Rating: 
Summary: Plausible Ideas
Review: "I need a change of pace." (We all probably say that from time to time.)This book offers an interesting explanation as to why we might feel that way: one functional part of our brain is tired and another part could use some exercise. The author elaborates on the idea: engaging in a variety of physical and mental activities is healthy for our brains and, therefore, healthy for us, overall. This seems pretty plausible to me. Easy to read and filled with interesting ideas.
Rating: 
Summary: Not for Beginners or Neurosurgeons, Good Intermediate Read.
Review: Among the books about improving your thinking, this book takes you one step further. This is not just an explanation of thinking skills but an overview of the interactions among the various parts of the brain. It includes suggestions for general brain health as well as activities that involve multiple areas of the brain, which in turn form new neuro connections.The second half of the title "Unleashing Your Brain's Potential" is more appropriate for the content of this book.
N. Illing, author of SPARKS Ignite Imagination, an informational activity book for stretching the imagination.
Rating:
Summary: I Wanted to be Wowed......
Review: and in this case, I wasn't. The material wasn't bad... but it was missing
that "edge" that sets apart exceptional books from unexceptional
books. What was the largest weakness for me was an inconsistency between
the chapters: some were filled to the brim with useful, workable
suggestions and ideas and others left me wondering, "Wait, what
was the intended suggestion for that chapter?" Perhaps the confusion was part of Restak's intent... to get the
reader really applying our newly-stretched brainpower? *Shrug* Just not sure.... there is some decent information here
which I will more than likely use and reuse, which is why the
ranking is 4 stars rather than 3.
Rating:
Summary: I Wanted to be Wowed......
Review: and in this case, I wasn't. The material wasn't bad... but it was missing
that "edge" that sets apart exceptional books from unexceptional
books. What was the largest weakness for me was an inconsistency between
the chapters: some were filled to the brim with useful, workable
suggestions and ideas and others left me wondering, "Wait, what
was the intended suggestion for that chapter?" Perhaps the confusion was part of Restak's intent... to get the
reader really applying our newly-stretched brainpower? *Shrug* Just not sure.... there is some decent information here
which I will more than likely use and reuse, which is why the
ranking is 4 stars rather than 3.
Rating: 
Summary: Good book, but not a passive read!
Review: Be prepared to spend a lot of time with this book. Its short and easy to read (and very interesting) but to get anything out of it you have to work the excersises which are very difficult. Not for the faint of heart!
Rating:
Summary: Audio Version not the Correct Format
Review: I found this book difficult to absorb because I had the audio version. An audio book is a disadvantage to a reader trying to participate in the brain exercises while on the daily commute. The book format would have allowed a sedentary reader to take advantage of the information provided. I was not able to flip back and forth easily or mark pages to return to. I thought the book (tape) would be more about brain architecture and how Mozart's brain actually would differ from a fighter pilot's brain. There is a little speculation about how the brains of the MTV generation cope with image overload versus the previous generation's method of acquiring information. The title is a little misleading. It really is a book about brain exercises, because the author believes these exercises help keep the brain young and healthy. It is the old theory of "use it or lose it" adapted to the brain. I do not know if I totally subscribe to this theory, avid readers seem to be the first to wear glasses, hockey and football players retire with injured knees. The book on the whole is interesting. Definitely worth it. It presents some unique ideas and it's a noble goal to keep your brain active even if the exercises were to have no effect.
Rating: 
Summary: Audio Cd is monotone
Review: I thought this would be a good way to start my day while walking 30 minutes. I've presented workshops on right brain/left brain integration. The monotone of the author is so boring that I never got beyond the 2nd CD. Perhaps reading the book will make this a more meaningful exercise. I bought it as an audio CD so I could "take it with me" and now I leave it at home!
Rating:
Summary: I'm Already Smarter!
Review: If I had read the reviews here, I never would have bought this book. Boy am I glad I bought this book first!
I won't deny that the writing style is a bit inconsistent (but the author does, after all, admit in the pages of this very book that he sometimes forces himself to write a certain number of pages per hour, which presumably takes precedence over consistency). I also would not deny that some of the chapters are more useful than others. For example, I found the space devoted to a literary description of how to do Tai Chi rather puzzling (if you want to learn Tai Chi, take physical lessons from someone who knows).
However, the fundamental high-level lessons of this book are backed up by research and are worth the price of the book alone. The basic lessons are things like: a) strengthening one part of your brain can strengthen others b) exercising the brain can help it work better c) there are many different types of cognition (cognition is not IQ), and all of these areas can be trained d) you can grow new neurons, the brain is more plastic than we originally believed, and your brain can actually get better with age.
These lessons are invaluable, and anyone who takes these lessons to heart should be actively seeking out new and creative ways to give his or her brain a continual full-brain workout. Much of the book is devoted to ideas about how to do just this; how to exercise the brain. But rather than pick apart each individual idea, you should view this as just a tiny sample of the sorts of things you can do to condition the brain, and an affirmation that creatively generating such brain-conditioning exercises is a useful lifelong goal.
Does it work? Since beginning my full-brain workout program, my scores on ThinkFast have gone up a number of levels and I sure *feel* smarter. You'll have to judge your own results for yourself.
Rating:
Summary: Use it or Lose it
Review: In his 15th book, renowned brain expert Richard Restak offers up twenty-eight tips on how to improve the function of our brains and possibly help stave off senility, Alzheimer's, and other mental impairments. At the heart of his message is the fact that, unlike our body's other organs, the brain doesn't age, but will suffer atrophy with disuse. Luckily, with constant stimulation of the proper kind, the brain can stay sharp and actually improve to the end of our years. The list of beneficial brain activities includes listening to or--better yet--learning music (this is where Mozart comes in), playing challenging games, reading advanced books, meditating, solving puzzles, playing certain sports, and even watching thought-provoking television programs. Restak also offers a number of brain "exercises." These are essentially new ways to think of stuff. While some of these seem a bit boring and time consuming, with results that aren't quite clear, there is something for everyone in the book. Despite an intriguing title, the book is a bit dry. His detailed explanation of the inner workings of the brain isn't going to be for everyone. But since we all seem to be living longer lives, and nobody wants to spend them in a nursing home, it makes a lot of sense to follow Restak's twenty-eight easy steps to life-long lucidity. Definitely a worthwhile read. --Christopher Bonn Jonnes, author of BIG ICE and WAKE UP DEAD
Rating:
Summary: Almost Convincing
Review: Interesting concepts & exercises to stimulate the use of your brain. However, some examples that Dr. Restak used to backup the ideas were not quite convincing. (Some reviewers have quoted them here.) The books provides 20+ exercises that you could use to challenge your brain. Still a good read for the subject matter. You should find plenty of excellent and practical ideas that work for you.
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