November 15, 1995
Health writer Leviton believes that the human brain is like a muscle: the more you use it, the stronger it gets. And he disagrees with the commonly held notion that cognitive abilities must decrease with age. To "age-proof your brain," Leviton recommends a pragmatic seven-step program that incorporates an understanding of your brain's rhythms with an awareness of how important diet, exercise, and music are to the thought process. Numerous mental calisthenics are presented to promote "alertness, concentration, perceptual speed, learning, memory, problem solving, and creativity." The nature of intelligence and how it is measured are also discussed at length. Though designed with baby boomers in mind, its positive, practical advice makes it equally valuable for high-school or college audiences. ((Reviewed November 15, 1995))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1995, American Library Association.)