Let me start by saying I am a big fan of Dr. Amen and his work especially with his PBS programs. If you are not familiar with Dr. Amen, he is a physician, child and adult psychiatrist, but he is best known for his study of the brain. Other books include Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, Magnificent Mind at Any Age and Change Your Brain, Change Your Body.
This book explains the role of the brain in the cycle of eating from a scientific viewpoint. Simply eating less and exercising more isn't always easy for people that seem to be addicted to food. Dr. Amen reveals some secrets to diets and why they don't work. One secret is that many of your weight problems actually begin in your brain rather than in your stomach. Another secret is that there are at least five brain patterns associated with being overweight.
There are different diet plans for different brain patterns, so it's not a one-size-fits-all diet. You start off by identifying your brain type. This helps you understand how your brain works and why you engage in certain eating behaviors. This information can be very helpful in reaching your weight loss goals.
One of the great points this books makes is the role of nutrition in brain functions. Also some interesting information about how the parts of the brain, such as the cortex and limbic system drive eating behavior. Some of the ideas are not really new, such as limiting your calories, eat breakfast and don't drink your calories.
This book is written in a "to the point" style, without a lot of fluff which I found very readable. There is a lot of good scientific information at times a bit excessive for the lay person. I think it will appeal most to logical minded people that like facts rather than theory. While it may not be the answer for everyone, it is information that will help everyone understand more about how their brain affects their eating behavior.
Bill Cashell Author of "The Emotional Diet"
Book review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.
Some reviewers have complained that there is nothing new in this volume when compared with Amen's previous books, and for regular readers or followers of Dr. Amen, that might be a problem (concern!). I admit that I have not seen him on television; I have read none of his previous books, and in no way at all could I be considered one of his readers or followers; thus, I am reviewing this book as if it is a first-time experience.
As one overriding insight, I have to admit that any book that recommends exercise and eating right--especially one written by an acclaimed medical doctor, much less a clinical neuroscientist, psychiatrist, and brain imaging expert--is all right by me. To motivate our obese (overweight), lazy, Alzheimer's prone, depressed population will certainly take more than one enlightening book, but any contribution should be heralded and exclaimed. That is especially true when the prescribed plan is based on a brilliant combination of scientific findings, Amen's original research, clinical experience, and, of course, common sense.
As a second overriding insight, I must admit that one of the reasons I may not have read or seen Dr. Amen is a simple one. I do much of what Amen recommends. I exercise regularly (and heavily); I watch my weight; I eat highly nutritious meals; I do not snack between meals; I do not eat fast food nor junk food; I think positive, reinforcing, encouraging thoughts; and I am constantly concerned about good health (both body and brain). Am I one who needs an Amen Solution? Probably not--at least not as much as the majority of our population (most of whom will not read this book!).
There are ten chapters and 270 pages of text. Then, in addition, there are 8 appendices, references and further reading suggestions, and a complete index. Perhaps the most important theme throughout the book (and supported as well in his previous books) is for people to understand: " . . . their brain and weight are intricately connected and that if you boost your brain you can have a better body" (p. 2).
There are a number of things I liked about this book. First, it is well-written. Second, it is well-organized. Third, it is practical and to-the-point. Fourth, it is encouraging and motivational. Fifth, each section is short and easy-to-read. Sixth, he includes short sections, "Get Smart to Get Thinner," that are quotes from advocates that increase the motivation. Seventh, he incorporates great stories throughout that are fun, interesting, and full of attention-getting detail. Eighth, the photographs dispersed in many chapters are helpful and interesting. Ninth, the scientific findings are incorporated gently and without technical jargon. Tenth, Amen talks directly to his readers in a plain, simple, and direct manner.
I am not saying that Amen's solutions are earth-shattering ("Physical exercise is a powerful brain booster" (p. 189) revelations about which readers have never heard of previously. But he offers great reminders, wonderful, practical exercises and activities, and a comprehensive examination of the whole range of things people can do to boost their brain and body functioning.
I highly recommend this book without hesitation or reservation; however, I think instead of the title, The Amen Solution, it would probably be more accurate to say, Amen Solutions.
