Something You Should Know about Memory and Brain Health

January 9, 2012

Interview with Michael Gelb, author of the book Brain Power: Improve Your Mind as You Age

________________

Mike Carruthers:
After age 30 mental function declines, that has been a long standing belief that is not necessarily true.

Michael Gelb:
Much of what passes for memory loss with age is really a depletion of oxygen supply to the brain. And that depletion is a function of a sedentary lifestyle and not actually using your brain.
 

December 26, 2011

Interview with Alex S. Key, author of the book The Third Basic Instinct: How Religion Doesn't Get You (Revised Edition)

________________

Mike Carruthers:
Every creature on the earth has two basic instincts, survival and reproduction and what makes humans different from other creatures is our third basic instinct.

Alex S. Key:
And I propose that the third basic instinct is innate human curiosity - our desire to stimulate our minds, our desire to learn, the instinct to learn.
 

December 15, 2011

Interview with Shawn Smith, author of the book The User's Guide to the Human Mind: Why Our Brains Make Us Unhappy, Anxious, and Neurotic and What We Can Do about It

________________

Mike Carruthers:
The primary job of the human mind is not to keep you happy but to keep you safe.

Shawn Smith:
That’s why you’ll notice that the bookshelves in the bookstore are filled with books about how to be happy because happiness is not really the default state for our brains. Our brains are really much more concerned about us surviving.
 

October 13, 2011

Interview with Jonathan Fields, author of the book Uncertainty: Turning Fear and Doubt into Fuel for Brilliance

________________

Mike Carruthers:
In the minds of many being productive and doing great work means working hard, nose to the grindstone – but that’s only part of the process.

Jonathan Fields:
The really big insights and ideas usually come when we work really hard and then we step away.