From Publishers Weekly
Director of the UCLA Center on Aging, Small (The Memory Bible) presents his "boot camp for the brain" program, which pulls together the four most well-proven strategies for brain and body health: mental activity, physical conditioning, stress reduction and a "healthy brain diet." Small admits no one has found "the fountain of youth," but claims to be "among the billions awaiting a first sighting." In the meantime, he suggests using this book's memory assessment tests, basic low-fat meal plans and brain-teasing exercises to achieve "quality longevity." He peppers his chapters with a "subjective memory questionnaire," "right brain" and "left brain" exercises and advanced memory drills that suggest assigning visual images to words and names (e.g., "Weinberger: a bottle of wine falling on a burger"). Employing a chatty writing style that occasionally lapses into infomercial-speak ("But wait, there's more!"), Small manages to intersperse authoritative scientific evidence from leading research universities throughout the text. But much of the information here can be found in a variety of other fitness and lifestyle books, such as relaxation and stress reduction techniques, healthy diet and exercise plans, and examples of the power of positive thinking and keeping mentally active. Small pays scant attention to popular (if unproven) memory-boosting rejuvenators like hormone replacement therapy and ginkgo biloba. Small's reporting on memory research may be up to the minute, but overall his book feels padded and unoriginal.
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Review
"Dr. Small's eminently readable book is an indispensable guide to improved memory, clear, rational thinking and increased mental agility." -- Nicholas Perricone, M.D., author of The Perricone Prescription and The Wrinkle Cure
"Dr. Small's 14-Day "Boot Camp for the Brain" is an easy way to safeguard your brain and body against aging." -- Alan Gelenberg, M.D., University of Arizona College of Medicine
"Practical steps you can take in all aspects of lifestyle to keep your brain and mind in good working order." -- Andrew Weil, M.D., author of Natural Health, Natural Medicine
"Engaging and stimulating, Memory Prescription provides us with the insights we need to stay healthy and maintain memory fitness." -- Judith Reichman, M.D., author of Slow Down Your Clock
"Small has put together a tight, neatly wrapped package that will jump-start nearly everyone's memory . . . perfect, timely, practical, and brilliant." -- P. Murali Doraiswamy, M.D., Duke University Medical Center
"A straight-forward, easily-understood, entertaining book that explains how the brain ages and what we can do to slow it down." -- Rachel Doody, M.D., Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine
"Worried about your brain? Don't be. The answers are finally all in one place -- this practical, light-hearted, and reassuring manual." -- Pierre Tariot, M.D., University of Rochester School of Medicine
"I guarantee readers of The Memory Prescription will have more confidence in their memory and an increased sense of well-being." -- Stephen Salloway, M.D., Brown University Medical School
"Before your memory slips, use The Memory Prescription to improve your memory and keep it stronger than you thought possible." -- Mark Goulston, M.D., author of Get Out of Your Own Way
About the Author
Gary Small, M.D., is director of the UCLA Longevity Center. Named one of the world’s leading innovators in science and technology by Scientific American, he appears frequently on Today, Good Morning America, PBS, and CNN. He is also author of the bestselling The Memory Bible.
