The Owner's Manual for the Brain: Everyday Applications from Mind-Brain Research 3rd Edition [Paperback]

Pierce J. Howard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 20, 2006

This information-packed guidebook combines the latest in brain research with the real world applications for your personal, family and work life.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Although medical science can describe and define many of the brain's functions, the relationship between brain and behavior is not yet fully understood. Howard, director of the Center for Applied Cognitive Studies, a Charlotte, N.C.-based consulting firm, organizes workshops so people can better comprehend this relationships and make appropriate changes in their lives. His book includes chapters on the psychobiology of emotions and getting along with the opposite sex (including research on why men and women supposedly differ in math and verbal skills). He cites studies from a variety of sources to back himself up. Some of his goals are very basic--for example, how to get a better night's sleep or improve memory by relying on specific diet recommendations. Others, such as delaying the onset of Alzheimer's disease, are more experimental. But, unfortunately, the book reads as a hodge-podge of research findings, followed by applications by Howard.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Howard, director of the Center for Applied Cognitive Studies (Charlotte, North Carolina), has digested an assortment of brain research and created what he hopes will be a practical "reference work for consumers." Targeting an audience of lifelong learners, educators, and managers, he has selected research on intelligence, stress, learning, creativity, memory, and the emotions. Brief synopses of the research are followed by suggested applications ranging from the familiar (drink warm milk to promote sleep) to the novel and impractical (schedule math tests for females during the first half of the menstrual cycle). While this book lacks formal references for the research cited, it does offer a variety of ideas and perspectives and some excellent reading lists for the general reader.
Laurie Bartolini, Lincoln Lib., Springfield, Ill.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 1040 pages
• Publisher: Bard Press; 3 Updated edition (March 20, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1885167644
• ISBN-13: 978-1885167644
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #187,707 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Pierce focuses on two specialties: assessment and cognitive science. In the area of assessment, he has designed and conducted employee attitude surveys, succession planning research, personality assessment, career development instrumentation and feedback, performance appraisal research, and in-depth selection assessments. In the area of cognitive science, he has conducted creativity workshops for R&D labs, problem analysis in industrial settings, problem prevention planning for product teams, decision analysis for engineering teams, employee involvement techniques for Total Quality Management programs, presentations on brain research for professional associations, presentations on effective learning techniques to various groups of educators, and workshops on learning and memory enhancement. His primary research interest at the present time is the Five-Factor Model of personality. His next project is to develop an integrated model of intelligence, and to coordinate intelligence and personality assessment for use as an aid in workplace decision making.

He has taught Organization Development as a Visiting Professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Queens University (Charlotte), and Pfeiffer University (Charlotte campus). In the Spring of 2010, he will teach a new course at the McColl School of Business (of Queens University) entitled "Personality Assessment at Work."

Pierce graduated from Davidson College with a B.A. in 1963. After a three-year tour of duty with the U.S. Army, he completed his Ph.D. in 1971 at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. He is a member of the American Psychological Association, the International Society for the Study of Individual Differences, the American Society for Training and Development, and the Carolinas Organization Development Network. He has served on several boards of directors. He is the author of The Owner's Manual for the Brain: Practical Applications from Mind/Brain Research(2006; 3rd edition) and, along with Jane Howard, The Owner's Manual for Personality at Work (2000), The Big Five Workbook (1994), and the Professional Manual for the WorkPlace Big Five ProFile (2001). He and Jane are close to finishing a book on using the Big Five personality model with adolescents: The Owner's Manual for Personality from 12 to 22. His next book will be on the subject of happiness as a false god. Interests include chamber and choral music, crafts, and camping.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Encyclopedia of the Human Mind, January 8, 2004

By 

William Hefner "William Van Hefner" (EUREKA, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Owner's Manual for the Brain: Everyday Applications from Mind-Brain Research (Paperback)

Whether you use this book as a reference or read it cover to cover, The Owner's Manual for the Brain is a great book to have around. From describing the most basic fundamentals of how the human brain functions to analyzing the latest research in various fields of psychology, the author presents each topic in an easy to understand manner that is enjoyable to read as it is informative.

The best part of this book is that every sub-chapter includes a list of "applications" for what you have just read. This elevates the book from the simple listing of facts to an extremely usable tool. I would dare anyone to read this book and not come away with at least one application that could not vastly improve their life. Time with this book is time well spent.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for teachers, managers, trainers and parents, May 3, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Zoetermeer, The Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Owner's Manual for the Brain: Everyday Applications from Mind-Brain Research (Paperback)

There are books in my bookcase that are still utterley beautifull. Some of the books however are dog-eared and dilapidated, shaken and loosened by continual use, marked and scribbled in from front to back. Howard's Owner's Manual for the Brain is one of them. There is no book available at the moment that can be compared to this classic Great Book. This is my one-and-only book that accompanies me on every flight across the world, to ev'ry meeting I have. It is on my desk as soon as I start designing a a training, or writing an article or preparing a presentation. It gives us theoretically insights to the (dys)functioning of people - young and old. More important it gives you solutions for education, life in general and managing people and problems. Easy to read, scientifically up-to-date and the book designs show that he walks his talks.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent starting point for understanding the brain, February 12, 2003

By 

P. Gimenez "chuos" (Buenos Aires, Argentina) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The Owner's Manual for the Brain: Everyday Applications from Mind-Brain Research (Paperback)

If you are beginning to study the mind and brain, this is clearly the place to start. The book covers all the major topics related to the human brain function, with a focus on breadth rather than depth. It's easy to read and full of everyday applications that you can start using the first day to improve both your personal self and your relationships.

If you are already knowledgeable on this field, the book is filled with thousands of references to other books, papers, web sites and institutes where you can find more information on the latest advances for each topic.

Even if you skip all the technical terms, the book is really worth reading and keeping it close as a reference.