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There's great information in this book, but it seems he repeats himself over and over. I got it the first time. I've read two of his books and although I like the information in them, both books said the same thing.
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I realize this is very long, but hope others with impulsive-compulsive tendencies will take a look. My concerns and questions about supplements, at the end of the review, apply to everyone.
I unexpectedly found Dr. Amen's books when spending a rare quiet evening browsing at the local library. Unchain Your Brain really enlightened me on why my mind works the way it does in fact, why it works so poorly. My memory is terrible, my abilities to plan and follow through are dismal, my impulse control in regard to my diet is as bad as my memory and planning ability. All of these behavior patterns, I am learning, both increase and are increased by my brain type. I have learned a great deal about what is wrong with my brain and what steps I can take to help heal my impulsive-compulsive brain. After reading Unchain Your Brain, I started reading The Amen Solution because I know that my diet is harming both my brain and my body and I wanted a book that spoke directly to that aspect of my life.
However, reading this book made me think of another author's books I'd read a few years ago but failed to follow through on. The books are Potatoes Not Prozac and The Sugar Addict's Total Recovery Program, both by Dr. Kathleen DesMaisons. In reading Dr. Amen's plan for the compulsive brain, I was concerned that his advice was not good for the impulsive brain, because I remember that Dr. DesMaisons wrote that a brain like mine is low in both beta-endorphines and serotonin. Dr. Amen does acknowledge this, but I think someone with my brain type would benefit by combining the information from Dr. Amen with the more specific information in Dr. DesMaisons' books. Dr. Amen states that he finds that the impulsive-compulsive combination is fairly common in people who have a family history of alcoholism, and that is exactly the population Dr. DesMaisons' books address. Dr. Amen's books give more complete information on the workings of the brain and how brain activity affects behavior. Dr. DesMaisons, I feel, gives more complete information on how the brain chemistry of an impulsive-compulsive person manifests itself in a person's diet.
A major concern I have is with using the supplements that Dr. Amen recommends. The vitamin and fish oil supplements are fine, but many of his other supplements left me with unanswered questions and serious concerns. For instance, dl-phenylalanine helps to produce dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine. Could that explain why I am way over-attracted to diet drinks? I would have appreciated some mention of the relationship between dl-phenylalanine and diet drinks, but no mention was made that I could see. Also, rhodiola use is encouraged because it has "been used to fight fatigue, improve memory, and increase attention span." Sounds like caffeine to me, so why it is any better for you than caffeine? One cause of concern for me was his description of St. John's Wort. According to Dr. Amen, it works very similarly to Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil. If those drugs should not be taken without a physician's involvement, then is it safe to use St. John's Wort as an over-the-counter medication? I am especially concerned about the dangers of stopping Prozac, etc. suddenly would such concerns also apply to St. John's Wort? Dr. Amen is very careful in using SJW with some of his patients, even saying that for some, he would not use it "without first stabilizing the temporal lobes with anticonvulsant medication." My goodness, why is this supplement so easily available when it carries such risks?
All in all, I am grateful for the information Dr. Amen provides in his books, including The Amen Solution. I would personally be very hesitant to use some of the supplements he recommends and would not do so without the advice of a physician who I felt really understood my brain and behavior symptoms. Rather, I would follow Dr. DesMaisons' nutrition advice and Dr. Amen's advice in other areas, and would hope to find improvement without using too many supplements.
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Only a few pages into the book and the author is directing the reader to amenclinics.com for a free bmi index calculator, then a page later for a free tool to calculate daily caloric needs. You get to the webpage and there is no tab for such resources and there is no search bar for easy access to these tools. I never did find them. The author state the importance of knowing these numbers but I have spent more time on the webpage looking for these numbers than I have spent reading the book. I finally used a search engine to find the information from other sources and am frustrated with my Kindle edition of this book.
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This book has saved my life!! By the time I finished the second chapter I was sleeping through the night. The author describes insomnia in a very comprehensive way. The second chapter deals with the anxiety aspect of insomnia which is one of, if not the, main reason for insomnia and provides ways of overcoming it. For me this is all it took to get me to relax and fall asleep. I have already recommended this book to friends!
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