The Owner's Manual for the Brain

Why this book? This is the fourth year of the Decade of the Brain, but that is insufficient reason for yet another book. The available books about the brain can be divided into two categories: research reports and practical applications. Neurobiology texts belong in the first category, and how-to books belong in the second. This book serves to create an explicit overlap between these two categories. The intention of this book is to yoke the two together as a team, by saying, "Here's what we know about memory storage in the brain, and here's how that knowledge can help us improve our recall of information." How is this book unique? First, it stands with one foot in the research camp and the other in practice. Second, it reflects my 20+ years' experience as a management consultant. Third, I have included only brain research findings that have widespread practical applications. Findings that are interesting but not generally useful have not been included. Fourth, for the most part, the structure is aimed at those using the research, not the researchers themselves. Every piece of research reported is followed by one or more specific suggestions for its application. In its most general sense, this book is for people who want to use their heads. More specifically, it is for lifelong learners, professionals who value keeping up and/or ahead of the game, people developers, human resource professionals, leaders, consultants (internal and external), supervisors of teachers, training managers, teacher educators, adult education professionals, train-the-trainer professionals, curriculum writers, curriculum designers, industrial and organizational psychologists, writers, and research-and-development professionals. Readers will gain insights into improving their personal effectiveness without having to wade through the tedium of academic detail or the fluff of wordy popularizers. My main purpose in writing this book is to help you discover ways to improve. By giving specific suggestions along with their research justifications, I hope to tweak your interest in opportunities for personal improvement. - Preface.