Book Review – Brainstorm
Image: Brainstorm by Len Lantz (CC BY-NC-ND)
Synopsis: Len's Star Rating: 9 out of 10. An excellent book for teens, young adults and parents to better understand the amazing personal, interpersonal and neurobiological changes that occur in adolescence.
BY LEN LANTZ, MD / 7.25.2021; No. 43
Disclaimer: Yes, I am a physician, but I’m not your doctor and this article does not create a doctor-patient relationship. This article is for educational purposes and should not be seen as medical advice. You should consult with your physician before you rely on this information. This post also contains affiliate links. Please click this LINK for the full disclaimer.
Star Rating – 9 out of 10
Rating guide: 1 = horrible, 5 = average and 10 = wow
Author
Daniel J. Siegel
About the author
Daniel J. Siegel, MD, is a pediatric psychiatrist, researcher and bestselling author of books on parenting and child emotional development. He is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine, Co-director of the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center and Executive Director of the Mindsight Institute.
General description
Brainstorm is a book written for young adults age 12-24 and their parents. Dr. Siegal puts to rest several myths about adolescence as he discusses important life events and neurobiological changes that occur during this period of development. The book not only addresses brain development but also touches on relationships and identity formation. The book’s subtitle, The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain, aptly summarizes what the book contains. Topics covered in this book include:
Common hurdles in adolescence
Reasons why the adolescent brain weighs risk/reward differently than the adult brain
The concept of brain remodeling rather than “raging hormones” to explain unique challenges in adolescence
The impact of the neurotransmitter dopamine on the teen brain
How our early attachment model affects us and our relationships
Values development
Unique and most important aspects
This is the fourth book by Dr. Siegel that I have reviewed and the first of which he is the sole author. I really enjoy his writing and unique voice. He not only talks about mindfulness but also writes mindfully. The author maintains a positive focus on a time in development that can have many challenges. His focus is on hope and the possibilities of adolescence rather than its problems. This book contains Mindsight Tools at the end of each chapter for the reader to practice activities that promote healthy brain development and functioning. Important concepts from Brainstorm include:
The brain’s transformation from rigid thinking (hyperrationality) to big-picture thinking (gist thinking)
Mindsight
The importance of integrating the various functions of the brain through our senses, thoughts, emotions, awareness, relationships and experiences
The positive impact of mindfulness activities on the brain
Exercises to enhance neuroplasticity
The word “MWe” to describe the integration of identity
Best quotes
“Adolescence is not a period of being ‘crazy’ or ‘immature.’ It is an essential time of emotional intensity, social engagement, and creativity. This is the essence of how we ‘ought’ to be, of what we are capable of, and of what we need as individuals and as a human family.”
“Mindsight is the ability to truly ‘see’ or know the mind. It’s a word I created years ago in medical school when I found that many of my professors lacked this ability – or at least didn’t exercise it well with their patients, or their students. I needed some word to remind me that seeing the mind, being empathic, compassionate, and kind, were important in all relationships, especially the one between a physician and a patient.”
“Research suggests that risky behaviors in adolescence have less to do with hormonal imbalances than with changes in our brain’s dopamine reward system combined with the cortical architecture that supports hyperrational decision-making creating the positive bias that is dominant during the teen years.”
“Presence cultivates authenticity and how we live.”
“Naturally we come to life with expectations. This is just the way the brain works. It is an anticipation machine, setting up from prior experiences a neurological filter that enables us to get ready for the next thing. We survive in the world because of these filters.”
Who would enjoy this book?
Readers who are looking for neurobiological answers to the amazing and challenging transitions of adolescence would likely enjoy Brainstorm.
Who would not enjoy this book?
Readers who are looking for specific advice on how to manage teenage discipline problems might not enjoy Brainstorm.
Conclusion
Brainstorm is an excellent book for teens, young adults and parents to better understand the amazing personal, interpersonal and neurobiological changes that occur in adolescence.