to speed for managing every aspect of our busy lives.

Everything we think and everything we choose to do alters our brain and fundamentally changes who we are, a process that continues until the end of our lives. Few people think of the brain as being susceptible to change in its actual structure, but in fact we can preselect the kind of brain we will have by continually exposing ourselves to rich and varied life experiences. Unlike other organs that eventually wear out with repeated and sustained use, the brain actually improves the more we challenge it.

Most of us incorporate some kind of physical exercise into our daily lives. We do this to improve our bodies and health and generally make us feel better. Why not do the same for the brain? The more we exercise it, the better it performs and the better we feel. Think of Restak as a personal trainer for your brain—he will help you assess your mental strengths and weaknesses, and his entertaining book will set you to thinking about the world and the people around you in a new light, providing you with improved and varied skills and capabilities. From interacting with colleagues to recognizing your own psychological makeup, from understanding the way you see something to why you’re looking at it in the first place, from explaining the cause of panic attacks to warding off performance anxiety, this book will tell you the whys and hows of the brain’s workings.

Packed with practical advice and fascinating examples drawn from history, literature, and science, Mozart’s Brain and the Fighter Pilot provides twenty-eight informative and realistic steps that we can all take to improve our brainpower.

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From Publishers Weekly

"Most of us would like to be smarter," asserts Restak (The Brain, companion to PBS's series by the same name), neuropsychiatrist and clinical professor of neurology at George Washington University Medical Center. Restak claims that improving cognition is the answer. In accessible science-teacher style, Restak delineates the brain's attributes, from its weight (three pounds) to the number of nerve cells (100 billion) and its infinity of synapses, explaining what aids communication, informs memory and so forth. Knowing how the brain works is important to building its power, says Restak, and in this high-tech age, we need as much cognition as we can get. He proposes a comprehensive and handy plan to improve one's mind, literally as well as literarily. If one stops learning, one's overall mental capacity diminishes because the synaptic links shrink. Brain stimulation has been declared protection against Alzheimer's. The brain does not age; keeping it "fit" is no more difficult than keeping one's cholesterol under control. In outlining a plan including everything from exercise to learning to play a musical instrument, Restak explains how interconnections between the brain's functions keep it growing. Train your brain through logic problems, complicated games like chess, difficult jigsaw puzzles and widely varied reading. Not surprisingly, watching TV, a passive act, does exactly what your mother always said it did makes you stupid. The extraordinary range of references to literature, science, gamesmanship and even cryptograms makes it apparent that Restak practices what he preaches. This unusual, intriguing book will appeal to the health diligent and the senior contingent.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Neuropsychiatrist Restak (neurology, George Washington Univ. Medical Ctr.) has written numerous books on the human brain, including the very engaging The Brain Has a Mind of Its Own. In his latest work, he offers 28 ways to improve mental fitness, including exercises to enhance memory, concentration, creativity, and analytical ability. The proposed exercises are designed to increase neuronal linkages that will, in turn, improve overall mental functioning. Some of Restak's suggestions require a hefty time expenditure, adequate financial resources (a laptop computer), strong joints and flexibility (tai chi exercises), and a private office equipped with a couch (napping during the work day!). But his point is well taken: practicing simple mind games, listening to music, reading widely, keeping a journal, etc., can greatly enhance the brain's performance. Restak's upbeat and enlightening guide will certainly be a popular addition to public libraries. Laurie Bartolini, Illinois State Lib., Springfield
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars I Wanted to be Wowed...... Mar 22 2004
Format:Paperback
and in this case, I wasn't. The material wasn't bad... but it was missing
that "edge" that sets apart exceptional books from unexceptional
books.

What was the largest weakness for me was an inconsistency between
the chapters: some were filled to the brim with useful, workable
suggestions and ideas and others left me wondering, "Wait, what
was the intended suggestion for that chapter?"

Perhaps the confusion was part of Restak's intent... to get the
reader really applying our newly-stretched brainpower?

*Shrug* Just not sure.... there is some decent information here
which I will more than likely use and reuse, which is why the
ranking is 4 stars rather than 3.

