Title: Smarter
Author: Dan Hurley
Source: from publisher for review
Fun Fact: After weaning, the only food proved to enhance cognition is coffee.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Review Summary: The author clearly did his research and presents his findings in an engaging, fun fact filled way.
Can we make ourselves smarter? Dan Hurley tries to answer that question by first interviewing many intelligence researchers and then trying the most promising strategies himself. This involves everything from exercising to learning the renaissance lute to wearing a nicotine patch. The results include some actionable advice and lots of fun stories.
As a scientist, I think we need more people like Dan Hurley – one for every subject! The first half of this book contained the same information as a review article for the field of intelligence research. It read like a story. The research was explained clearly and simply for a general audience. Areas where scientists disagree or are uncertain were clearly distinguished from known facts. And in a brilliant move that gave this section a narrative, the research is explained as the author shares his experiences talking to researchers. Conversations, first-hand views of research labs, and witty asides keep this potentially dry section moving right along.
The second half of the book describes the author application of what he learned to his own life. This included adding a lot of things to his daily routine, so it was both hectic and humorous. I appreciated that the author made it clear his results were unique to him. No conclusions were drawn from his sample size of one. It did, however, make for a good story. It also gave the author more room to include his experiences with different brain-training techniques. I would love to see more fields of research summarized in such an accessible way. Highly recommended for anyone who likes books with lots of fun facts, who appreciates accurate science, or who has wondered if we can learn to be smarter.
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This book sounds like fun. I love that coffee improves cognition- I knew there was a reason I liked it so much!
Katie @ Words for Worms recently posted…Top 10 Books I Read in 2013
I think the coffee thing is awesome! I don’t drink a lot of coffee, but I’m excited to have an excuse to drink more
This sounds fun, something like A.J. Jacobs’ books, maybe. It’s also a subject I’m interested in, especially the coffee-is-good-for-you part!
Laurie C recently posted…2013 Favorites — Books
It reminded me of what I’ve heard about A.J. Jacobs, but without having read anything of his yet, I was hesitant to compare. Based on reviews I’ve read, I would guess that while this book was good, it probably wasn’t as funny.
I was very excited about the coffee is good for you thing. Usually I get myself coffee on rare occasions as a treat when I’m working hard, but perhaps I should be having some every day
Ooh, this one sounds like fun! Off to add it to my already ridiculous TBR list…
Jessica @ Quirky Bookworm recently posted…Where I’ve Been Reading in 2013
Haha, yeah, my goodreads TBR list is so long, sometimes I’m not sure why I bother. I think this year, I’m going to try to make more of an effort to actually pick books off the list instead of just reading review books and books I randomly pick up at the library
This sounds fascinating. I’m always in need of more non-fiction because even though I love it, there’s a deficit of it on my TBR in comparison to fiction.
Andi @ Estella’s Revenge recently posted…Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness
It was a very interesting read, especially if you like non-fiction with lots of fun facts. I definitely have the same problem with finding non-fiction recommendations. Although I can always just go to the library and pick something up, I often prefer to read something I’ve heard about if I can
This sounds really interesting, and I love that you said the author used witty asides and first-hand views of research labs!
Great review!
Alice in Readerland recently posted…Interview with Mary Elizabeth Summer (Debut Author of TRUST ME, I’M LYING)
It was really very well done. I love when someone makes science interesting
Lately I feel like I am … well losing my smarts. LOL… I don’t know how else to put it. I am not really learning anything new.. I am getting older. Sometimes I am having a conversation with intelligent people and I sit there stunned not knowing what to say. I just don’t have a brain that retains facts. I watch the news… yet I just can’t remember that politician’s name. It can be awful. I wish Luminosity website was free… I would totally use it to keep my brain a little smarter.
Angie recently posted…Ghoul Goblin, Dresden Files by Jim Butcher-Graphic Novel Review
I’m so really bad retaining facts too! I’m working very hard at doing so for grad school, since it’s generally expected that we be able to back up ideas by referring to results from research papers for which we know the first author’s name and the publication date. But even in my fun reading, I love to read books with interesting facts and I wish I remembered more of them. I would also be all over luminosity if it were free
This sounds good! It reminds me of Moonwalking With Einstein, which was an amazing book about a regular guy who wants to know if you really can teach yourself to remember things and decides to compete in the world memory championship.
Allison @ The Book Wheel recently posted…Classics Club #8 – Flowers for Algernon
Moonwalking With Einstein sounds like one I’d enjoy a lot too
I’m kind of a science geek, so when people manage to write an interesting and accessible (but accurate!) science book, I’m all over that.
Woah, this sounds exactly like my type of read! I’ll add it to my TBR right now!
Wendy @ Wensend recently posted…REVIEW | Gillian Flynn – Gone Girl
Wonderful! I hope you enjoy is as much as I did
I picked this book up the other day at a Smithsonian museum and then put it down again!!! Guess I’ll be picking it up – again
Rebecca @ Love at First Book recently posted…Spread the Love Linky Party: Co-hosted by Estella’s Revenge
I would recommend it
It was very well done!
I hopped over from the Nonfiction Challenge reviews page.
This sounds like a book I’d really like — both the topic and the way the story is told.
It was a fascinating topic and really very well done. If you pick it up, I’d be interested to hear what you think