Grow Your Brain—Read!

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.
—Sir Richard Steele

Life transforming ideas have always come to me through books. —bell hooks

I’ve gotten in trouble for reading all of my life. When I was a second grader, I was chastised for wanting to read books that were “too old” for me. My mother had to send a note to the school before I could take out books that were big enough to hold my attention. Throughout my school years, teachers often reprimanded me because I found the book in my lap more interesting than whatever was going on in the room. (“Would you care to join us, Ms. Melander?”) As an adult, a few of my colleagues wondered aloud how I could both do my job and keep up with my ambitious reading schedule.

I wish I knew then what I know now. Yeah, reading is fun. But guess what else? Reading benefits your brain in really big ways. Read on:

• Good readers retain brain skills despite environmental problems. In a study of workers at a lead smelter, researchers found that those who were good readers had retained more thinking skills than workers who did not read. Researchers believe that the years of reading helped them develop what the researchers called “cognitive reserve.”

• Researchers have found that people who read, play board games, play an instrument or dance are less likely to develop dementia.

• When we read material that is more difficult for us—like Shakespeare’s plays—we give our brain a workout. When our brain isn’t sure what a word means or how a concept fits into what we already know, it gets more active. This activity is good for you and your brain.

If someone produced a pill that promised to give your brain a good workout as well as protect it from experiencing environmental damage and developing dementia—you’d buy it and take it religiously, right? It turns out you have that magic pill already: books. Read for 30 minutes a day, and you will strengthen your brain. Read hard stuff, and your brain will get even stronger. If anyone gives you grief about the time you spend reading, tell them your brain needs the exercise!

Read on to see my picks for books and music to transform your life and rock your world!

Happy Reading!
Rochelle,
the Right Now! Coach


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Books to Transform Your Life Right Now!
I love it when I find books that stretch my mind and transform my life. Many books promise this; few deliver. The following books rocked my world. I hope they do the same for you.

Burn This Book: PEN Writers Speak Out on the Power of the Word edited by Toni Morrison. If you ever get discouraged by the monumental task of writing, if people mock you for spending your days doing something so seemingly fruitless, or if you need an excuse to keep writing—then get this book. It’s packed with intelligent and enthusiastic answers to the question, “Why write?” I keep this book next to my desk (along with Audre Lorde’s book Sister Outsider) for inspiration.

Curious?: Discover the Missing Ingredient to a Fulfilling Life by Todd Kashdan, Ph.D. You know the old saying, “Curiosity killed the cat.” I heard it a lot growing up because I was incredibly curious—both about the adult-sanctioned topics (the natural world) and grown-up secrets (divorces and affairs and late-night television). Now that I have my own curious kids, I’ve witnessed how curiosity can distract them from anxiety or illness. In positive psychologist Kashdan’s new book Curious, he teaches readers how to become curious explorers . . . and why doing so is actually good for you!

Evidence: Poems by Mary Oliver. I love Mary Oliver’s poetry because it teaches me how to pay attention and what to look for. Without her guidance, I would sprint right by millions of miracles, on my way to something “more important.” Don’t make my mistake. Get this book. Read it. Learn to walk slowly and see.

Excuses Begone!: How to Change Lifelong, Self-Defeating Thinking Habits by Wayne Dyer. If you’re someone who makes excuses instead of taking action, think about reading this book. Dyer lays out a helpful plan for shifting your paradigm from excuse making to action. Giving up your excuse-making habit just might change your life!

Fitting In Is Overrated: The Survival Guide for Anyone Who Has Ever Felt Like an Outsider by Leonard Felder, Ph.D. Are you one of those people who doesn’t fit with the crowd? Do you often feel excluded? Are you frustrated when your great ideas get overlooked by those in power? Perhaps not fitting in is a sign of your creativity and originality. Take a look at Dr. Felder’s book to learn how to appreciate your place in the world and share your ideas with more success.

Out of Darkness, Into Light: Spiritual Guidance in the Quran with Reflections from Jewish and Christian Sources by Jamal Rahman, Kathleen Schmitt Elias, & Ann Holmes Redding. This book offers a helpful reflection on passages in the Quran from three traditions. As Desmond Tutu said on the back cover, “I hope that [this book] is read widely and taken to heart so that we all can widen our circles of embrace and recognize the God of love and compassion in more people and places.” Amen to that.

