How to Make Your Brain Your Best Friend–A Neuroscientist’s Guide to a Healthier, Happier Life

This book took me a little while to read even though it wasn’t long because I found the narrator (who is also the author) a bit soporific–which was not a bad thing when I listened to her in the evening, but not so great while I was driving.

It was a pretty good book, I thought. At first I thought it was going to be a bit too « new age, » love thyself and all, but the author studied neuroscience and really knows her stuff about the brain, the areas, the chemicals, the reactions, etc. Her chapter on sleep, for example, was very interesting, and the one about social media, the internet, and computers/phones in general was excellent. Even her chapter on movement taught me a thing or two. I think of one of my friends, here, who spends her nights « doom scrolling » stupid comments and articles about politics, orange presidents, depressing news, and all the negative stuff that exists in our world, and I wish she could read this book.

I also just attended (in person) a two-day course on artificial intelligence and I can see how this thing is going to do (and is sadly already doing) a lot of damage to the mental health of a lot of children and adults. It also made me want to leave FB for the 500th time, but I can’t, it’s the only social-media platform I’m on and the only link I have with several friends, one sister, and a many colleagues around the world. Drives me crazy! But yeah, the toxicity of what’s on our computers and phones is increasing by the second!