Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain (Your Coach in a Box) [Audiobook] [Audio CD]

John J. Ratey (Author), Walter Dixon (Reader), Eric Hagerman (Contributor)

Book Description

Series: Your Coach in a Box | Publication Date: August 3, 2009

Did you know that in a landmark study, aerobic exercise was shown to be as effective as antidepressants? That women who exercise, lower their chances of developing dementia by 50 percent? That a revolutionary fitness program helped put one U.S. school district of 19,000 kids first in the world in science? That, in fact, exercise sparks new brain-cell growth? The evidence is incontrovertible: aerobic exercise physically transforms our brains for peak performance.

In Spark, John J. Ratey, MD, takes the listener on a fascinating journey through the mind-body connection, presenting startling new research to prove that exercise is truly the best defense against everything from mood disorders to ADHD to addiction to menopause to Alzheimer's. He explains that the brain works just as muscles do-growing with use, withering with inactivity-and shows why getting your heart and lungs pumping can mean the difference between a calm, focused mind and a harried, inattentive self.

Filled with cutting-edge science and amazing case studies, Spark is the first audio book to explore the connection between exercise and the brain. And with a simple, targeted regimen to get the listener's body moving and his mind in peak condition, it will forever change the way he thinks about his morning run-and, for that matter, the way he thinks.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Forget fish oil and sudoku - it's exercise that makes you brainier This book is the first time scientific evidence from all over the world has been pulled together to show that the fitter you are, the better your brain works' Daily Mail. 'If exercise came in pill form, it would be plastered across the front page, hailed as the blockbuster drug of the century. So what you waiting for? Get moving!' Focus Magazine. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

John J. Ratey, MD, is a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He is the author or coauthor of eight books, including Driven to Distraction, Shadow Syndromes, and A User's Guide to the Brain. He lives in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Your Coach In A Box; 1 Una edition (August 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596592834
• ISBN-13: 978-1596592834
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 1.3 x 6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (132 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #357,320 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

236 of 244 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Brain on Exercise, January 9, 2008

By 

steven langston "searcher" (Kentucky United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain (Hardcover)

This book explains in clear terms the role exercise plays in our mental processes. Moving our muscles produces proteins that play roles in our highest thought processes. Ratey says, "thinking is the internalization of movement." He illustrates this with the story of the sea squirt that hatches with a rudimentary spinal cord and 300 brain cells. It has only hours to find a spot of coral on which to put down roots or die. When it does put down roots, it eats its brain. According to Ratey only a moving animal needs a brain.

He begins with the value exercise has for the learning process in high school students: improved academic performance, alertness, attention and motivation.

He cites studies that say we can alter our mental states by physically moving. He said depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. He then presents a chapter where depression is relieved in case studies by exercise.

Among the areas Ratey covers are: stress, depression, ADD, and aging. This book is a great motivator for exercise.

However, Ratey's work was preceded by Glenn Doman's. Doman advocated exercise for brain injured children in the 1950s when the only 'treatment' was to institutionalize them. He later started a `super babies' program. Both the educational and medical establishments attacked and marginalized Doman's work.

97 of 100 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eye Opening, January 21, 2008

By 

Brunello (Honolulu) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain (Hardcover)

Our doctors always say to get more exercise. We always yawn and say of course; we've heard it all before. And then we are mediocre in our follow up. After reading Spark my entire viewpoint has changed. Exercise is a master key to brain functioning. Cholesterol and other system problems caused by lack of exercise are a bit ambiguous since we often can't directly feel them until we manifest some disease. Brain functioning is something else entirely. We can feel an almost immediate change after aerobic exercise. After reading Spark I definitely have become a six day a week exerciser. I need my brain functioning as well as possible, and the data in this book has made a believer out out of me.

102 of 114 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The brain-exercise connection finally explained !!, January 9, 2008

By 

M. Bankal (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain (Hardcover)

Having ready 2 previous books by John : The users guide to brain and Driven
by distraction i was looking forward to reading SPARK. I was especially
interested in learning how John was going to tie exercise with the brain
functioning since i am a strong supporter of exercise and have experienced
its benefits. I knew before reading SPARK that exercise in some way does
make you feel better. But SPARK puts it in perspective from a scientific
point of view. The chapters on Stress and depression particularly caught my
attention since most of us struggle with these 2 issues at some point in
life and again most of us turn to popping a pill to deal with it. If its as
simple as getting on a treadmill or a bike and working out for 30-45
minutes without any side effects, then it seems only logical to do it. The
BDNF (Miracle-gro as John calls it) was a very interesting read for me. I
did had to go back and re-read certain topics as was it too much medical
terms to comprehend in one read. But once i got it, it became permanent and
that's the beauty of this book.
Its simple yet powerful in its message. The simplicity comes from the fact
that "you goto workout ". The power comes from the facts / data that proves
"why you goto workout". Once the reader ties the two together, the message
is very clear and hopefully will remain for a lifetime with the reader.
Today if you look around there is a lot of awareness among people about the
ill-effects of obesity. There are TV programs, advertisements, books about
why exercising is good for you and how it will help you be more fit. But
this is the only books that tells you that exercise will also make your
brain fit along with your body. The brain-body connection is important and
one cannot be ignored over the other.