Positivity: Groundbreaking Research Reveals How to Embrace the Hidden Strength of Positive Emotions, Overcome Negativity, and Thrive by Barbara L. Fredrickson, Ph.D. We get how to be negative. According to positive psychologist Barbara Fredrickson, if we can experience three positive emotions to every one negative emotion, we can transform our lives. (And you know I’m all about transforming lives!) Check out Positivity to learn how to increase your positive emotions.

The Pursuit of Perfect: How to Stop Chasing Perfection and Start Living a Richer, Happier Life by Tal Ben-Shahar, Ph.D. Magazines and television sell perfection. They have to. If we don’t see how we fall short, we wouldn’t buy them to learn how to overcome our faults. In this book, positive psychologist Ben-Shahar identifies two ways to embrace life: the Perfectionist and the Optimalist. As the cover says, “By rejecting the all-or-nothing thinking of the Perfectionist and embracing the more nuanced, complex mindset of the Optimalist, we can learn to accept our failures along with our success—and lead much happier lives.”

Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives by Wayne Muller. Life can be demanding. Since the advent of Twitter, Facebook, and smart phones—we don’t even have to leave our home to experience the relentless demands of daily life. Several recent articles have suggested that these devices have led corporate America to expect its workforce to be available 24/7. Into this craziness comes the ancient practice of Sabbath. As the cover says, “Muller teaches us how we can use this time of sacred rest to refresh our bodies and minds, restore our creativity, and regain our birthright of inner happiness.”

Brief Book Reviews
I am always looking for a great story that captures my imagination and heart. I love it when that story comes wrapped in good writing. The following books fit the bill. Enjoy!

Anatomy of Fear and The Murder Notebook by Jonathan Santlofer. In this new police procedural series from author and artist Jonathan Santlofer, you get to read the mystery and see the sketches made by the protagonist, police sketch artist Nate Rodriguez. But Rodriguez does more than sketch—he interviews victims and witnesses while sketching and then follows his instincts to find out the truth behind the murders.

Angels of Destruction by Keith Donohue. This novel begins on a cold winter’s night, when nine-year-old Norah appears at Margaret Quinn’s door. Mrs. Quinn is a widow whose only daughter ran away with her boyfriend ten years earlier. She warms to having a little girl in the house again, and the two decide that Norah will stay, pretending to be Mrs. Quinn’s granddaughter. Read on to discover Norah’s surprising identity, what happened to Mrs. Quinn’s daughter, and how random meetings with strangers can teach us about loving.

Above Suspicion by Lynda LaPlante. The creator of the Detective Jane Tennison series appears with a new thriller featuring brand-new homicide detective Anna Travis and the older more experienced Detective Chief Inspector Langton. In this outing, they chase after the killer of six prostitutes.

Case Histories by Kate Atkinson. Private detective Jackson Brodie investigates three separate cold cases in which many of the characters, though unknown to each other, are bound together in one way or another. This is a well-written and absorbing mystery that will leave you pondering the meaning of life while you try to figure out “whodunit.”

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams. Thirteen-year-old Kyra is the fifth of twenty-one children, with two more on the way. Her father has three wives. She has found a haven of calm by sneaking out to visit the County Mobile Library on Wheels and to spend time with her friend Joshua. But now the Prophet of their sect, The Chosen Ones, has declared that Kyra must become the seventh wife of her sixty-year-old uncle. What will she do?

Conspiracy of Silence by Martha Powers. Chicago journalist Clare Prentice heads to Grand Rapids, Minnesota in search of the truth behind her adoption. When she discovers her birth mother was murdered, Clare must discover the truth before the murderer gets to her. Publishers Weekly dubbed this a “cozy romantic thriller”—a perfect vacation read!

The Dawn Patrol by Don Winslow. San Diego PI and avid surfer Boone Daniels takes on the case of a missing stripper just days before an epic wave is due to hit the San Diego shore. When the stripper’s best friend turns up dead, Daniels must rush to solve the murder before he misses the big wave. A great beach read.

Found (The Missing, Part 1) by Margaret Peterson Haddix. In this page-turning mystery for young readers, thirteen-year-old Jonah and his best friend Chip (who have always known they were adopted) receive mysterious letters saying, “You are one of the missing.” They boys and Jonah’s sister Katherine discover that the adoptions are connected with a larger mystery involving the FBI and spanning centuries. (This is the first book in a series.)

The Keepsake by Tess Gerritsen. In this thriller, detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Dr. Maura Isles team up again when a scan of a newly discovered mummy reveals a recent murder victim. When more victims emerge, the team must find the killer before he or she strikes again.

