15 Best Books to Understand How the Brain Works

Most people don’t realize how much control we actually have over our thoughts, feelings, and actions. It’s easy to feel like it’s out of our jurisdiction, but in reality, fluctuations in our mood depend on the neural networks firing in our brains, so we have the power to consciously break hardwired thought patterns. In Calm Clarity, Due Quach, author of the viral Medium piece “Poor and Traumatized at Harvard,” shares her easy-to-follow program to show readers how to deal with toxic stress and adversity.

In this book, journalist and sports writer Zach Schonbrun sets out on a mission to discover what actually drives human movement. He interviews neuroscientists and other experts on motor control to understand how the brain’s motor control system works in extraordinary talented athletes like Stephen Curry, Tom Brady, Serena Williams, and Lionel Messi. The Performance Cortex offers us a new way of thinking about athleticism, and is a must-read for the cerebral sports fan.

This revolutionary guide uses the most up-to-date research in brain science to reveal how our thoughts affect our career performance. Neuropsychologist Friederike Fabritius and leadership expert Dr. Hans W. Hagemann present easy-to-follow tips for sharpening focus, increasing retention, improving decision-making, and ultimately, thriving as a leader in the workplace. This book is ideal for anyone who feels stagnant in their career and wants to make simple changes that will provide extraordinary, life-changing results.

We’ve all heard it many times before: You are what you eat. Well, what if you could eat food that boosted your brain power and health? Dr. Lisa Mosconi, an expert in neuroscience and nutrition, knows that our brains have very specific food requirements. Her innovative plan to improving brain health will help to improve memory, eliminate cognitive decline, and even help with depression. Including lists of what to eat and what to avoid, a quiz that determines your brain health, and 24 delicious recipes, Brain Food is the ultimate guide to a happy, healthy brain.

Dr. Steven Masley’s The Better Brain Solution is the first book to explain how the brain can become insulin resistant overtime, leading to cognitive decline and memory loss. Masley’s research shows that diet and lifestyle are the main contributing factors to this insulin resistance, and in this book, he shares a program he’s developed to prevent and reverse this potentially devastating condition.

New York Times bestselling authors Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen join forces to bring attention to the harmful, addictive practices that are destroying our bodies and our minds. Abuse of food and technology has driven much of the American population to lead unhealthy lives, riddled with disease. The Brain Warrior’s Way is the key to taking control of your health and taking back your life.

Peter Shankman’s groundbreaking guide to ADHD showcases the positive side of having a fast-paced mind, and contains helpful advice for harnessing that extra energy. Shankman’s experience with ADHD is first-hand—his hyperforcus has allowed him to run several successful businesses, travel the world, explore his hobbies, and keep his family afloat. He’s here to help others like him learn how to eliminate distractions, complete goals, and finally see their differences in a positive light.

It turns out the American mind isn’t such a happy place. Robert Lustig believes that our culture has been ravaged by addiction and depression, suffering irreparable damage. Neuromarketing has enabled corporate America to brainwash consumers (all of us consumers), creating an endless cycle of desire and consumption. In The Hacking of the American Mind, Lustig reveals why we enter this state of consciousness, and calls to the conversation the big-name corporations that helped create this mess and the members of government who allowed it to happen. But don’t worry too much—Lustig also offers solutions we can all use in our daily lives to pursue happiness.

Let’s face it—life can get really boring sometimes. Most of our daily activities rarely ever involve anything fun, and as a result, we dread doing them. But what if we redefined fun? In Play Anything, inventive game designer and philosopher Ian Bogost explains how we can transform our lives by changing our perspective on what’s “boring,” making everything more extraordinary.

As an expert on the science of productivity, Charles knows the secrets to speeding up innovation and creativity. As he discusses in this New York Times bestseller, Charles believes that productivity relies heavily on decision-making and managing how you think. One of the biggest faults in creative people is getting stuck on having the most original idea instead of focusing on new ways to combine ideas that already exist.

In this captivating book, Maria Konnikova takes an in-depth look at the minds of con-artists, and the people who fall for their tricks again and again. What do con artists have in common? How do they do what they do, and why are they successful? From multi-million dollar Ponzi schemes to small-time frauds, Konnikova pulls together a selection of fascinating stories to answer these puzzling questions.

Creativity can be a powerful gift, if used properly. Wired to Create unravels the creative mind by investigating the daily habits of creative people. Scott Barry Kaufman and Carolyn Gregoire explore the latest findings in neuroscience and psychology, and provide examples of artists and innovators throughout history, to explain the best ways for people to harness their creativity.

This instant New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller is changing how we understand cognitive decline. Alzheimer’s Disease takes every single one of its victims—there are no survivors. Dale Bredesen, MD, offers a potential solution to this huge problem by outlining 36 metabolic factors (micronutrients, hormone levels, sleep) that can trigger “downsizing” in the brain. Bredesen argues that by balancing these factors, one could prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s.

Mary Aiken, the world’s leading expert in forensic cyberpsychology, embarks on a journey to explore how the internet is shaping how we think and behave. It’s no secret that society’s values have changed drastically due to the constant presence of the internet in our daily lives. Aiken covers the impact of technology on children, teens, and our privacy, and explains how addictive behaviors can form online.

This illuminating book combines positive psychology, neuroscience, and self-help to explain why we believe that at a certain age, we’re too old to learn new things. Robert Twigger offers a solution to this problem: think small. If you tackle small goals, you’ll be more likely to achieve success. Small, doable tasks offer a big payoff, and motivate us to keep learning and growing, with payoffs that include a boost in optimism, confidence, memory, cognitive skills, and more.