The best-selling neuroscientist and author of The Organized Mind explains what happens to our brains from womb to tomb.
We have long been encouraged to think of old age as synonymous with deterioration. Yet, recent studies show that our decision-making skills improve as we age and our happiness levels peak in our eighties. What really happens to our brains as we get older?
More of us are living into our eighties than ever before. In The Changing Mind, neuroscientist, psychologist and internationally-bestselling author Daniel Levitin invites us to dramatically shift our understanding of growing older, demonstrating its many cognitive benefits. He draws on cutting-edge research to challenge common and flawed beliefs, including assumptions around memory loss and the focus on lifespan instead of 'healthspan'.
Levitin reveals the evolving power of the human brain from infancy to late adulthood. Distilling the findings from over 4000 papers, he explains the importance of personality traits, lifestyle, memory and community on ageing, offering actionable tips that we can all start now, at any age.
Featuring compelling insights from individuals who have thrived far beyond the conventional age of retirement, this book offers realistic guidelines and practical cognitive enhancing tricks for everyone to follow during every decade of their life. This is a radical exploration of what we all can learn from those who age joyously
Product description
Review
The secrets of ageing well ... Daniel Levitin is a distinguished American neuroscientist and this is a serious, evidence-based guide to what really works and why ― Sunday Times
A fact-filled and optimistic guide to ageing well ... Levitin is an invaluable kind of scientist ... The Changing Mind is replete with curious facts ... Optimism is a life-preserver. His book bubbles with it. Levitin makes a strong case for the consolations if not the joys of age -- John Sutherland ― The Times
Optimistic in tone ... Levitin loves to tell stories ... he's a good companion ― Evening Standard
Comprehensive and fascinating insight into the evolving human brain. This book could change your life ― Professor Stephen Westaby, author of 'Fragile Lives'
None of us can afford to ignore Daniel Levitin's The Changing Mind ... The good news is that it's not all downhill: according to Levitin our decision-making skills and happiness levels actually increase in later life ― New Statesman
The idea that your mind has to decline with age is false - and there is plenty we can do to keep it sharp ― Telegraph
Neuroscientist Levitin delves into the multiple-trace theory of memory, the ageing microbiome, fats and the brain, the impacts of neural implants, and the joys of non-retirement. A clear-eyed, insightful overview of the neurophysiological healthspan ― Nature
Delivers welcome news about the ageing brain: it is happier, quicker and often much healthier than you may imagine ― New Scientist
Daniel Levitin's refreshing perspective on ageing will change your opinion on this unique phase of life and challenge the 'slowing down' stereotype. Using a scientific and thoroughly engaging approach, Levitin convinces us that with medical advances alongside positive lifestyle changes described in this book, we can all look forward to older age as a fulfilling and exciting chapter in our lives ― Dr Rupy Aujla, author of The Doctor’s Kitchen
This is a book that can make things feel a whole lot brighter ― Big Issue
If you're planning to age, read this book. Wise, sensitive, and insightful, Levitin shares the tools that allow you to optimize the process ― David Eagleman, author of 'The Brain'
A wise, insightful, and beautifully-written book on how we can navigate the waters of time. Helpful for readers at any age. ― Daniel Gilbert, author of 'Stumbling on Happiness'
Predictions are perilous, but here's one I can make with certainty: Tomorrow you and I will be older than we are today. That's why you, I, and everyone we know needs this remarkable book. With a scientist's rigour and a storyteller's flair, Daniel Levitin offers a fresh approach to growing older. He debunks the idea that ageing inevitably brings infirmity and unhappiness and instead offers a trove of practical, evidence-based guidance for living longer and better. The Changing Mind is an essential book for the rest of your life. ― Daniel H. Pink, author of 'When' and 'Drive'
A compelling primer on our amazingly dynamic brains and the steps we can all take to harness that potential ― Dr Rahul Jandial, author of 'Life Lessons from a Brain Surgeon'
An uplifting exploration of the brain, and how it does not age as we often fear ― Camilla Cavendish, author of 'Extra Time'
Book Description
The best-selling neuroscientist and author of The Organized Mind explains what happens to our brains from womb to tomb.