My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park by Steve Kluger. This young adult romantic comedy follows three connected students through their freshman year of high school. This book has everything: romance, social activism, musical theater, and an appearance by Mary Poppins. Don’t miss it!

On Beauty by Zadie Smith. Part academic saga, part family novel, this story revolves around the conflict between two art scholars. Smith’s well-drawn characters, intriguing conflicts, and gorgeous prose will keep you reading long after dark.

Salvation Boulevard by Larry Beinhart. Recovering alcoholic, born again Christian, and PI Carl Van Wagener must put aside his personal differences (and his church’s views) when he is asked to investigate a Muslim student who has been accused of murdering a professor known for questioning God’s existence.

Saving Erasmus by Steven Cleaver. In this modern day Jonah-story, the angel of death gives brand new minister Andrew Benoit a week to save the town of Erasmus or the angel will destroy it.

The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry. What’s the true story behind 100-year-old mental patient Roseanne McNulty’s long stay in the asylum? Readers encounter the story through two narrative voices: McNulty takes on writing her autobiography and her psychiatrist, Dr. Grene, investigates the truth in preparation for transferring Mrs. McNulty and the other patients to a new hospital.

To Hell in a Handbasket by Beth Groundwater. Basket designer Claire Hanover is on a skiing vacation with her husband and daughter Judy when tragedy strikes—Judy’s boyfriend’s sister dies in a tragic accident on the slopes. When the family witnesses a second death, Claire suspects murder. Not only that, she worries that her daughter might be next. Claire must convince the police of her suspicions before tragedy strikes again.

Music to Transform Your Life
When I don’t have time to read, I listen to music. There’s nothing like it to soothe the soul and buoy the spirit. Here are a few of the songs that inspired me this year.

Be Here Now
Ray LaMontagne
Don't let your mind get weary and confused
Your will be still, don't try
Don't let your heart get heavy child
Inside you there's a strength that lies
. . . Be here now, here now

Beg or Borrow Days
Jennifer O’Connor
Not gonna listen to your bad advice
I've no time left for sacrifice
I won't smile pretty I won't play nice for you or anyone
I’m gonna drink black coffee all night long until I write the perfect song
I won't give up if chords are wrong and words don't fit or rhyme
Cause I've changed my ways and I won't go back to beg or borrow days
I've changed my ways and I know that everything will be ok

Digging For Your Dream
Indigo Girls
Every day that you get up and force your cards
Playing your story in fits and starts
Take your prospects and your pickaxe and you trudge down to the stream
And you bloody your hands digging for your dream

Everything I Need
Keb’ Mo’
Aint got no reason
Aint got no rhyme
Aint gettin' no younger
And I'm runnin' outta time
. . . But I'm still climbing up the mountain side
Don’t’ count me out
As long as I've got my heart and soul
I got everything, I got everything I need

Everything I Need
Melissa Ferrick
Everything I need is right here in my hands
Right here in my hands
Right here in my hands

Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot
Sting
When your troubles take to mounting
When the map you have leads you to doubt
When there's no information
And the compass turns to nowhere that you know well
Let your soul be your pilot

Mastermind
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
Can you believe in something
Bigger than what you left behind
Like a balloon on a long string
The recipe for the mastermind

 

Write Now! Mastermind Group Are you a writer who doesn’t get around to actually writing? Are you a solopreneur who needs to write to get your message across? Are you constantly late at getting your blog or ezine done? (Or maybe you don’t even have one!) Don’t buy another book about how to write until you try this. You can learn from the most accomplished authors and publishing professionals in the business without reading a word or leaving your house! You will get: • Proven techniques for writing daily, overcoming writer's block, and accomplishing your goals. • Access to authors and publishing professionals interviewed on Rochelle's popular podcast, Always Write. • A coach to hold you accountable. • An audio file of every single call. When: The fourth Wednesdays of every month at 12:00 noon (CT) Upcoming Classes: July 22, 2009 Robert McDowell, author of Poetry as Spiritual Practice , on the daily practice of poetry writing August 26, 2009 Jane Rubietta, author of many books including, Come Along: The Journey into a More Intimate Faith , on writing for the Christian market How much? The first two months are on me. After that, it’s $27/month. $300 for 12 sessions. (That’s right. Pay your fee up front, and you get the whole year for just $25/session. Wow!) Register Here.

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