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3.0 out of 5 stars Audio Version not the Correct Format Feb 17 2004
By J. head
Format:Audio Cassette
I found this book difficult to absorb because I had the audio version. An audio book is a disadvantage to a reader trying to participate in the brain exercises while on the daily commute. The book format would have allowed a sedentary reader to take advantage of the information provided. I was not able to flip back and forth easily or mark pages to return to. I thought the book (tape) would be more about brain architecture and how Mozart's brain actually would differ from a fighter pilot's brain. There is a little speculation about how the brains of the MTV generation cope with image overload versus the previous generation's method of acquiring information. The title is a little misleading. It really is a book about brain exercises, because the author believes these exercises help keep the brain young and healthy. It is the old theory of "use it or lose it" adapted to the brain. I do not know if I totally subscribe to this theory, avid readers seem to be the first to wear glasses, hockey and football players retire with injured knees. The book on the whole is interesting. Definitely worth it. It presents some unique ideas and it's a noble goal to keep your brain active even if the exercises were to have no effect.
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4.0 out of 5 stars Use it or Lose it Oct 21 2003
Format:Paperback
In his 15th book, renowned brain expert Richard Restak offers up twenty-eight tips on how to improve the function of our brains and possibly help stave off senility, Alzheimer's, and other mental impairments. At the heart of his message is the fact that, unlike our body's other organs, the brain doesn't age, but will suffer atrophy with disuse. Luckily, with constant stimulation of the proper kind, the brain can stay sharp and actually improve to the end of our years.

The list of beneficial brain activities includes listening to or--better yet--learning music (this is where Mozart comes in), playing challenging games, reading advanced books, meditating, solving puzzles, playing certain sports, and even watching thought-provoking television programs. Restak also offers a number of brain "exercises." These are essentially new ways to think of stuff. While some of these seem a bit boring and time consuming, with results that aren't quite clear, there is something for everyone in the book.

Despite an intriguing title, the book is a bit dry. His detailed explanation of the inner workings of the brain isn't going to be for everyone. But since we all seem to be living longer lives, and nobody wants to spend them in a nursing home, it makes a lot of sense to follow Restak's twenty-eight easy steps to life-long lucidity. Definitely a worthwhile read. --Christopher Bonn Jonnes, author of BIG ICE and WAKE UP DEAD

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Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Not for Beginners or Neurosurgeons, Good Intermediate Read.
Among the books about improving your thinking, this book takes you one step further. This is not just an explanation of thinking skills but an overview of the interactions among... Read more
Published on Oct 15 2003 by N Illing
2.0 out of 5 stars Audio Cd is monotone
I thought this would be a good way to start my day while walking 30 minutes. I've presented workshops on right brain/left brain integration. Read more
Published on Oct 4 2003 by Judith A. Guffey
3.0 out of 5 stars Almost Convincing
Interesting concepts & exercises to stimulate the use of your brain. However, some examples that Dr. Restak used to backup the ideas were not quite convincing. Read more
Published on Sep 24 2003 by scaramouche
4.0 out of 5 stars Good book, but not a passive read!
Be prepared to spend a lot of time with this book. Its short and easy to read (and very interesting) but to get anything out of it you have to work the excersises which are very... Read more
Published on July 14 2003 by Eric P. Medlock
5.0 out of 5 stars To build your mind, this book is important.
Ignore the negative review[s]. Yes some of the author's recommendations may seem basic. But they build towards others: Other recommendations include memory-building and thinking... Read more
Published on Jan 18 2003
4.0 out of 5 stars Indy-pendent Thinkers
Great idea for a book. Too bad it's been written so often and Mr. Rendak didn't strain his brain coming up with a new idea. Still, well written. Read more
Published on Aug 8 2002
3.0 out of 5 stars Plausible Ideas
"I need a change of pace." (We all probably say that from time to time.)

This book offers an interesting explanation as to why we might feel that way: one functional... Read more

Published on Mar 17 2002 by Mitch
3.0 out of 5 stars Intellectually shortchanged
I kept waiting: looking, reading--but not skipping ahead--to see how Restak would tie his book to its title. Read more
Published on Jan 27 2002 by Sarah C. Barney
5.0 out of 5 stars Oh WOW!
Wat a grate book!!! I am so much the more inteligencer after reading it.

Get it and your prosaic abilities will flurish!

Published on Jan 20 2002
5.0 out of 5 stars Maintain Your Brainspeed
Maintain your airspeed and you'll live a lot longer is the first lesson a pilot learns. Same with your intellectual life; maintain your brainspeed by giving it new challenges... Read more
Published on Jan 15 2002 by jettepilot
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