Read more
Successful Aging: A Neuroscientist Explores the Power and…
Daniel J. Levitin
4.5 out of 5 stars 486
Hardcover
$49.06$49.06
FREE Delivery
Customer reviews
4.4 out of 5 stars
Top reviews from Australia
Joseph E. Feredoes
5.0 out of 5 stars Essential bookReviewed in Australia on 8 July 2020
Verified Purchase
Very informative, easy to read despite the highly professional subject. This book gave me answers to many problems I couldn't understand. I recommend everybody over 40. Also, younger readers could learn a lot about problems caused by aging parents, grandparents. Tons of misconceptions cleared and explained. Although I am 74, my approach to fellow oldies has significantly changed.
Absolutely great book. Don 't miss it.
HelpfulReport abuse
Freya
5.0 out of 5 stars This is loads of information, and much to ponder & referenceReviewed in Australia on 5 November 2020
Verified Purchase
I loved this interesting knowledge base and I find it heartening, encouraging & very informative as one ages !
HelpfulReport abuse
See all reviews
Top reviews from other countries
William Jordan
3.0 out of 5 stars A loose baggy monster, but an interesting oneReviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 March 2020
Verified Purchase
This book lack focus but certainly does not lack interest.
The lack of focus is perhaps indicated most clearly by the fact that the author refers to his book as being called 'successful ageing' in his Introduction, but his UK publishers have decided to call it 'the changing mind'. Some of it's about the mind (more of it than perhaps you need if your primary interest is ageing), some of it's about ageing and not really about the mind at all (leaving 'end of life' instructions and so on figures in the end pages of the book).
It's also quite hard to focus the 'take aways' from the book. From the early, mind-oriented, part, it would seem that conscientiousness is the key to a successful life and to successful ageing (the book starts with discussion about 'how would you measure personality starting from a blank sheet of paper'). From the later part, you might think, drawing the longitudinal Harvard study of men, that 'all you need is love', which seems a bit different. And then there are all the discussions of behaviours that might promote successful ageing, including diet (fasting seems a good idea - but it's not clear what form this should take; drugs that mimic fasting may also work - a first trial just getting underway), exercise (the author thinks integrate this into daily life - it will be better for the brain - than going to the gym; and a little is better than none - manageable and short-term stress is good for us); an then there's sleep (but this is really a refresher course on the book 'why do we sleep'). There are also a lot of personal anecdotes. And an occasional reference to genetics.
It may be possible to draw all this together. The author twice quotes Freud's statement about the importance being able to work and being to love. But perhaps the more relevant quotation would be the one says 'where was id, there shall ego be' - but which I mean that perhaps the more 'conscientious' we are, the more our conscious takes control of our lives rather than our unconscious, and the more we have a secure environment to grow up in, the most this fosters our sense of being in control of our lives. And this sense of control then leads people who have it, to be able to eat well, exercise well, keep their sleeping well regulated - and extend that sense of control of their lives into their old age by not retiring (another helpful tip - though the 'unretired' examples in the book are academics, professionals and musicians - which is not a very representative sample of humanity)
Anyway, I enjoyed reading the book (and trying to make it all cohere), and would recommend it to others. But I would say that the author could perhaps have done a bit more of the work for the reader...
Read less
76 people found this helpfulReport abuse
Mr. P. James
3.0 out of 5 stars A bit long-winded!Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 March 2020
Verified Purchase
I bought this following an interesting review in a national newspaper saying that people are at their happiest at the age of 82, that you can improve your memory and remain active as you get older, and with the author being a neuroscientist it seemed that it might have some trustworthy information. It does indeed have some interesting information and pointers for self-improvement, but you have to bear with it to find them. It is not an easy ready, as it is from a scientific point of view, and the author never writes one sentence when he can write fifty! There is an awful lot of waffle and labouring the same point over and over. The 528 page book would have benefited from some pruning and it all could have been said in 250 pages or less. If I'd known this I would have had a notepad beside me when I began reading it and made notes of the salient points or jotted down relevant page numbers to refer back to Now there are some facts that I want to recall, but I really cannot plough through 528 pages again to find them. The same author has some other attractive titles, but I wouldn't buy another one of his books after this. It is a classic case of "less is more"!
