1. The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge

In this new look at the human brain, psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Norman Doidge, M.D., delivers an introduction to both the scientists advocating and developing neuroscience and the people whose lives have been transformed by this new science. This best-selling book delves into stroke patients’ journey of re-learning to speak to the unprecedented case of a woman born with only half of her brain who worked with neuroscientists to rewire her incomplete brain to work as a whole. The Brain That Changes Itself will forever change the way we see our brains, and the potential they hold for living a better life.

2. Rewire Your Anxious Brain by Catherine Pittman and Elizabeth Karle

Authors Catherine Pittman and Elizabeth Karle dive into how different parts of the brain such as the amygdala and cortex are crucial players in the game of stress and anxiety. This great book offers readers specific examples of how to best handle fear and anxiety by taking advantage of our brain’s ability to adapt to new stimuli. Readers gain a better grasp on how stress, anxiety, and fear are created by the brain. This book is available to purchase through various retailers such as Amazon and is available in kindle format.

3. The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma — by: Bessel A. van der Kolk

Trauma is unfortunately something that everyone experiences at some point in their life. For example, many veterans and their families face the difficult task of dealing with combat-related trauma. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk is a world renowned expert on trauma who has devoted his career to helping survivors heal from their traumas. In his book, The Body Keeps the Score, Dr. Peter uses recent scientific advancements to illustrate how trauma physically changes both the body and brain, which decreases sufferers’ abilities for joy, involvement self-control, and trust.

Dr. van der Kolk studies Brain-Body treatments — such as neurofeedback and meditation, sports, drama, and yoga in order to offer patients new paths of recovery by activating the brain’s natural ability to heal itself. According to Dr. van der Kolk’s own research as well as other specialists’, The Body Keeps The Score explains the immensely negative or positive effect our relationships have on us — offering sufferers a ray of hope.

4. Livewired, by David Eaglemen

In Livewired, you will surf the leading edge of neuroscience atop the anecdotes and metaphors that have made David Eagleman one of the best scientific translators of our generation. Covering decades of research to the present day, Livewired also presents new discoveries from Eagleman’s own laboratory, from synesthesia to dreaming to wearable neurotech devices that revolutionize how we think about the senses. You can listen to Livewired on audible.com.

5. Change Your Brain, Change Your Life (Revised and Expanded) by Daniel G. Amen

In this page-turning book author Daniel Amen provides empirical evidence that depression, anxiety, OCD, and even anger are all related to the structure of your unique brain. Neuropsychiatrist Dr. Daniel Amen explains how you are not stuck with the brain you have, and reveals several exercises that can heal and change how your brain operates. This book is available to purchase through various retailers such as Amazon and is available in kindle format.

6. Hardwiring Happiness by Rick Hanson

Hardwiring Happiness describes a simple technique that utilizes the secret power in everyday situations to form new neural brain structures meant to increase mindfulness, calmness, and overall better mental health. In this best-selling new book, Dr. Hanson lays out four simple steps that build stability into your brain to foster a sense of resilience and well-being.

7. Buddha’s Brain by Rick Hanson

Rick Hanson does a remarkable job of marrying the concepts of neuroplasticity, and thousands of years of mindfulness approaches to aid in fostering mental peace, overall well-being, better self-confidence, and psychological growth. The book contains guided meditations and neuroplasticity exercises meant to activate your brain and foster immense personal growth during everyday life. This book offers an exceptional convergence of psychology, neurology, and mindfulness practice, and is packed with practical techniques and skills that can be used every day.

8. The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor

Shawn Achor flips the old conventional wisdom of Happiness on its head. Most people believe if you work hard enough, make enough money, or fit into those old jeans from college happiness will follow. However, Anchor, who was a Harvard University professor teaching about the frontiers of brain science, turns the happiness perspective on its head; success doesn’t cause happiness, happiness causes success. Drawing from his own research, new discoveries about the human brain, and case studies, this book explains how happiness stimulates engagement in our brains leading to more success in our lives. In his book, Anchor explains how we can rewire our brains to be calmer, more positive, and therefore more successful. This book is available to purchase through various retailers such as Amazon and is available in kindle format

9. Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain by Sharon Begley

Author Sharon Begley delves into how the ancient knowledge of Buddhism paired with new insights into the human brain has revealed that we have the ability to alter our brain for the better. This new science is called neuroplasticity (the capability of the brain to alter itself as a response to experience) demonstrates that the brain has the power to completely change its structure down to the neurons and it is the brain’s way of handling situations it deems helpful or harmful to us. Sharon Begley reveals how this new science and old Buddhist knowledge can come together to help the brain heal after trauma and illnesses such as depression and OCD through the practice of mindfulness.

