Brain Matters: How to help anyone learn anything using neuroscience

If you had the chance to be with DaVinci, Galileo or Curie at their greatest moment of discovery, would you take it? If you said “yes,” then you’re in luck. The human race is embarking on a great adventure; we are discovering how the brain works by watching it in the very act of cognition. Neuroscientists are starting to unlock the code that makes the brain works, giving educators, teachers, corporate trainers and mentors new tools to help people learn. In a series of short essays, Margie Meacham leads the reader inside the human brain and links scientific discoveries to practical applications for anyone who wants to help people learn. A self-described scholar-practitioner, Margie uses brain science in her instructional consulting practice based in Phoenix, AZ. You can find her on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Readers say:
This is a fascinating book. As a mid-level, people manager in a global company, I found the content fresh, thought-provoking, and useful. The layout appears to be a series of well-researched blog posts presented in an easy-to-understand fashion (based on science, but presented in lay-person language) about how the brain works and why that might be important to us. The book contains invaluable information for people leaders, learning and HR professionals, and anyone who just wishes to understand the science of the brain better and apply that to how we learn and process information. Links are embedded at the end of each chapter if you choose to explore the research behind it. My favorite and most thought-provoking chapters were “Leadership Starts in the Brain,” “Snakes and the Brain,” “Your Emotional Brain,” and “Your Brain Needs a Vacation.” I’m an animal lover, so the comparisons of cat, dog, horse, elephant and whale brain functioning versus the functioning and survival skills of a human brain were especially intriguing. Enjoy!

I loved this book. It is arranged in a series of brief, succinct, and targeted chapters. Scientific information is presented in a straightforward and easy to understand style. This book will challenge some of your preconceived notions regarding how we learn. As the owner of a midsized manufacturing company, I am always searching for new and better ways to train my employees. Brain Matters scored a direct hit on several of my current training hotspots. I will be implementing some of the best ideas immediately. Give this book a try. You won't be disappointed.

Margie nails the topic without hype. She truly gets the importance of neuroscience and learning. Well done Margie!

As a brand strategist, I found the content informative, useful in my work and consistent with the methods I use to modify or influence behaviors.