Switch On Your Brain book review

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Date read: 06.02.2017. How strongly I recommend it: 10/10.

Switch On Your Brain: The Key to Peak Happiness, Thinking, and Health by Caroline Leaf on Amazon.

See my Kindle highlights here.

(Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means that the ministry of Within Reach Global will receive 4.50% of your total purchase from Amazon.)

TARGET AUDIENCE

I am intrigued by the human brain with all its intricacies. I am inspired by the reality that we as thinking beings can direct our thinking, wire out toxic patterns, replace them with healthy thoughts, increase our intelligence and live healthy lives thanks to the neuroplasticity of our brain. The author of this book says, “You have an extraordinary ability to determine, achieve, and maintain optimal levels of intelligence, mental health, peace, and happiness, as well as the prevention of disease in your body and mind. You can, through conscious effort, gain control of your thoughts and feelings, and in doing so, you can change the programming and chemistry of your brain.” In her words, “science is finally catching up with the age-old principles of the Bible.” This extraordinary book illustrates the incredible capabilities of the human brain and reveals the glory of God’s creative design.

CONTENT QUALITY

This well-written book provokes a paradigm shift in popular thinking about the human condition. Is it possible to “wire out” toxic thoughts and replace them with positive, biblical-based thinking? Is it possible to switch on your brain, to recall negative memories, and to”rewrite” positive new content (emotions) over them? The author thinks so, and provides ample scientific findings to prove her research. She states that “We are not victims of our biology. We are co-creators of our destiny alongside God. God leads, but we have to choose to let God lead. We have been designed to create thoughts, and from these we live out our lives (Prov. 23:7).” This is a sound biblical approach paired with proven scientific research. This book revolves around the author’s 21-Day Brain Detox Plan. She expounds by saying, “The five steps of the Switch On Your Brain technique in the 21-Day Brain Detox Plan include deliberate, conscious setting of goals, obtaining immediate feedback, and concentrating as much on the process as on the outcome.” I found the content of this book to be not only informative but particularly exhilarating.

MESSAGE CLARITY

Generosity is generally not a word I would use to describe an author’s work. But this book differs in that the author provides such a compelling message, then simplifies her approach in practical terms. The tone of this book resonates generosity. I get the impression that the author is passionate about wholeness and healthy living, and seeks simply to see people set free from wrong patterns of thought. After the author states that “The decisions you make today become part of the thought networks in your brain,” she then gives practical methods to rewire your thought life in a healthy way. Her Switch On Your Brain technique is a highly complex process that she has simplified into five sequences: Gather, Focused Reflection, Write, Revisit, and Active Reach. You will be amazed at the mental and physical possibilities that open to you after reading this book.

CREATIVE STYLE

Though the tone of this book does carry a certain scientific vernacular, the author does a remarkable job of simplifying terms and concepts for those who are not particularly inclined to scientific jargon. Her creative approach resonates through the text with statements like this: “Our brain is changing moment by moment as we are thinking. By our thinking and choosing, we are redesigning the landscape of our brain.” I pause to consider this. Redesigning the landscape of our brain? Is this truly a possibility. A paradigm shift begins to take root in my mind. The author continues: “When you objectively observe your own thinking with the view to capturing rogue thoughts, you in effect direct your attention to stop the negative impact and rewire healthy new circuits into your brain.” The creative possibilities that the author suggests are not only inspiring contemplations but powerful realities as well.

LANGUAGE SELECTION

As mentioned above, there is a lot of scientific vernacular in this book. I personally love this type of language selection. I feel this scientific research educating my brain and permeating my thought life. New possibilities open to me and I realize that I have the power to collapse these probabilities into actualities. This is exciting news! The author says, “Our thoughts, imagination, and choices can change the structure and function of our brains on every level: molecular, genetic, epigenetic, cellular, structural, neurochemical, electromagnetic, and even subatomic.” This, I have learned, is because of the neuroplasticity of our brain. Again the author expounds: “Neurological literature has coined the term “self-directed neuroplasticity” as a general description of the principle that deep thinking changes brain structure and function.” This type of language selection was powerful for me, challenged my thinking process, and opened endless new possibilities for health and wholeness.

OVERALL IMPACT

The afterword in the book was written by Matthew Crouch, president of Trinity Broadcasting Family of Networks. His thoughtful rumination on memory and the ability to rewrite new emotions over them resembles the overall impact that I personally felt after reading this book. He says, “For me, some of the “stuck” memories are events, locations, smells, feelings, visions, and dreams. Some are good; some are not as good.” He elaborates on a number of particular memories, then questions “Why do these events become us, become the very persona of who we are?” Some of his examples: “President Reagan being shot; the Challenger disaster; September 11, 2001; the birth of my boys, Caylan and Cody, their first steps, birthday cake being smashed into faces, etc.” I agree with Matthew that this book is the owner’s manual for how our brain works. I concur with his final statement about this book: “These pages are not information—they are revelation. And Caroline’s revelation will change the way you think.”