49 people found this helpfulReport abuse
J. Baldwin
5.0 out of 5 stars Wise, authoritative and entertainingReviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 March 2020
Verified Purchase
This is a terrific book which is packed with information and advice about mitigating the adverse effects of growing old. Professor Levitin's book is, however, much more than a collection of helpful tips for the elderly. In The Changing Mind, he challenges much of the conventional wisdom about ageing and discusses in detail its scientific basis, covering a great deal of the available neuroscience and psychological research. Although the science is inevitably complex and technical, Levitin's writing is a pleasure to read: it is consistently wise, authoritative and entertaining. There are even some good jokes in the book. Anyone who wants to live well in old age would benefit from reading it.
18 people found this helpfulReport abuse
John Sheldon
3.0 out of 5 stars An important book but I hesitate to recommend it ...Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 June 2020
Verified Purchase
The subject matter is very important for those of us of a "certain age" and much of the research described in the book is very interesting. The key messages are stimulating but somehow I had expected more insights.
On the downside, the book lacks a clear purpose and structure. It meanders around and often sinks into excessive detail. I managed to read it to the end, but only just. With a better focus and a lot of pruning, it would have been a great book.
15 people found this helpfulReport abuse
Sean W
3.0 out of 5 stars Heavy on detailReviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 March 2020
Verified Purchase
Not what I was expecting, which may well be my fault as having heard the author talk on the radio I assumed the main focus of the book was on retirement.
I found myself skimming many pages trying to find nuggets of advice etc on retirement. As the book is all about health the author can rightly say this matters to retirees. But, it is so very heavy on detail you will need to be
extremely keen on health issues to get the most from the book which I found to be targeted more at academics. I suppose I read at most 50 of the 476 pages.
12 people found this helpfulReport abuse
We have long been encouraged to think of old age as synonymous with deterioration. Yet, recent studies show that our decision-making skills improve as we age and our happiness levels peak in our eighties. What really happens to our brains as we get older?
More of us are living into our eighties than ever before. In The Changing Mind, neuroscientist, psychologist and internationally-bestselling author Daniel Levitin invites us to dramatically shift our understanding of growing older, demonstrating its many cognitive benefits. He draws on cutting-edge research to challenge common and flawed beliefs, including assumptions around memory loss and the focus on lifespan instead of 'healthspan'.
Levitin reveals the evolving power of the human brain from infancy to late adulthood. Distilling the findings from over 4000 papers, he explains the importance of personality traits, lifestyle, memory and community on ageing, offering actionable tips that we can all start now, at any age.