10. The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

In The Power of Habit, award-winning enterprise journalist Charles Duhigg takes readers to the compelling center of scientific findings that demonstrate why our habits occur and how even the most deep-seated habits can be altered through the use of neuroplasticity. This book provides extensive knowledge into engaging narratives that take readers from Procter & Gamble boardrooms to the NFL sidelines to the forefront of civil rights movements. Duhigg offers an entirely new understanding of the human brain and its ever-present potential. The Power of Habit includes an exciting idea: The key to more regular exercising, weight loss, increased productivity, and gaining success is comprehending how our habits operate. This book explains that by harnessing neuroplasticity, you can improve your businesses, community, and overall health.

Brain-rewiring FAQs

What is brain-rewiring?

Brain-rewiring is the process of re-wiring your brain to create new neural pathways. Brain re-wiring or brain retraining is most often done in order to get rid of negative behaviors or thoughts that have an adverse impact on your life. This can be done through activities like meditation, mindfulness, creative hobbies, and exposure therapy. Books on neuroplasticity can provide insights and guidance on how to effectively rewire your brain and are a great way to get you started toward better health.

How can I rewire my brain fast?

Just as everyone’s brain is uniquely different, so is the amount of time it can take to rewire your brain. Most experts estimate it takes between 3 months to over a year to retrain your brain to form positive habits. However, just as with any large goal, time and commitment to the process are crucial, meaning truly positive change can take some time. Speed is good but quality is better. So try adding some brain-rewiring activities into your day-to-day life. Some effective methods for rewiring your brain include meditation, exercise, creative hobbies such as art or music, mindfulness, and exposure therapy.

How can I train my brain to read more?

There are a number of brain-training exercises you can do to help improve your reading speed and comprehension. At home, you can begin exercises on your own that can improve your reading. For instance, try reading a favorite book in smaller sections at one time with limited distractions around you such as phones and televisions. Another method is to bring a book with you throughout the day and read it during any downtime in which you might usually look at your phone to browse social media or play a game. To train focus and concentration, while reading try and take notes, such as highlighting a quote that resonates with you or annotating important passages which are excellent ways to inhibit passively skimming through the material and not paying attention to what you are reading. Try some basic speed-reading exercises, as well.

What is neuroplasticity training?

Neuroplasticity training is any type of activity that helps to rewire your brain which is a large focus in the area of neuroscience which is all things brain There are programs, books, and reading material that teaches how to implement brain training. Most of the programs focus on the idea that when the brain is supplied with the appropriate encouragement, new neural pathways can be created, which revives healthy function in a previously dysfunctional brain and nervous system. The encouragements or “stimuli” provided by retraining programs incorporate physical exercises, such as visualizations and body movements meditations, journaling, group coaching, and brain-training exercises. These activities allow the brain to scrap damaging, dysfunctional neural pathways and construct new healthy neural connections which pose a lot of benefits.

What are the benefits of neuroplasticity training?

There are numerous ways that retraining the human brain can support us in everyday life functioning such as getting rid of bad habits as well as more serious brain functions such as post-stroke complications, brain injury, chronic pain, cognitive decline, chronic illness, anxiety, and depression. Improving one’s brain plasticity helps foster better learning, increase overall cognitive function, and may help alleviate symptoms brought on by chronic illnesses

References

Kalnikaitŏ, V., & Whittaker, S. (2007). Does Taking Notes Help You Remember Better? Exploring How Note-Taking Relates to Memory. In Workshop Proceedings.

Kays, J. L., Hurley, R. A., & Taber, K. H. (2012). The dynamic brain: neuroplasticity and mental health. The Journal of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences, 24(2), 118–124.

McGuire, J. (n.d.). How Long Does it Take to Rewire the Brain From Addiction? Experts Weigh In. WebMD. Retrieved October 19, 2022, from https://www.webmd.com/connect-to-care/addiction-treatment-recovery/how-long-does-it-take-to-rewire-the-brain-from-addiction

Top 10 Brain-Rewiring Books To Read in 2023