I am often asked “what can I read next to learn more about brain, behavior and addiction,” and so provide this list of references. This is certainly not an exhaustive list, but what I have enjoyed and recommend. The resources generally cover four topics: neurology, behavior, Bible and prayer. My comments follow.
Amen, Daniel G. Change Your Brain Change Your Life, The Breakthrough Program for Conquering Anxiety, Depression, Obsessiveness, Anger, and Impulsiveness. Three Rivers Press (Random House), 1998. Anything from this pioneering neuro-psychiatrist in brain scanning is loaded with practical ways to change the brain and behavior.
Amen, Daniel G. Healing the Hardware of the Soul, Enhance Your Brain to Improve Your Work, Love, and Spiritual Life. A program allowing transformation of the mind – the seat of the soul – for greater self-understanding.
Amthor, Frank. Neuroscience for Dummies. John Wiley & Sons, Canada, 2010. This is authored by a professor of psychology, who holds appointments in departments of neurobiology, optometry and biomedical engineering, and explains brain structure and function in smaller topics with graphics.
Arden, John B. and Linford, Lloyd. Brain-Based Therapy for Adults; Evidence-Based Treatment for Everyday Practice. John Wiley & Sons, 2009. Brain based therapeutic strategy book, which is a great partner with client reading Arden’s Rewire Your Brain referenced below.
Arden, John. Rewire Your Brain: Think Your Way to a Better Life. John Wiley & Sons, 2010. A great-place-to-start book in understanding more about brain function and practical insights on behavior: cells that fire together, wire together? Extensive resource list by chapter topic.
Beuregard, Mario and O’Leary Denyse. The Spiritual Brain: A Neuroscientist’s Case for the Existence of the Soul. Harper One, 2008. Studying and scanning nuns, this neuroscientist and journalist explore the brain and what happens exploring beyond self.
Brizendine, Louann. The Female Brain. Harmony, 2007. The result of this neuropsychiatrist’s research on the development of females in all phases of life, creating “lean, mean, communicating machines.” Easy to read.
Brizendine, Louann. The Male Brain: A Breakthrough Understanding of How Men and Boys Think. Harmony, 2011. A follow up to The Female Brain, walking through every phase of life of the “lean, mean, problem solving machine” brain. The beginning to end review was very helpful for this female!
Carter, Rita. The Human Brain Book: an Illustrated Guide to its Structure, Function, and Disorders. DK, 2009. A graphic feast of 250 large pages of brain information in bite-sized pieces, with a DVD. Very reasonably priced for a large treasure.
Doidge, Norman. The Brain that Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science. Viking, 2007. Case studies of hopeful protraits of the changing brain by this psychiatrist and researcher.
Hass-Coehn and Carr, Richard. Art Therapy and Clinical Neuroscience. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London, 2008. A series of articles exploring relationships between art, creativity, and interpersonal neurobiology.
Henslin, Earl. This is Your Brain on Joy, A Revolutionary Program for Balancing Mood, Restoring Brain Health, and Nurturing Spiritual Growth. Thomas Nelson, 2008. When my computer was stolen the week the first draft of the book I as finishing was to be submitted to the publixher, Dr. Henslin’s book was one of the treasures also stolen in the computer bag. My much highlighted copy was like a friend lost. It is a look into five mood centers of the brain, and how to find more balance and joy. Even in retyping the book!
Holley, Mary F. Crystal Meth: They Call It Ice. Tate Publishing, 2005. This physician lost a younger brother to this drug, and wrote this complete and complex book, including the impact of drugs in the brain. She boldly speaks of God’s love and the power of prayer, knowing that only the Holy Spirit can speak to the mind of an addict. She even has “Nerd Boxes” for us geeky, brain curious people! Excellent resource lists.
Horstman, Judith. The Scientific American Day in the Life of Your Brain, A 24 Hour Journal of What’s Happening in Your Brain as You Sleep, Dream, Wake Up, Eat, Work, Play, Fight, Love, Worry, Compete, Hope, Make Important Decisions, Age, and Change. Jossey-Bass, A Wiley Imprint, 2009. My fascination with brain and behavior started with a Scientific American article on ADHD in 1997. They always do a great job with books on the brain. This book’s title says it all in a little more description than titles usually get!
Howard, Pierce J. The Owner’s Manual for The Brain: Everyday Applications from Mind-Brain Research. A Bard Press Book, Third Edition, 2009. Several inches thick, full of topics and applications. Not a graphic presentation, but loaded with practical information. Hurlburt, Charles E. and Horton, T.C. Wonderful Names of Our Wonderful Lord: Names and Titles of the Lord Jesus Christ as Found in the Old and New Testament. Abridged Edition. Barbour Publishing, Ohio, 2002. A little book filled with many names and descriptions.
LeDoux, Joseph. The Emotional Brain: The Mysterious Underpinnings of Emotional Life. Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 1996. This leading researcher in neuroscience explores brain mechanisms underlying emotion, designed to be read by the lay person. He also has a band called The Amygdaloids…cracks me up.
LeDoux, Joseph. Synaptic Self: How Our Brains Become Who We Are. Penguin Books, 2002. A closer look at synapses, the spaces between the neurons, how that makes our personality, and who we are as humans.
MacBeth, Sybil. Praying In Color: Drawing a New Path to God (active prayer series). Paraclete Press, 2007. An exploration into drawing prayers with colored markers in hand. Doodling meets the Maker of all creativity to keep the mind focused. Written by a mathematician, dancer, and pastor’s wife (I just love that combination!). Also has a black and white version for kids and men.
Medina, John. Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School. Pear Press, 2008. A developmental molecular biologist writes each chapter about a brain rule, and a reminder from his two-year old about the marvel of curiosity.
Newberg, Andrew and Waldman, Mark. How God Changes Your Brain: Breakthrough Findings from A Leading Neurologist. Ballantine, 2010. A neuroscientist and therapist exploring multiple faiths and brain scans, discovering much about the impact of meditation and prayer on the brain.
Omartian, Stormie. The Power of Prayer to Change Your Marriage. Harvest House Publishers, 2009. This is one in a series of books of prayers that have been read by millions.
Pinel, John P.J. with Edwards, Maggie. Anatomy of the Human Brain, Second Edition. A Brain and Psychology Coloring Book. Pearson Education, 2008. A step up in the technical understanding of brain function, in coloring page format.
Ramachandran, V.S, Blakeslee, Sandra. Phantoms in the Brain: Probing the Mysteries of the Human Mind. Harper, 1998. This professor was named by Newsweek as one of the hundred most important people to watch in the next century, writing with a science writer on his own experiences with neurological patients.
Siegel, Daniel. The Developing Mind: How Relationships and the Brain Interact to Shape Who We Are. Guilford Press, 2001, 2012. The term “interpersonal neurobiology” was put on the map by this child psychiatrist, on how our interaction with children shapes their brains and minds.
Yerkovich, Milan and Kay. How We Love: Discover Your Love Style, Enhance Your Marriage. Waterbrook Press, 2008. They draw on the powerful tool of attachment theory to show how your early life experiences created an “intimacy imprint”– an underlying blueprint that shapes your behavior, beliefs, and expectations of all relationships, especially your marriage. An excellent read for putting the “fun” back in dysfunction to rewire the brain.