The Mommy Brain: How Motherhood Makes Us Smarter (Hardcover)

by Katherine Ellison (Author)
Key Phrases: mammal mothers, mother rats, San Francisco, United States, University of California (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
When Israeli scientists gave 100 brand new mothers an IQ test, they scored significantly lower than non-pregnant childless women. To this, Ellison, a Pulitzer-winning investigative journalist and mother of two, bluntly answers: "Duh... you are now looking at your future for at least the next eighteen years in its yowling red face. It's possible that your performance on standardized neuropsychological tests simply isn't a top priority." Throughout this well-framed argument for the intellectual pluses of motherhood, Ellison expertly demystifies the legend of "the mommy brain"—an assumption that pregnancy and parenting make women a little ditzy. By juxtaposing entertaining anecdotes from her own life and the lives of her friends with fascinating studies in neurobiology and psychology, Ellison substantiates her claim that motherhood is an "advantage in the lifelong task of becoming smart." Her argument's foundation is that learning changes the brain, and she makes a larger argument about the kind of intelligence motherhood fosters. Traits such as perception, efficiency, resiliency, motivation and emotional intelligence, she says, are present whether one's a good mom or "a CEO of a Fortune 500 company." Both, for example, must have the "logistical capacities that take you through the day with the minimum bloodshed and maximum productivity." Ellison's often humorous and always thorough approach reveals plenty of other illustrations of these skills that will amuse and intrigue smart mothers everywhere.
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Review
"It's a revolution for the brain when you have a child... an epoch of learning and brain-induced changes, because everything matters so much. I don't think there are a lot of better things you can do for your brain than have a child."

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books; First edition. edition (April 12, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0465019056
• ISBN-13: 978-0465019052
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #863,482 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A long awaited and much needed book on motherhood, June 16, 2005

By	Karen Kasius - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book by Ms. Ellison finally tackles some of the myths in our culture regarding motherhood. Her book is not written to further the divide between working or non working mothers.Nor is it to claim that mothers are smarter then women who are not mothers. It is a full and complete collection of recent research that is pulled together to confirm that the biological changes of motherhood enhance a women's potential- not detract from it as is often thought. What separates Ms. Ellison's book from others is her research into new and uncharted territory-daring to explain the complexities of it all not to reduce them to simplistic terms. At times that may mean the reader still has questions but the mere fact of veering from the usual conversation is stimulating and thought provoking.It helps to debunk myths that women lose something after childbirth and instead looks into evolotionary reasons behind some of the biological changes which women experience. It is a great book that looks at the subject from a variety of vantage points which is what makes it a compelling book to read. Kudos to Ms. Ellison for approaching the subject from a new and interesting perspective.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The multi-tasking queen, June 8, 2005

By	Margaret Ward - See all my reviews

I never thought about it but I think Ms. Ellison is right. One's ability to multi-task definitely grows with children. Ms. Ellison is able to pull together information from many, many sources and present a body of knowledge in an easy to read and understand format. Rather than thinking that "mothers" make poor employees and are unable to cope because of their "home" responsibilities this book should open eyes. And hopefully also show the advantages of being an involved parent.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A refreshing relief to moms , August 21, 2005

By	gigi - See all my reviews

Ellison's book assures us mothers that we're not nuts. There is indeed a scientific explanation for the temporary insanity that new mothers experience. But what follows as we begin to settle in to motherhood is even more fascinating, as evidenced by the research The Mommy Brain presents. Readers may be skeptical that intelligence in the book is defined in unconventional ways. But this is something educators now know--that not all intelligence shows up on an IQ test. Ellison's book lets you uncover all of a woman's smarts unleashed by motherhood.