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The Mind and the Brain: Neuroplasticity and the Power of Mental Force | 
 enlarge | Authors: Jeffrey M. Schwartz, Sharon Begley
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Category: Book
List Price: $16.95
Buy New: $9.97
You Save: $6.98 (41%)
New (34) Used (17) from $8.48
Rating:  44 reviews
Sales Rank: 12412
Media: Paperback
Pages: 432
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.1 x 1.2
ISBN: 0060988479
Dewey Decimal Number: 571
EAN: 9780060988470
ASIN: 0060988479
Publication Date: October 1, 2003
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Product Description
In his work treating patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder, Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz made an extraordinary discovery: by focusing their attention away from negative behaviors and toward positive ones, his patients were able to make permanent changes to their own neural pathways. In The Mind and the Brain Schwartz explores this power -- the power of the mind to shape the brain. Through research and case studies, he demonstrates the brain's ability to be drastically rewired, not just in childhood but throughout life -- a paradigm-shifting discovery that could transform the treatment of every neurological dysfunction, from dyslexia to stroke. Schwartz's landmark book challenges the idea that we are merely biologically programmed automatons and proves that we have the power to shape our brains and, consequently, our destiny -- a revolutionary insight that continues to provoke debate among those who care about the future of man's role in the universe.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 39 more reviews...
 Fantastic Exploration of Neuroplasticity, but Weak on Link to Quantum Physics and Proof of Free Will December 24, 2008
Amy E. Hawthorne (Jamaica Plain, MA USA)
The majority of this book deals with the biological, neurological and psychological threads that all came together only recently to support the theory of adult neuroplasticity and these chapters are riveting and informative. (N.B. there's lots of info on animal experiments that is unpleasant for squeamish non-scientists like myself) The authors amass and a wide range of experiments and evidence that prove the brain is plastic throughout normal adulthood and after traumatic injuries, and further that conscious choices can help shape the brain. It is presented in a way that is very easy to follow, even without a strong biology background. It's quite compelling and convincing and was a pleasure to read.
Then it veers into a tenuous link to quantum physics and the proof that we have Free Will (or Free Won't in some cases) and a mind that exists as more than the sum of chemicals and physical states of our brain. I found these chapters rather disappointing and not nearly as rigorous or strongly grounded as the earlier ones. However, I don't think this detracts from the central points of the book in any way. I think this is a must-read for anyone interested in modern neurology or the mind-brain question.
 The Consilience of Neuroscience, Jamesian Psychology, Buddhism, and Quantum Mechanics October 20, 2008
Bohdan Sirant
The Consilience of Neuroscience, Jamesian Psychology, Buddhism, and Quantum Mechanics
This excellent work reminded me of E.O Wilson's assertion that the sciences, humanities, and arts have one purpose: to give meaning to "a conviction, far deeper than a mere working proposition, that the world is orderly and can be explained by a small number of natural laws."
Dr. Jeffery Scwartz and Sharon Begley have, through a masterful integration and consilience of quantum mechanics, neuroscience, Jamesian and Buddhist psychology, done a wonderful job explaining issues in consciousness and why purposeful volition and awareness, "mindfulness" and the "power of mental force" works in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Speaking as someone with an engineering background, the authors are to be congratulated on making the scientific concepts, especially the physics concepts, such as the quantum, the Quantum Zeno Effect, and the Schroedinger's Cat thought experiment, accessible for readers who may not have a deeper knowledge often requires by other texts.
The book is illlustrated with several necessary diagrams to help the reader better understand the brain neuroanatomy, PET neuroimages, neurons, and so on.
Neocortical reorganization, or neuroplasticity, is a major relatively recent scientific finding.
This is one of the best works to holistically explain the basis for the newest rehabilitation physiotherapies and the third wave of mindfulness-based cognitive behavioural psychotherapies.
A fascinating exploration of mindfulness and neuroplasticity September 23, 2008
Taylor Ellwood
This book was probably the most fascinating book I read about neuroscience and that's saying something since I find all of them fascinating. In this book the author explains neuroplasticity and how it continues to work in the brains of an adult as well as a child. The author also reviews many of the neuroscience experiments and projects done by various people as well as how those projects have confirmed the efficacy of mindful practices in controlling our habits and thoughts.
What I found really fascinating was how the author's work with OCD patients help them overcome that affliction by learning how to rewire the thought patterns. Equally interesting is the focus on how we can deliberately change our brains not only to heal, but also to continue sharpening our skills. For people interested in the intersection of neuroscience and magic, this book is a must read. 5 out 5
You can Change your mind August 10, 2008
Grover Smith (Prairieville, La United States)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
This book presents a scientific premise that though you may be born hard wired or predisposed to certain thinking patterns those patterns are change able. You are what you think and how you think will make you what you will be. Yes we can inherit certain traits and chemical imbalances can affect our attitudes , but we are not bound , we are not slave to these patterns of thought . We can change the way we think . The admonition of scripture " to let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus " is achievable . We can develop new thinking patterns . That is one of the great blessings of meditating (thinking in a specific manner) on scripture that by this we can develop the mind of Christ in us . We do not have to be bound by hatred of another . When we consistently pray for one ( not pray against ) who is a perceived enemy , with time and practice our perception will change , our attitude will change , our MIND will change , even though they may not change their attitude towards us( this is about changing ourselves "0UR own MIND"). We cannot always make people like us but we can chose to love them . This book presents the scientific facts concerning the plasticity of the brain (the ability to reshape our brains by the application of our mind (will). ) This book is a great encouragement for personnel change . Chemical imbalances affect the way we think , but the way we think affects the chemicals we release . Bitterness is rooted in our habits of thought and can only be rooted out by a new way of thinking (Jesus is the way the truth and the light). This book is not a theology book but The Bible will shed a lot of light on it . The heart of man ( how he thinks , our emotional seat )can be changed . With the help of Christ we can break the chains and habits of (the motions) miss thinking , negative thought life , lustful thinking(sin) . Some may call it "the power of positive thinking" , the Bible refers to it as righteous living or , doing what is right in the sight of God (as defined by scripture in the Bible). We can develope an attitude of gratitude for the blessings in our life even as we strive to over come the difficulties we daily face . The fact that there are now instruments that can register our mental activity and quantify mental changes is a bonus.
Thorough and satisfying July 31, 2008
B. Young (Clinton, UT USA)
Schwartz provides a thorough picture of the development of neuroscience over the 20 years. His research into OCD is presented in a simple yet beautiful way. His book open my mind to the beauty of the human brain and to the idea of the mind. The chapter on physics was a little hard to understand.
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