Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain
Written by: John J. Ratey
Editorial Reviews:
A groundbreaking and fascinating investigation into the transformative effects of exercise on the brain, from the bestselling author and renowned psychiatrist John J. Ratey, MD.
Did you know you can beat stress, lift your mood, fight memory loss, sharpen your intellect, and function better than ever simply by elevating your heart rate and breaking a sweat? The evidence is incontrovertible: Aerobic exercise physically remodels our brains for peak performance.
In SPARK, John J. Ratey, M.D., embarks upon a fascinating and entertaining journey through the mind-body connection, presenting startling research to prove that exercise is truly our best defense against everything from depression to ADD to addiction to aggression to menopause to Alzheimer's. Filled with amazing case studies (such as the revolutionary fitness program in Naperville, Illinois, which has put this school district of 19,000 kids first in the world of science test scores), SPARK is the first book to explore comprehensively the connection between exercise and the brain. It will change forever the way you think about your morning run---or, for that matter, simply the way you think
If you like "Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, you might also like ...
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Exercise, the most important thing your life is missing
Comment: Spark explains the burgeoning research into how exercise is one of the key ingredients missing in the modern Western lifestyle. The author uses numerous anecdotal, statistical and research based examples to make a compelling case for improving quality of life during any phase by simply moving.
Depressed? Exercise! Injured? Exercise! Obese? Exercise.
Spark is an important book because the idea that you might just be able to replace your Lexapro prescription with an hour of Dance Dance Revolution per day is hugely important. The idea that your brain chemistry and your ability to feel good is largely based on how much you move is hugely important.
I happened to find Spark about a year into a rejuvenation of my own health through exercise so let me add my own anecdotal evidence - exercise can and did allow me to get through depression, panic attacks and has helped me with what is probably a mild case of ADD or ADHD - conditions I once scoffed at as made up.
Spark is a convincing tome. If it cannot get you to stop popping pills and start exercising ever day, nothing will. I did not give Spark five stars because some of the explanations of how brain chemistry works are a little complex for the general reading public.
Customer Rating:
Summary: AAAAAA++++
Comment: Outstanding service. Got the item I ordered in a short amount of time, and it is exactly as described. Thanks!!!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent, motivating book...
Comment: Teaches you about brain chemistry and biology, and how it can be positively affected by exercise. You will never think of exercise as something to do merely for physical appearance or even physical health. It can help you focus, be more productive, and beat depression or depression-like symptoms. The author has the science to back up the claims and organizes the book in such a way that it is easy to follow and learn. I'm hoping that it will lead me -- as an intellectual person -- to exercise more upon an intellectual understanding as to the wide-range positive effects it has. I hope to be a poster child for it, and will let you know more about how it works, beyond the intellectual level...
Customer Rating:
Summary: Spark hits the mark!
Comment: SPARK is a must read book! Dr. Ratey does an amazing job of relating case study after case study in such an interesting and easy manner. This is so important for people of all ages to read to understand the implications exercise has on everything from ADHD to Alzheimer's Disease! As a personal trainer and advocate for movement in the classroom, I feel this book hits it right on the mark, without being pushy.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Exercise requires repetition but not the book.
Comment: The content is interest and important, but he simply repeats himself too much. This is a 250 page book with 75 pages of substance.
Dewey Decimal Number: 612.76
EAN: 9780316113502
ISBN: 0316113506
Label: Little, Brown and Company
Manufacturer: Little, Brown and Company
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 304
Publication Date: 2008-01-10
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Studio: Little, Brown and Company
 | Format: Hardcover List Price: $24.99 Our Price: $16.49 Your Save: $ 8.50 ( 34% ) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Average Customer Rating:  |
Editorial Reviews:
A groundbreaking and fascinating investigation into the transformative effects of exercise on the brain, from the bestselling author and renowned psychiatrist John J. Ratey, MD.
Did you know you can beat stress, lift your mood, fight memory loss, sharpen your intellect, and function better than ever simply by elevating your heart rate and breaking a sweat? The evidence is incontrovertible: Aerobic exercise physically remodels our brains for peak performance.
In SPARK, John J. Ratey, M.D., embarks upon a fascinating and entertaining journey through the mind-body connection, presenting startling research to prove that exercise is truly our best defense against everything from depression to ADD to addiction to aggression to menopause to Alzheimer's. Filled with amazing case studies (such as the revolutionary fitness program in Naperville, Illinois, which has put this school district of 19,000 kids first in the world of science test scores), SPARK is the first book to explore comprehensively the connection between exercise and the brain. It will change forever the way you think about your morning run---or, for that matter, simply the way you think
If you like "Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, you might also like ...
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Exercise, the most important thing your life is missing
Comment: Spark explains the burgeoning research into how exercise is one of the key ingredients missing in the modern Western lifestyle. The author uses numerous anecdotal, statistical and research based examples to make a compelling case for improving quality of life during any phase by simply moving.
Depressed? Exercise! Injured? Exercise! Obese? Exercise.
Spark is an important book because the idea that you might just be able to replace your Lexapro prescription with an hour of Dance Dance Revolution per day is hugely important. The idea that your brain chemistry and your ability to feel good is largely based on how much you move is hugely important.
I happened to find Spark about a year into a rejuvenation of my own health through exercise so let me add my own anecdotal evidence - exercise can and did allow me to get through depression, panic attacks and has helped me with what is probably a mild case of ADD or ADHD - conditions I once scoffed at as made up.
Spark is a convincing tome. If it cannot get you to stop popping pills and start exercising ever day, nothing will. I did not give Spark five stars because some of the explanations of how brain chemistry works are a little complex for the general reading public.
Customer Rating:
Summary: AAAAAA++++
Comment: Outstanding service. Got the item I ordered in a short amount of time, and it is exactly as described. Thanks!!!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent, motivating book...
Comment: Teaches you about brain chemistry and biology, and how it can be positively affected by exercise. You will never think of exercise as something to do merely for physical appearance or even physical health. It can help you focus, be more productive, and beat depression or depression-like symptoms. The author has the science to back up the claims and organizes the book in such a way that it is easy to follow and learn. I'm hoping that it will lead me -- as an intellectual person -- to exercise more upon an intellectual understanding as to the wide-range positive effects it has. I hope to be a poster child for it, and will let you know more about how it works, beyond the intellectual level...
Customer Rating:
Summary: Spark hits the mark!
Comment: SPARK is a must read book! Dr. Ratey does an amazing job of relating case study after case study in such an interesting and easy manner. This is so important for people of all ages to read to understand the implications exercise has on everything from ADHD to Alzheimer's Disease! As a personal trainer and advocate for movement in the classroom, I feel this book hits it right on the mark, without being pushy.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Exercise requires repetition but not the book.
Comment: The content is interest and important, but he simply repeats himself too much. This is a 250 page book with 75 pages of substance.
Technical Details
Binding: HardcoverDewey Decimal Number: 612.76
EAN: 9780316113502
ISBN: 0316113506
Label: Little, Brown and Company
Manufacturer: Little, Brown and Company
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 304
Publication Date: 2008-01-10
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Studio: Little, Brown and Company
