In today's increasingly anxious age, it's easy to be wooed by multi-step methods that promise us ultimate fulfilment. But what if society's obsession with self-optimization actually stands at odds with the way we are wired?
For neuroscientist Dr. Rachel Barr, understanding our brains is not just a profession but an immensely personal endeavour. Having witnessed her own mother's struggles with mental ill-health, Rachel embarked on studies that would help her understand and share the simple steps that we can all take to better our own mental well-being.
In stark contrast to the relentless effort and productivity of the multi-step optimization movement, Rachel offers a refreshing alternative: by simply aligning with our brain's natural rhythms - from its need for sleep to rewiring its tendency towards negativity bias - we can all experience more peace in our day-to-day lives.
Offering a scientifically backed guide to harnessing what should come naturally (were it not for the success-driven society surrounding us), Rachel invites you to discover that true wellness might be less about pushing ourselves harder, and more about tuning into our own inherent patterns and becoming better friends with our brains.
THE INSTANT IRISH TIMES BESTSELLER
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'Riveting and enlightening, this book should be handed out to all humans as mandatory reading.' - Stylist
'Fun, but still deeply, rigorously researched.' - Professor Neil Shyminsky
'Insightful and relatable psychoeducation that demystifies the brain . . . it's a resource I'll proudly keep on my shelf as a therapist.' - Joshua Fletcher, anxiety therapist
Your brain is the most remarkable thing in the known universe.
Always trying to mend itself, and always trying to protect you, it's in a constant state of flux - adapting, reconfiguring, finding new pathways . . . And it has an astonishing capacity for recovery.
Only it doesn't always get it right.
Rachel Barr struggled through years of devastating loss, heartache, and uncertainty until neuroscience gave her the first spark of self-belief she had felt in her adult life - and proof that, because of the brain's near-infinite potential for neuroplastic change, it's never too late to carve out neural pathways to form new habits, new skills, and new ways of thinking.
Whether you want to nerd-out on Neuroscientific acronyms, finally understand what's going on in your head, or take refuge in a book that's like a warm hug for your mind, How to Make Your Brain Your Best Friend is a delight-filled, evidence-based guide to taking better care of your brain - so it, in turn, will take better care of you.
The Irish Times Bestseller 06/09/2025