Featuring compelling insights from individuals who have thrived far beyond the conventional age of retirement, this book offers realistic guidelines and practical cognitive enhancing tricks for everyone to follow during every decade of their life. This is a radical exploration of what we all can learn from those who age joyously
Product description
Review
The secrets of ageing well ... Daniel Levitin is a distinguished American neuroscientist and this is a serious, evidence-based guide to what really works and why ― Sunday Times
A fact-filled and optimistic guide to ageing well ... Levitin is an invaluable kind of scientist ... The Changing Mind is replete with curious facts ... Optimism is a life-preserver. His book bubbles with it. Levitin makes a strong case for the consolations if not the joys of age -- John Sutherland ― The Times
Optimistic in tone ... Levitin loves to tell stories ... he's a good companion ― Evening Standard
Comprehensive and fascinating insight into the evolving human brain. This book could change your life ― Professor Stephen Westaby, author of 'Fragile Lives'
None of us can afford to ignore Daniel Levitin's The Changing Mind ... The good news is that it's not all downhill: according to Levitin our decision-making skills and happiness levels actually increase in later life ― New Statesman
The idea that your mind has to decline with age is false - and there is plenty we can do to keep it sharp ― Telegraph
Neuroscientist Levitin delves into the multiple-trace theory of memory, the ageing microbiome, fats and the brain, the impacts of neural implants, and the joys of non-retirement. A clear-eyed, insightful overview of the neurophysiological healthspan ― Nature
Delivers welcome news about the ageing brain: it is happier, quicker and often much healthier than you may imagine ― New Scientist
Daniel Levitin's refreshing perspective on ageing will change your opinion on this unique phase of life and challenge the 'slowing down' stereotype. Using a scientific and thoroughly engaging approach, Levitin convinces us that with medical advances alongside positive lifestyle changes described in this book, we can all look forward to older age as a fulfilling and exciting chapter in our lives ― Dr Rupy Aujla, author of The Doctor’s Kitchen
This is a book that can make things feel a whole lot brighter ― Big Issue
If you're planning to age, read this book. Wise, sensitive, and insightful, Levitin shares the tools that allow you to optimize the process ― David Eagleman, author of 'The Brain'
A wise, insightful, and beautifully-written book on how we can navigate the waters of time. Helpful for readers at any age. ― Daniel Gilbert, author of 'Stumbling on Happiness'
Predictions are perilous, but here's one I can make with certainty: Tomorrow you and I will be older than we are today. That's why you, I, and everyone we know needs this remarkable book. With a scientist's rigour and a storyteller's flair, Daniel Levitin offers a fresh approach to growing older. He debunks the idea that ageing inevitably brings infirmity and unhappiness and instead offers a trove of practical, evidence-based guidance for living longer and better. The Changing Mind is an essential book for the rest of your life. ― Daniel H. Pink, author of 'When' and 'Drive'
A compelling primer on our amazingly dynamic brains and the steps we can all take to harness that potential ― Dr Rahul Jandial, author of 'Life Lessons from a Brain Surgeon'
An uplifting exploration of the brain, and how it does not age as we often fear ― Camilla Cavendish, author of 'Extra Time'
Book Description
The best-selling neuroscientist and author of The Organized Mind explains what happens to our brains from womb to tomb.
Read more
Successful Aging: A Neuroscientist Explores the Power and…
Daniel J. Levitin
4.5 out of 5 stars 486
Hardcover
$49.06$49.06
FREE Delivery
Customer reviews
4.4 out of 5 stars
Top reviews from Australia
Joseph E. Feredoes
5.0 out of 5 stars Essential bookReviewed in Australia on 8 July 2020
Verified Purchase
Very informative, easy to read despite the highly professional subject. This book gave me answers to many problems I couldn't understand. I recommend everybody over 40. Also, younger readers could learn a lot about problems caused by aging parents, grandparents. Tons of misconceptions cleared and explained. Although I am 74, my approach to fellow oldies has significantly changed.
Absolutely great book. Don 't miss it.
HelpfulReport abuse
Freya
5.0 out of 5 stars This is loads of information, and much to ponder & referenceReviewed in Australia on 5 November 2020
Verified Purchase
I loved this interesting knowledge base and I find it heartening, encouraging & very informative as one ages !
HelpfulReport abuse
See all reviews
Top reviews from other countries
William Jordan
3.0 out of 5 stars A loose baggy monster, but an interesting oneReviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 March 2020
Verified Purchase
This book lack focus but certainly does not lack interest.
The lack of focus is perhaps indicated most clearly by the fact that the author refers to his book as being called 'successful ageing' in his Introduction, but his UK publishers have decided to call it 'the changing mind'. Some of it's about the mind (more of it than perhaps you need if your primary interest is ageing), some of it's about ageing and not really about the mind at all (leaving 'end of life' instructions and so on figures in the end pages of the book).
