BKYBRNMM.RVW   20080922

"Your Brain: The Missing Manual", Matthew MacDonald, 2008,
978-0-596-51778-6, U$24.99/C$24.99
%A   Matthew MacDonald
%C   103 Morris Street, Suite A, Sebastopol, CA   95472
%D   2008
%G   978-0-596-51778-6 0-596-51778-5
%I   O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
%O   U$24.99/C$24.99 800-998-9938 707-829-0515 nuts@ora.com
%O  http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0596517785/robsladesinterne
  http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0596517785/robsladesinte-21
%O   http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/0596517785/robsladesin03-20
%O   Audience n- Tech 1 Writing 2 (see revfaq.htm for explanation)
%P   261 p.
%T   "Your Brain: The Missing Manual"

The introduction states that this book is about your brain, and how to
use it more effectively.

Chapter one notes the physical structure of the brain and some of the
implications of that structure.  There is nothing new or particularly
relevant about the material.  The text is breezy and readable, tending
somewhat to the sensational, with humorous asides that are amusing,
but not really helpful in promoting understanding or retention of the
content.  Eating, diet, and blood sugar regulation are discussed in
chapter two.  There is some relation to brain operation and function,
and a few of the tips that you might find in those magazines directed
specifically at women or sports fans (and possibly people standing in
boring lineups in supermarkets).  This same level of substance and
style is followed throughout the book.

Chapter three examines sleep, chapter four displays some optical
illusions.  Memory is discussed, mostly in terms of mnemonics, in
chapter five.  Emotion is the topic of chapter six, and the tips for
dealing with feelings are rather vague.  "Reason" is the title of
chapter seven, but much of the content is about irrationality.  We are
provided with a five factor test for personality in chapter eight. 
Random stuff about gender makes up chapter nine, with miscellaneous
ideas about brain development in chapter ten.

MacDonald has created a decent series of "Reader's Digest" level
articles in this book.  They are easy to read, pass the time, and may
provide some news or tips if you've never studied or thought about the
topics.

copyright Robert M. Slade, 2008   BKYBRNMM.RVW   20080922