Spark

The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain

By: John J. Ratey MD, Eric Hagerman - contributor

Narrated by: Allan Robertson

A groundbreaking and fascinating investigation into the transformative effects of exercise on the brain, from the best-selling author and renowned psychiatrist John J. Ratey, MD.

Did you know you can beat stress, lift your mood, fight memory loss, sharpen your intellect, and function better than ever simply by elevating your heart rate and breaking a sweat? The evidence is incontrovertible: Aerobic exercise physically remodels our brains for peak performance.

In Spark, John J. Ratey, MD, embarks upon a fascinating and entertaining journey through the mind-body connection, presenting startling research to prove that exercise is truly our best defense against everything from depression to ADD to addiction to aggression to menopause to Alzheimer's.

Filled with amazing case studies (such as the revolutionary fitness program in Naperville, Illinois, which has put this school district of 19,000 kids first in the world of science test scores), Spark is the first book to explore comprehensively the connection between exercise and the brain. It will change forever the way you think about your morning run - or, for that matter, simply the way you think.

©2008 John J. Ratey, MD (P)2021 Little, Brown Spark

Critic reviews

"At last a book that explains to me why I feel so much better if I run in the morning! This very readable book describes the science behind the mind-body connection and adds to the evidence that exercise is the best way to stay healthy, alert, and happy!" (Dr. Susan M. Love, author of Dr. Susan Love's Menopause and Hormone Book and Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book)

"Bravo! This is an extremely important book. What Cooper did decades ago for exercise and the heart, Ratey does in SPARK for exercise and the brain. Everyone - teachers, doctors, managers, policy-makers, individuals trying to lead the best kind of life - can benefit enormously from the utterly convincing and brilliantly documented thesis of this ground-breaking work. People know that exercise helps just about everything, except anorexia, but it will surprise most people just how dramatically it improves all areas of mental functioning. So, get moving! You're brain will thank you and repay you many times over." (Edward Hallowell, MD, The Hallowell Centers)

"This book is a real turning point that explains something I've been trying to figure out for years. Having experienced symptoms of both ADHD and mild depression, I have personally witnessed the powerful effects of exercise, and I've suspected that the health benefits go way beyond just fitness. Exercise is not simply necessary, as Dr. Ratey clearly shows, it's medicine." (Greg LeMond, three-time winner of the Tour de France)

Excellent education in AdHd and Overall Health

I enjoy the entire book. I learned a lot, and John cites the studies backing his statements. I feel now more motivated to continue exercising and not overwhelmed myself.

Outstanding book

Guys I have to recommend this book.
It’s a must read if you have gotten lost in your workout regime and are looking to jump back at it.
The importance of exercise in ones life is crucial. The studies indicating the correlation between exercise and the brain is a fact we generally take for granted. Get this book!!

Lots of bio/neuro chemistry, loved it

Lots of bio/ neuro chemistry, research backed. Loved it. Generally appropriate for those without age related issues that prevent aerobic running.

Amazing

I wish I would have read/listened to this years ago. The author lays out the causal link between exercise and brain health, and it is a very compelling and motivating story. I highly recommend to every

This book is a must read

For anyone that experiences depression, anxiety, adhd and doesn’t get much exercise, this will change your life.

Intriguing

This is a very intriguing book because of how it links exercise to physiological responses in the body, and especially the brain. It provides some very good reasons for all of us to exercise more. All too often, we get into a mindset that one thing or another isn't valuable if it doesn't help me with whatever goal I'm focused on now. Anyone wanting to lose weight can quickly come to the conclusion that diet can do way more than exercise when it comes to creating a caloric deficit. That's great! But, we should still exercise, and this book explains multiple benefits that many simply aren't aware of.

A must read!

Everyone…. young and old - should read this book! In fact - the younger generation should be reading this in elementary school and again in high school. It will change life …. and lifestyle!

Informative

This was a decent read but don’t expect to binge through it. Lots and lots of information is discussed. I had to take it slow.

Highly recommend

Must read to understand the overlap between physical and mental health. It’s given me the courage to take back my life.

Truly a 5 star — I’d give it a ten if I could

I appreciate the author’s thoroughness in research AND its applicability. I also appreciate his mission to create lasting-healthy goals through exercise in writing this book. This helped me open my eyes to my own life and those I treat as a healthcare provider. Everyone — literally EVERYONE should read this book. After all — we all have a body and a brain we are looking after. I want to further encourage and reiterate what is taught in this book — exercise is key to health and prosperity. With with your doctor on how to get active if you aren’t — and please doctors — I’m begging you to “prescribe” exercise more. There’s no magic pill. Medication has a time and place, absolutely, but I’ve never heard my doctor at any appointment or annual exam ask or discuss how my exercise habits are going. NOT ONCE. This is going to have to take both a bottom-up and a top-down approach to change. We personally need to advocate for ourselves and our health and doctors need to spend more time educating on different aspects of health.