Keep Your Brain Alive: 83 Neurobic Exercises by Lawrence Katz, Manning Rubin Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Keep Your Brain Alive: 83 Neurobic Exercises
Book Review: Neurobiologists know: this is pure fiction
Summary: 1 Stars
Yes, this book does offer a "very interesting explanation of how the brain processes information." Unfortunately, that explanation is not supported by experimental evidence. There really is no data to suggest that poking at produce or walking around a room with your eyes shut is going to induce the production of neurotrophins. Nor that such production of neurotrophins would result in new synapse formation. Nor that those synapses would result in a healthier brain. The arguments presented in this book form a house of cards that rely on premises that have no foundation in scientific fact. Dr. Katz must be calculating that his standing as a respected neurobiologist will be sufficient proof of his unsupported theories. It's unfortunate that he didn't use his intelligence and erudition to bring some real neurobiology to the lay public.Book Review: offers interesting ideas
Summary: 4 Stars
I'm surprised at the response of some other readers of this book. I read the book, and I found that it offered a very interesting explanation of how the brain processes information. A lot of the points that the authors make are perfectly valid. We live in an increasingly complex society, and, as a result, rely on a lot of routines (like taking the same route to work each day, buying the same items at the same stores each day, etc.) to make our way through day-to-day life. The down side of this sort of lifestyle is that these routines are brain deadening.
This book offers ideas on ways to break free of mind-numbing daily routines like using the five senses in new ways or taking unexpected approaches to everyday events. Sure, some of the exercises are pretty silly, and I can't say that I've embraced a lot of their ideas, but the basic premise behind neurobics makes sense.
I suggest you read the first few chapters on how the brain works and skim through the exercises--essentially use the exercises as a springboard to living a more active, engaging life. The average person will learn a lot about the workings of the brain and may even take a new approach to living their life.
Book Review: Among neuroscientists, the butt of jokes
Summary: 1 Stars
Dr. Katz is well known and liked among neurobiologists and there was little doubt that this tome would be at least entertaining. Well, it was that!The book starts with a chapter on general neuroscience, which appears to be accurate; the rest is, by implication, based on this scientific foundation. This is not the case. It is in fact a mixture of fun games (find your way around your house in the dark!), mildly related facts (the hippocampus is where you learn new places!), and pointless, middlebrow observations (the Polynesians didn't have TripTiks!). It's like the Frugal Gourmet of self-help.
The central message of the book appears to be that one should seek out unusual activities, this will keep the brain busy, and that makes the brain flexible. This point agrees with common sense, and is therefore harmless -- more than one can say about some self-help books! However, the point is not actually scientifically proven in any sense of the word.
There are good popularizing books on biology and behavior, but this isn't one of them. They are not self-help but you can't have everything. Check out books by Jared Diamond's _Why Is Sex Fun?_ or Franz de Waal's _Chimpanzee Politics_. These authors are of greater repute and take their science more seriously.
This book has also been passed around in my department. We thought it might be a prank. Inquiring colleagues want to know: Is this Katz's scientific legacy? Maybe he could find a second career -- Neurobics Instructor.
P.S. Let's hope that Katz and Rubin don't get sued by someone who decides to do something with the non-dominant hand such as iron clothes, and then gets a nasty burn. That would ruin the joke.
Book Review: Ridiculous
Summary: 1 Stars
The suggested exercises range from the irritating to the absurd. Katz is selling to an audience that is paranoid about their cognitive abilities but too lazy to do anything constructive about it, e.g. reading novels, learning languages, traveling to interesting places. He is a swindler, irresponsibly and knowingly selling his audience quackery.Book Review: The book is excellent and based on solid scientific research
Summary: 4 Stars
Having read the book and a great many articles on the brain, I am confident that it is helpful and meaningful. I find the sudden spate of bad reviews from Indiana (..unsigned) , to be overtly suspicious. Perhaps professional jealousy? This neurobic system supports all the findings of the MacArthur studies.