We’ve had more than a few authors on as interviewees.
Plus, there are many neuroscience, psychology, and physiology books that are just too good not to mention. Check out the book recommendations below, presented roughly in order of their mention on the podcast (with a little chaos thrown in for spice).
Dr. Graziano lays out his "Attention-Schema Theory" of consciousness, presenting a mechanistic and testable theory that could explain the heretofore mysterious experience of experience itself.
This was Jesse's favorite nonfiction read of 2015.
This book is about as persuasive as I could imagine it being on the logic behind heeding its title. If you don't want to buy a pedometer and walk around more, don't read this book.
One major/easy take-away: Go for a stroll after any and all significant meals. Great for your blood sugar response.
This book will almost certainly change the way you think about the human body. It will definitely change the way you watch the Olympics. If you've ever been curious why certain people progress faster than others in the gym -- or why some people enjoy physical exercise more than others -- this book is full of research backed ideas and interesting connections.
Highly recommended -- and not just for athletes! I haven't intentionally watched a sporting event that I wasn't playing in in years, but I found this a great read.
A journalist’s exploration into the many ways — practice, games, diet, exercise, and everything else he can try — to increase his “fluid intelligence.”
Some systems are destroyed by uncertainty. Others can withstand uncertainty. But a special few can benefit from uncertainty. This last class gets a new word and a deep exploration in Antifragile.
If you only read one book by Taleb, this is the one to read: It's essentially a crystallization of the ideas he explores in his early works. Very deep, heady ideas worth taking some time to explore.
This is the book that "launched the genre" of smart drugs as a field of study that the public was aware of. It was fitting and an honor to get Dr. Dean as the interview guest on our very first episode.
Evolutionary biologist Richard Wrangham lays out a broad and persuasive theory about how mastering fire and “pre-digesting” our food started the evolutionary domino-chain that led to Homo Sapiens.
This book is an amazing read, and had a big personal impact on Jesse's life and diet. I read this while I was about 4 years into a vegan diet -- and then again when about 6.5 years into the diet, at which point it convinced me I should give meat a try again, in a "90-day challenge." After putting veganism and a strict Paleo diet head-to-head (stomach-to-stomach?), I stuck with Paleo.
Have any book recommendations of your own? We’re all ears! Especially when it comes to books about neuroscience or cognitive enhancement. Visit our Contact page and let us know what you recommend, as well as why you recommend it.