It's also quite hard to focus the 'take aways' from the book. From the early, mind-oriented, part, it would seem that conscientiousness is the key to a successful life and to successful ageing (the book starts with discussion about 'how would you measure personality starting from a blank sheet of paper'). From the later part, you might think, drawing the longitudinal Harvard study of men, that 'all you need is love', which seems a bit different. And then there are all the discussions of behaviours that might promote successful ageing, including diet (fasting seems a good idea - but it's not clear what form this should take; drugs that mimic fasting may also work - a first trial just getting underway), exercise (the author thinks integrate this into daily life - it will be better for the brain - than going to the gym; and a little is better than none - manageable and short-term stress is good for us); an then there's sleep (but this is really a refresher course on the book 'why do we sleep'). There are also a lot of personal anecdotes. And an occasional reference to genetics.
It may be possible to draw all this together. The author twice quotes Freud's statement about the importance being able to work and being to love. But perhaps the more relevant quotation would be the one says 'where was id, there shall ego be' - but which I mean that perhaps the more 'conscientious' we are, the more our conscious takes control of our lives rather than our unconscious, and the more we have a secure environment to grow up in, the most this fosters our sense of being in control of our lives. And this sense of control then leads people who have it, to be able to eat well, exercise well, keep their sleeping well regulated - and extend that sense of control of their lives into their old age by not retiring (another helpful tip - though the 'unretired' examples in the book are academics, professionals and musicians - which is not a very representative sample of humanity)
Anyway, I enjoyed reading the book (and trying to make it all cohere), and would recommend it to others. But I would say that the author could perhaps have done a bit more of the work for the reader...
Read less
76 people found this helpfulReport abuse
Mr. P. James
3.0 out of 5 stars A bit long-winded!Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 March 2020
Verified Purchase
I bought this following an interesting review in a national newspaper saying that people are at their happiest at the age of 82, that you can improve your memory and remain active as you get older, and with the author being a neuroscientist it seemed that it might have some trustworthy information. It does indeed have some interesting information and pointers for self-improvement, but you have to bear with it to find them. It is not an easy ready, as it is from a scientific point of view, and the author never writes one sentence when he can write fifty! There is an awful lot of waffle and labouring the same point over and over. The 528 page book would have benefited from some pruning and it all could have been said in 250 pages or less. If I'd known this I would have had a notepad beside me when I began reading it and made notes of the salient points or jotted down relevant page numbers to refer back to Now there are some facts that I want to recall, but I really cannot plough through 528 pages again to find them. The same author has some other attractive titles, but I wouldn't buy another one of his books after this. It is a classic case of "less is more"!
49 people found this helpfulReport abuse
J. Baldwin
5.0 out of 5 stars Wise, authoritative and entertainingReviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 March 2020
Verified Purchase
This is a terrific book which is packed with information and advice about mitigating the adverse effects of growing old. Professor Levitin's book is, however, much more than a collection of helpful tips for the elderly. In The Changing Mind, he challenges much of the conventional wisdom about ageing and discusses in detail its scientific basis, covering a great deal of the available neuroscience and psychological research. Although the science is inevitably complex and technical, Levitin's writing is a pleasure to read: it is consistently wise, authoritative and entertaining. There are even some good jokes in the book. Anyone who wants to live well in old age would benefit from reading it.
18 people found this helpfulReport abuse
John Sheldon
3.0 out of 5 stars An important book but I hesitate to recommend it ...Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 June 2020
Verified Purchase
The subject matter is very important for those of us of a "certain age" and much of the research described in the book is very interesting. The key messages are stimulating but somehow I had expected more insights.
On the downside, the book lacks a clear purpose and structure. It meanders around and often sinks into excessive detail. I managed to read it to the end, but only just. With a better focus and a lot of pruning, it would have been a great book.
15 people found this helpfulReport abuse
Sean W
3.0 out of 5 stars Heavy on detailReviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 March 2020
Verified Purchase
Not what I was expecting, which may well be my fault as having heard the author talk on the radio I assumed the main focus of the book was on retirement.
I found myself skimming many pages trying to find nuggets of advice etc on retirement. As the book is all about health the author can rightly say this matters to retirees. But, it is so very heavy on detail you will need to be
extremely keen on health issues to get the most from the book which I found to be targeted more at academics. I suppose I read at most 50 of the 476 pages.
12 people found this helpfulReport abuse
