Spark
The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain
by John J. Ratey · first published 2008
85% recommend15% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Accessible lay introduction to the research on how aerobic exercise benefits the brain, covering depression, anxiety, ADHD, memory and cognition. Motivates readers to exercise for mental health, not just weight loss.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
A groundbreaking and fascinating investigation into the transformative effects of exercise on the brain, from the bestselling author and renowned psychiatrist John J. Ratey, MD.Did you know you can beat stress, lift your mood, fight memory loss, sharpen your intellect, and function better than ever simply by elevating your heart rate and breaking a sweat? The evidence is incontrovertible: Aerobic exercise physically remodels our brains for peak performance. In SPARK, John J. Ratey, M.D., embarks upon a fascinating and entertaining journey through the mind-body connection, presenting startling
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…through things and see if you can wrap your head around what's bothering you. 2. Exercise. Seriously. Exercise helps sleeps, weight loss, anxiety, depression, add--it's a pretty awesome medication. Read "Spark" by John Ratey. 3. Sleep. The times in my life I've felt most burnt out corresponded with awful sleeping patterns. (also see 2) 4. Reflect. After trying to talk through things and getting your body…
on “I'm burning out and I can't tell anyone” ↗The book Spark by John Ratey is a decent read for anyone who wants to go more in-depth on this topic. The big idea that Ratey tries to get across is a reframing of exercise as something that is essential to mental health,…
on “What happens to our brains when we exercise and how it makes us happier” ↗…interested in the effects of physical exercise over the brain in general - not only depression, but brain development, neuronal growth, memory retention, degenerative brain diseases - you should read "Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain" [1]. It's a great book, summarizing all the studies and discoveries around brain health and the link with body biochemistry and exercise over…
on “How Exercise May Protect Against Depression” ↗You're absolutely right. John Ratey (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ratey), the professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School who wrote Driven to Distration, recently published a book called Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain (http://www.amazon.com/Spark-Revolutionary-Science-Exercise-B...). Spark details how high-intensity cardio (like sprints or interval training)…
on “Adderall Addiction: The Last All-Nighter” ↗You should maybe read the book called "Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain" - http://www.amazon.com/Spark-Revolutionary-Science-Exercise-B... A great deal of what you're saying (and many more) is explained there.
on “Why I hate running (alt title: my running hacks)” ↗…DNA" is far fetched, but the link between exercise and the neurochemistry in the brain has been proved by multiple studies. I've mentioned here before, but John J. Ratey recently wrote the excellent Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain[1], where he explains in colorful details what happens in (and to) the brain when you exercise. [1] http://www.amazon.com/Spark-Revolutionary-Science-Exercise-B...
on “How exercise changes our DNA?” ↗…exercise. Students dramastically improved their grades in several schools once they were made into exercising with a heart rate monitor (higher heart rate - higher grade) every day: http://www.amazon.com/Spark-Revolutionary-Science-Exercise-B...
on “An Ex-Teacher Made a Video Game That Skewers the No Child Left Behind Act” ↗…http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Learn-Rosemary-Bowler/dp/0684... Learning Outside the Lines, http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Outside-Lines-Disabilities-Ed... ADD Success Stories, http://www.amazon.com/ADD-Success-Stories-Fulfillment-Attent... Spark (exercise), http://www.amazon.com/Spark-Revolutionary-Science-Exercise-B...
on “Entrepreneurial Tendencies Among People with ADHD” ↗The relationship between physical activity and neuroplasticity touched on in this article is also deeply discussed in the book: Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain https://www.amazon.com/Spark-Revolutionary-Science-Exercise-...
on “In Praise of Walking” ↗The book "Spark" by John Ratey also talks a lot about how regular aerobic exercise simply balances out a lot of systems, and very likely will help against everything from depression to Alzheimers.
on “What if regular exercise is the best cognitive exercise?” ↗…depression. As the author puts it, if exercise could be put in a pill it would be considered a miracle drug. The writing style is a bit gee-wiz, but I actually learned some useful stuff from the book. Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain http://www.amazon.com/Spark-Revolutionary-Science-Exercise-B...
on “How Exercise Can Strengthen the Brain” ↗Yes, I just read this book and wholly recommend it. John Ratey is a famous Harvard psychiatrist who wrote Driven to Distraction. In Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain (http://www.amazon.com/Spark-Revolutionary-Science-Exercise-B...), he explains how intense aerobic exercise, like sprints or interval training,…
on “What happens to our brains when we exercise and how it makes us happier” ↗John Ratey wrote several good books on ADD/ADHD as well as this one: _Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain_ http://www.amazon.com/Spark-Revolutionary-Science-Exercise-B... - it is pretty good.
on “Physical activity can have a positive effect on children who suffer from ADHD” ↗Spark, by John J. Ratey, one of the pioneers of studying ADHD and the impact of exercise on the brain. http://www.amazon.com/Spark-Revolutionary-Science-Exercise-B...
on “Ask HN: What book changed your life in 2014?” ↗Adding a plug for Ratey's book "Spark" (https://www.amazon.com/Spark-Revolutionary-Science-Exercise-...) which is a pretty good lay introduction to a lot of the research on cognition and exercise as well as exercise's role in ameliorating…
on “Neurogenesis linked to aerobic exercise” ↗